Sirius held his breath as he listened to the sound of the men running past their little hideout. He waited until he could no longer hear anything before he exhaled and looked at where they were. It was a linen closet, lined with shelves full of sheets and soft, thick blankets, it was nearly pitch black in the closet, with only the light shining in from around the door to give them any light at all. It was at this point that he realized how close Cat was to him, and how wonderful she smelled.

Bowing his head, he inhaled deeply, his senses relishing the scent of her hair and skin in the same way his body was enjoying the heat of her skin. He slowly moved his arms around her waist as he pressed his lips against her fingers, kissing them lightly as he heard her gasp softly. “Cat, ….please, don’t turn your back on me, not now. We need to talk, I need to explain, …. I have so much to tell you.” he whispered, sniffling softly as he tried to keep his composure.

Cat looked up into Sirius’s eyes, even in the dim light she could see them clearly, and they were obviously full of pain and tears. “I’ve been waiting for you to talk to me since the day Remus brought you to see me.” she sighed as she nuzzled against his chest. “I’ve missed you more than you can imagine Sirius. But so much has changed between us….”

“Not for me it hasn’t” Sirius insisted “I still love you Cat, I always have and I always will.” He sighed deeply “I’ve made some truly stupid mistakes in my life gra, and I will never be able to make amends for all the pain I’ve caused you, but you have to believe me Cat. I never, ever intended to hurt you, I loved you more than anything in the world…..I still do.” he added, kissing her forehead as he stroked her long, soft hair. “Please gra, give me the chance to prove it” he pleaded as he tried in vain to fight off his tears.

Cat felt her heart breaking in two as Sirius spoke to her, she had been so certain it was over between them, after all, he had betrayed her, cruelly and publicly. Yet still her heart ached for him, she couldn’t deny that. And her family seemed to accept him without reservation. “Sirius, I don’t know what to say….I-I, so much has happened.”

Sirius winced as her words hit his ears, “At least tell me you don’t hate me anymore, please” he implored as his tears fell into her hair. “Tell me you….” Sirius’s words caught in his throat as all the pain and anger of those last two weeks stared him in the eyes. He couldn’t believe how horrible he had been to her “I never meant any of the things I said to you, I was just so frightened I had lost you, the last thing I wanted to do was chase you away.” he wept openly now as he clung to her, burying his face in her thick hair as he attempted to muffled his own sobs.

He felt Cat press herself firmly against him, the sound of her softly crying reached his ears. “Please gra, please, tell me you still care” he pleaded as he rocked her back and forth in his arms. “Tell me there’s still hope for us. Tell me I haven’t lost you forever.” He waited silently for her reply, but all he heard was their tears, how many tears had they shed over the years, how often had this wound been opened over and over again.

“Gra?” he whispered, still holding her tightly “please answer me. Say something,…. anything. Let me know if you’re willing to give me another chance. If not for my sake, then please, for Harry’s.”

Before Cat could reply, the door was flung open with a loud whoop as Duncan lurched at them, intending to get Cat back for her little trick during their game. He paused when he saw Sirius embracing Cat as tears ran down both of their faces. “Sis?” he questioned, only to see her turn her head towards the back of the closest as she pulled Sirius closer to her. One look into the wizards face told him all he needed to know.

Duncan immediately softened towards the wizard, it was obvious how much Sirius loved his sister, and for once, Kitty seemed perfectly content to allow a man to hold onto her. He only wished he knew what was causing them so much pain. He was the oldest, it was his duty to make sure his brothers and sisters staid safe and happy, and after watching all the pain and trials Kitty had suffered through over the past decade or so, Duncan was particularly concerned about her. Just as he was about to ask them what had happened, he heard the sound of approaching voices.

Looking back over his shoulder, Duncan saw Collin and Mandy approaching, “Get yourselves together” he whispered gently. “I’ll cover for as long as I can, but Mandy isn’t fooled for very long.” His heart ached for them as Sirius looked into his eyes and nodded, trying to put on a brave face despite his tears……

“SOooooo” Mandy teased, “What’s behind the door?” she asked, “Or maybe I should ask, who is behind the door? Wouldn’t happen to be my favorite little redhead and her new boyfriend, would it?”

