Sirius smiled graciously as the women in Cat’s clan kept piling his plate full of food. Although he had serious doubts as to whether he could take another mouthful of anything. Delicious as it was, he just wasn’t used to having such a full stomach anymore. Just as he smiled and thanked the sixth aunt who had ‘insisted’ he eat more, Sirius felt a warm hand on his arm. “Aunt Orpha” he grinned “please tell me you’re not going to insist I eat anymore” he sighed as he saw her raise an eyebrow at the towering pile of food on his plate.

“More?! You’ll be lucky if you don’t explode now.” She teased as she laughed softly “Don’t take it badly dear, it’s their way of showing you they worry about you.” she explained “We wouldn’t feed you if we didn’t love you.”

Sirius smiled, but sighed deeply “I guess that means Cat’s aunts think more of me than she does”

“Now don’t you dare start that” Orpha scolded “I saw her a few minutes ago, she was walking with her godfather, headed towards one of the nurseries, and I believe they were discussing you.” she said, smiling as his face lit up. “That’s right wizard, go off and find her, I have the feeling you two are long over due for a talk.”

Sirius handed his plate to Orpha and kissed her on her cheek “Thank you Aunt Orpha” he said as he made his way to the door, hoping to find Cat and finally have that talk with her….

Severus walked briskly through the halls on his way back to his office, he had two large leather bound books and several parchments tucked under his arm. He knew he should probably get a good nights rest before working on such a complex spell, but he had the sneaking suspicion that sleep would evade him until he spoke with Catri himself. Just as he strode passed the gallery, he caught a flash of movement from the corner of his eye, it was one of the many secret passages that riddled the school.

Darting around the corner, Severus peered into the dark gallery as he waited to see who emerged from the passage. “Vampires” he growled softly as he watched one of Cash’s cronies carelessly toss a body onto the floor, only to be followed quickly by two others. Severus quietly placed the books and parchments on the floor then quickly pulled out his wand. If he could catch them in the act, prove to Catri how dangerous they were, she would have no choice but to send them away, for her own safety and everyone else’s.

Severus used a silence charm to prevent the Gangrel’s from hearing him as he approached them, he needed to get a good look at the bodies. He fought off a shudder as images of dead students flitted through his imagination, although he certainly wouldn’t put such a thing passed any of them. Severus steeled himself as he got close enough to see the bodies clearly, although nothing could have prepared him for the sight in front of him. “What did you do?” he gasped as the Gangrel’s paused their work and looked at him.

“Go away Slytherin” Hamish barked “We don’t have time for your stupid games right now.”

Severus’s hand shook as he pointed his wand at them “The Ministry, you murdered the…. Why? What did you have to gain by….”

“I said stuff it” Hamish shouted “I’ve had a very bad night, and the last thing I need to deal with is you. Go back to your bed and pretend you’re not alone.” he added spitefully as the two men faced off.

“Never a dull moment.” a new, yet familiar voice replied from down the hall “Or is this a special occasion?” the tall blonde man asked as he delicately side-stepped the bodies laying in the hall. Joshua looked at the stand-off between the Slytherin and Hamish and smirked “Don’t tell me ‘he’ beat you to the kill” Joshua teased, pointing at the mound of bodies.

Rick snorted loudly, “Him? He was no where to be found. It was us and Angel all the way.”

“Angel?” Joshua repeated as he crossed over to Rick, making sure to leave ample room between himself and the posturing men. “You mean she did some of this?”

“No” Rick replied “I mean she did all of this. We were being overwhelmed by the onslaught of them all, it would appear they have a well placed spy who told them the moment Angel had left.” Rick sighed as he went back to dragging bodies out of the passage and piling them up in the gallery “The Garou will be around shortly to … well, do what they do.”

Joshua’s eyes grew wide as he peered into the passage and then at the pile on the floor of the gallery, “You mean Angel did this? She killed them all?”

Rick sighed deeply as he shook his head sadly, “Yes, we were very luck Angel arrived when she did. They nearly killed us and her son, as it was, only a handful escaped her wrath.”

Sev froze as he listened to the conversation between the two vampires. He found in inconceivable to think that his sweet Catri would be capable of such a blood bath. Narrowing his eyes and scowling at Hamish, he decided to challenge the vampire’s story of her involvement, “You cannot possibly expect me to believe that Catri is responsible for this slaughter. She would never harm…”

“She would if her clan was at stake” Hamish growled. “Not that I expect you to understand, it has to do with love, a self-less love. Love for her son, her clan, for life in general. She won’t allow the innocent to suffer, it goes against her, it ‘hurts’ her to see such things.”

“Do you honestly expect me to believe she could look these men in their eyes and kill them in cold blood?” Snape sneered “Do you take me for a fool?”

Before Hamish could reply, Rick was at his side, answering the teacher’s question. “She never saw their eyes, they were all wearing masks. None of them was man enough to show his face, they all hid them like the cowards they are.” he snapped as his blue eyes sparkled fiercely.

“Hmpft” Hamish snorted, “Cowards doesn’t even come close to describing them, although now that I think about it, I’m willing to bet ‘this’ coward has a mask on him as well.” Hamish leered as he approached the potion master, fully intending to prove his point. “What’s wrong Slytherin? Scared?”

“Silence” he yelled as he pointed his wand at Rick and Hamish as an arrogant smile crossed his face. “Catri will never forgive you for this, you have killed the very men who were to decide if she would be allowed to keep Potter. Your appetite has destroyed her only chance to save him” Severus scowled as he watched the looks on the faces of the vampires. How could they possibly expect him to believe such an outlandish story, as if Catri were even able to muster the power it would have taken to kill the twenty plus death eaters, these men were trained to kill, she would not have stood a chance against them.