“Let me at them” Collin agreed as he pulled at his thin cotton shirt which was clinging to his wet, muscular body, “I can’t believe she actually got us, we must be slipping. And why are you standing in front of the door Duncan? What are they doing, making out?”

Duncan scowled at Mandy and Collin “Now what would make you think Kitty and Sirius were in here, and if they were, why wouldn’t I have pulled them out? It’s not as if I would encourage someone to take advantage of my baby sister.”

“Uh huh, so what was that look on your face when you opened the door?” Mandy asked as she leaned against Duncan, placing one hand on the doorknob and smiling wickedly as she pressed herself provocatively against him. “Come on out Kitty…..I know you and that cutie of yours are in there.” she called as Duncan tried to hush her. “Lets go Kitty-Cat, take the ribbing like a man…or woman…or …whatever.” …..

Cat let out a deep jagged breath as she rested her head against Sirius’s chest. “She’s not going to stop you know. She’s very determined, especially when she knows she’s right.” She felt Sirius nod his head as his hands left her to wipe at his eyes.

“So, shall we face them?” he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

“No” Cat said immediately, “I just couldn’t bear it at the moment. Can you come up with something? I was going to just apparate downstairs, I still want to find Harry.”

“If you promise we can talk later” Sirius insisted as he tilted her head to face his “I don’t want to let this go any longer. I should have talked to you about this seventeen years ago gra. I can’t let it go another night.” He felt Cat reach up and take his hand in hers, kissing it tenderly as the familiar swirl of flames appeared around her, lighting up the closet, but leaving everything unharmed. In a matter of seconds, she was gone, and he was left alone to face her family as they waited on the other side of the door…….

“Arrghh, I can’t believe you beat me again.” Harry groaned as Callista raised her arms in victory as the miniature jewel-like monkeys danced around on the floor. “First Ron with chess and now this, I’m really beginning to wonder if I should play games at all anymore.” he said as his shoulders slumped.

“Awh, don’t be like that Harry” Sara said as she knelt next to him. “I’ll help you, I bear her all the time.” she winked as Callista stuck out her tongue. “First of all, take all the sapphire monkeys and line them up in front, save the ruby and diamond ones for reserves. Then you take the coral and peridot ones and let them attack hers…..” Sara explained as she lined up the finger sized monkeys, “The hardest part is getting them to listen to you” she sighed “sometimes, no matter what you do, they just won’t get into the bucket.”

“Pail” Callista corrected her

“No” Diane corrected them both “Barrel, honestly, don’t either of you pay attention?” the tall girl with short red hair sighed. “How many times has Uncle Shane explained this game to you?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah” Sara sighed, “Nice to see you again too. And so polite of you to yell at us without even introducing yourself to Tanta Kitty’s son.” she said, chiding her older cousin.

“She’s got a good point Diane, mum would throw a fit if she saw how bad your manners have gotten since you started that new school” Diane’s older sister Meg said as she smiled down at Harry.

“Hmpft, Just because I don’t like to camp in the middle of the wilderness and play with wild animals and get all messy like some people.” Diane retorted “Mum told me you got in trouble for trying to train a wild dragon while you were in Nova Scotia.”.

“Hey, I happen to like dragons” Meg replied, rolling her eyes at her bookworm sister. She looked over at Harry when she heard him laughing at them.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to laugh, its just you remind me of my best friend’s brothers. Charlie works with dragons, and Percy is very proper about everything.” Harry explained.

“Charlie huh? Nice, strong, solid name.. And he likes dragons you say? Is he single?” Meg half-teased, not expecting an answer.

“Yep, with red hair and blue eyes, just like all the Weasleys” Harry replied absently as he watched Sara maneuvering the monkeys into the barrel.

“All the Weaselys look like that?” Diane asked, “And you said I remind you of Percy? Is he clean or smart.”

“Hmmm, oh, Percy? Both” Harry commented as he tried to get his monkeys to toss Callista’s monkeys back into the barrel. He was so preoccupied, he never noticed Meg and Diane smiling at each other as they imagined what the Weasley boys would be like……

“There you are Harry” Cat said as she smiled happily “We were wondering were you got off to. Did Aunt Orpha give away all my secrets?”

“No mum” Harry grinned as he stood up and hugged Cat tightly “Bt she gave me some really good ideas. Oh and I met Uncle Frank and I saw …uhm.. cousin Paddy, I think.”

“Frank is here? When did he arrive? I’m honestly surprised I didn’t hear him” she said, “He’s not the quietest of the MacLeods”

Harry was about to reply when he was distracted by Sirius’s appearance in the room. “Over here” Harry yelled out as he waved to his godfather who grinned merrily, walking over to them, a tall, dark-haired man with hazel green eyes at his side.

“Hello Harry, enjoying yourself?” Sirius asked as he hugged Harry tightly.

“So this is little Harry huh?” the tall man said as he wrapped his arm around Cat’s shoulder and kissed her cheek. Harry saw him whisper something to her as he hugged her tightly, only to release her as he faced Harry once more. “Looks like he’s going to be taller than you Kitty.” the man said as his eyes twinkled joyfully.

“Like that’s a difficult thing to accomplish” Cat sighed as she playfully jabbed the man in his ribs. “Harry, I’d like you to meet another of your uncles, this is Duncan. Duncan, this is your nephew Harry.”

Harry’s face lit up as he looked at his Uncle Duncan, he must have been six feet tall, with thick, dark hair and a very powerful build. Harry was willing to bet he and Cash together could take on pretty near anything. He felt his heart bursting with happiness as his uncle hugged him tightly, lifting him off the floor slightly.

“Look at you…you’re going to be quite a warrior one day.” Duncan grinned, “All we have to do is put some meat on those bones, and we can bring this one along for that too.” Duncan added as he pointed towards Sirius. “Kitty, why are they both so thin? I’m ashamed of you, it looks like you’re starving them.” he added, shaking a finger at his little sister. “That’s not like you, you’re always trying to fatten everyone up.”

Cat narrowed her eyes and smirked playfully at her brother “I have been fattening them up, you should have seen what they looked like a few weeks ago, especially that one.” she teased, nodding toward Sirius. “I was almost afraid to hug him, thought I might break him in two…..of course then I would have to decided which half I would keep” she added as she gave a look of mock innocence.

“NO, no, no, no, no, no, no!” Duncan said loudly “I don’t even want to go there Catrianna. You are my little sister, my sweet, innocent, albeit bratty and prank playing sister. You know ‘nothing’ about those things, nothing at all.” then turning to Sirius, Duncan added “And if YOU are smart Mr. Black, you will do everything within your power to make sure my delusions on this matter are NEVER challenged. Do we understand each other?”

With a crooked smile on his face, Sirius nodded his head “Completely Duncan, we never went any further than a kiss.”

Duncan grinned widely and draped his arm over Sirius’s shoulders. “I like him Kitty, he follows instructions, he’s got a sense of humor, and I can take him down if he gets out of line. I think we should keep him.”

“YES!!” Harry said loudly, causing everyone to look at him. Becoming suddenly embarrassed, Harry looked down at the floor as he tried to think of something to say. Seconds ticked by like hours as his mind went completely blank, just when he thought he would die of embarrassment, Callista and Sara came to his side and began chattering like magpies.

“Tanta Kitty!!” they said in unison, “Who is going back to Hogwarts with you? Can we bring pets? Are we going to have to use sticks like they do?”

“One at a time, one at a time” Cat sighed as the children crowded around her, “First of all, we haven’t decided anything about who’s going back with Harry and I, and what about taking pets?”…..

As the chattering and laughter continued, Harry was distracted by the sound of singing coming from outside. Looking over at Callista, he could tell she heard it too, they walked over to the window and peeked outside. Harry actually gasped at what he saw, outside in the darkness of the night, was a group of beings carrying lanterns as dazzlingly bright faeries circled around them. Harry saw that a few of them looked like Aunt Orpha, some had wings, a few seemed to be ghosts and others looked human, they were singing beautifully as they walked towards the porch and a few of them were playing strange instruments.

“Mum!, Come see” Harry said excitedly as he kept his eyes glued to the window. “What are they, who are they?” he asked as she walked behind him and peered out through the lacy curtain.

“Duncan, Luke” Cat called out for her brothers, “The neighbors are here. Open the doors and let them in.”