“You bleeding rotter” Hamish roared as he leapt at the potion master “Who the hell are you to speak for Angel? These fiends didn’t deserve to breathe the same air she does.” he snarled as his hands wrapped around Snape’s throat. “And neither do you, traitor.”

“Hamish, stop! What are you doing?” Rick screamed as he tried to push Hamish away from the teacher.

“I’m doing what Cash should have.” Hamish replied as he easily knocked Rick aside.

“Hamish, no, you took a vow. You swore to protect the school and its inhabitants” Rick reminded him.

“I didn’t swear to protect traitors, especially when Angel and Harry’s lives are at stake.” he replied, glowering at Rick, who took a few steps back, fearing the stress from the last twenty-four hours had caused Hamish’s to snap.

“Drop him Hash” a commanding voice said from behind the group, “I know you’re pissed, but its not him. And “I” still hold you to your vow.”

“You should have killed him the night his spawn nearly killed our Angel.” Hamish growled , not bothering to hide the accusing tone in his voice.

“And do you know why I didn’t” Cash said as he stepped out of the shadows and leaned against the wall, his hands tucked into the front pockets of his jeans. “Well Hash, do you know why I spared him?”

“No, and I don’t care.” Hamish began, only to pause as he felt Cash invading his mind, “Stop it Cash, that trick doesn’t work against me anymore, it hasn’t for decades.” yet still, he felt his stomach churn and his arms begin to quiver as Cash refused to retreat…..

Harry gasped for breath as Callista and Einy continued their bantering over why each one was best suited to rule the world. He particularly liked the way Callista would revert back to her, ‘Because I’m so much cuter than you are’ response to any question she didn’t have the answer too. “Sara, are they always like this?” Harry asked as he leaned on Sara for support.

Sara grinned comically “Yeah, always, and stop laughing so hard, you’re only encouraging them, trust me.” she added rolling her eyes. “Hey, I’m going to get more food, want to come along?” she asked as she turned and walked away.

Still holding his sides, Harry went after her “Sure, but slow down, my ribs hurt from laughing so long.” He followed Sara as she expertly led him through the twisting halls of Fernglennis, she pointed out several landmarks to him as they went.

Harry stared in awe at the miniature carousel that floated in the middle of a five pointed landing. Every detail was exact and amazing, the tiny reflective mirrors, the reigns and tack of the horses, sea dragons, roosters and several other creatures he had never seen before. “Wow Sara, were did this come from?” he asked, completely transfixed.

“What? Oh that, Aunt Kitty’s da made that, he told her it would do something or other when something happened, but I don’t remember what.” Sara said offhandedly “But I do know how to make it play, would you like to hear it?”

“Would you?” Harry asked eagerly, as he waited while Sara passed her hand over the carousel and said a few words. He gasped in astonishment as the tiny figures moved up and down as the platform rotated. As the platform moved, Harry saw the tiny calliope that was plunking out a bright tune. “Her da made this? Do you mean my grandfather?”

“Yep” Sara beamed “Magnus MacLeod, chieftain of Clan MacLeod.” she replied proudly. “You’ll like him, he’s been waiting for Aunt Kitty to have children for so long. Wait until he finds out he’s got a wizard for a grandson.” she teased as she took his hand and pulled him down one of the corridors “Come on Harry, I’m starving, lets go, you can watch it later.”

“Oh alright” Harry groaned as he allowed Sara to pull him along “Where are we heading anyway?”

“To the food of course” Sara grinned as she pushed open a half closed door, revealing several large tables piled high with food and a large gathering of people talking and mingling with each other.

“Hey, look. It’s Remus” Harry grinned as he waved to his professor “I’ll see you a bit later, alright?” he asked Sara, who nodded as she made a beeline for the roast beef.

“Sure, see you upstairs later” she said as she waved goodbye and quickly disappeared into the adults surrounding her.

“Remus!” Harry yelped as more clan filed into the room, most of them insisting Harry wasn’t eating enough, and pushing food towards him. By the time he made it to Remus, Harry had a plate in each hand, piled high with food and sweets. “Help, I’m not going to make it.” he said as he tried to hold onto the heavy plates.

“I’ve got you Harry” Remus laughed as he took one plate and easily lead Harry off to the side of the room. “So, I see they’re trying to fatten you up too” Remus eyed the plates with a critical eye. “Hmmmm, even worse than what they did to me and Sirius, but then again, you are a growing boy.” he teased as Harry rolled his eyes.

“Speaking of Sirius, where is he, I haven’t seen him in a while.” Harry asked as he looked around the room, “I thought he might be with you.” Harry explained in a worry-filled voice.

“Nope, sorry Harry, although knowing your godfather, he’s either off eating, or he’s looking for Cat.” Remus grinned happily. Seeing his words did little to calm Harry, he decided on a different plan of action “Hey, tell you what,” he whispered conspiratorially, “you go find Sirius, I’ll go find Cat, and we’ll get them to meet up right over there by the archway, the one with the mistletoe hanging from it.” he winked.

“Do you honestly think that will work” Harry asked excitedly as he thought of getting Sirius and Cat together with no Snape to interfere. “I mean, do you think mum will go for it?”

“We won’t know until we try” Remus replied as he took the plates and set them down on a table and walked out of the room with Harry hot on his heels…….