“He means well Hagrid, he really does. He just doesn’t understand me, or my clan” Cat laughed again, she could see this would eventually lead to problems if she couldn’t get Sev to relax a little and accept her clan’s ways. Suddenly Cat heard a soft chirp as the bat poked his head out of Hagrid’s coat. Looking first one way then the next, the bat hesitantly crawled out and perched on Hagrid’s large arm, chirping loudly as Cat giggled. “Hagrid, you’re a big softy, no wonder the animals and children love you.”

Hagrid smiled even wider “Ye always know what t’say t’ cheer people up” he told her, then suddenly becoming serious he asked “Why r’ya so upset? Na the bat ? Ye seems to like him well ‘nuf”

“The bat is fine Hagrid, it’s the people who sent him that worry me.” Her colour paled almost immediately as she spoke of them “They are treacherous, without allegiance to their own clan, much less others. And even worse, they have no qualms about killing, ... that includes killing children. They are every bit as horrid as Voldemort.” Cat saw Hagrid cringe as she said the name, “Never trust them Hagrid, no matter what. They live only to gain power, .. life, love, joy ... it means nothing to them.” She watched as Hagrid stared dubiously at the bat, Cat smiled softly as she laid her head on the pillows “The bat is alright Hagrid, keep him if you like, he needs time to heal anyway” she smiled as Hagrid grinned “you might want to have Poppy look at his wing, Drake bites get infected easily.” . . .

Severus moved quickly through the halls on his way to Dumbledore’s office, he was becoming very nervous. Catri did not frighten easily, if this Clan Tremere had her so concerned that she paled at the very thought of them, ... well it certainly was not a good sign. He silently gave thanks that he was able to give her the bracelet before Hagrid entered with the message. She was right, it had been very expensive, but not because of the jewels or precious metals. It was due to the powerful magic that had been needed. He remembered how specific he had been, it had to be able to both protect the wearer from death, and be used to locate the wearer at any time and any place, regardless of any spells to the contrary. They had thought he was quite mad when he gave them the consignment, at least until he had placed the bag of galleons in front of them. It had taken them nearly two months, but they had done a wonderful job. He wondered if Catri would ever realized how concerned he was for her, or the lengths he had gone to make sure she and Harry would be safe. ... no matter what.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny walked towards the hospital wing, Hermione was asking Harry once again why he hadn’t gotten to the great hall in time for dinner. She waited as he took another bite of the rolls Ron had stashed into Harry’s pockets as they were walking out.

“I told you before, I was talking to Sirius. He needed to explain some... stuff to me, stuff about he and Cat.” Harry looked down as he continued “Now I need to talk to Cat. I have to find out if she feels the same way. I know she loves him, I just kn......” Harry became silent as Hermione pinched his arm. Snape was walking towards them, Harry waited for the Professor to say something, but he seemed to not notice them as he rushed by.

Harry and Ron just looked at each other “Maybe she got smart and dumped him” Ron suggested hopefully.

Harry shook his head, “I don’t think so.... I think something happened to her, I bet he was going to get Dumbledore” the friends looked at each other and quickly ran to the hospital. Harry skidded to a stop and paused, taking a deep breath before he opened the doors, he didn’t want to think about what Cat may be going through, not after yesterday. Harry could feel the relief flow through him when he saw Hagrid laughing.

The group entered and walked to Cat’s bed, Harry was the first to speak “Hi” he said meekly as he saw how pale she had grown over the past two hours.

“Harry...” Cat smiled happily “hi sweetie. Did you get enough to eat? I want to make sure you grow big and strong. Your uncles will expect you to join in the fun and games with them, you know.”

Harry grinned at the thought,< his uncles>, “How many of them will be there.... all of them?” he asked “Do I have many cousins, are they my age?”

Cat laughed softly as she motioned for Harry to sit with her on the bed “Not all of them Harry, only four or five of them this year, and as for cousins” she rolled her eyes “too many to count, and they go from, not-yet-born, to as old as I am, and everything in between.”

“Wow Harry, sounds like our house” Ginny had remark “its always full of family too.”

Harry smiled and nodded his agreement, he was going to ask Cat another question when something caught his eye. “Uhhhh... Hagrid... what *is* that?”

“Wot, this?” Hagrid asked, motioning to the large bat “e’s .... well tha is...... why e’s a.... I ‘ave no idea. Cat?” Everyone turned a questioning eye to MacLeod.

“He’s a messenger, I think the species is called vespertilio tabel-larius, in this case, the larger variety.” Cat explained.

“Is he tame?” Ginny asked as she smiled at him “He looks fuzzy”

“Aye, tha’ e is. Jes like a teddy bear” Hagrid coo’d as he smiled at the bat “D’ye wanta pet ‘im?”

Ginny looked from Hagrid to Cat, when she saw Cat nod and smile, she eagerly petted the bat. The group laughed as the bat began to chirp happily when Ginny reached his chin. “Ohhh he’s so sweet. Are you going to keep him?”

Harry smiled , at least this *pet* he could handle, a definite improvement over the dragons. He reached for Cat’s hand as they both laughed at Ron and Ginny playing with Hagrid’s new pet. Hermione was a little less exuberant about the whole idea. “Oh come on Hermione” Ron had whined “look, he’s harmless. He even sings when you scratch his chin.” Harry saw Cat’s eyes sparkle as she watched his friends, they must remind her of her own family.

He was surprised when Cat looked at him and nodded “Yes, they do. And its *our* family now, not just mine” she reminded him as she squeezed his hand. “So...” Cat asked loudly “who is everyone taking to the Yule Ball? I assume you and Ron are going together.” she said to Hermione.

“Yes, we are” Hermione replied, smiling brightly at Ron. “Although I don’t know that we’ll be doing much dancing” Ron rolled his eyes and sighed. “He doesn’t dance very well. His brothers taught him.”

“His brothers? Please tell me you don’t mean Fred and George.” It was Cat’s turn to roll her eyes as everyone nodded yes. “Ron.... what were you thinking. Surely you realized it was too sweet a set up to resist. ..... So, what *is* the damage” she asked Hermione.

Hermione counted them off on her fingers “two left shoes, three right, a pair of trousers, a singed robe, several small explosions....” she turned and looked at Ron “am I missing anything?” Ron sheepishly hung his head as he shook it.

“Harry, I think Ron should be taking lessons from you. After all, you're coming along nicely.” Cat suggested as Harry blushed crimson. “So Harry, who are you taking to the ball, you’ve been noticeably quite about it.” she asked as she playfully jabbed him in his ribs.

“You mean he hasn’t told you about Cho?” Ginny asked incredulously “she’s all he’s talked about, ..... besides going home for the holiday with you that is.” Ginny laughed and stuck out her tongue when Harry glared at her.

“Oh really,... Harry, something you’d like to tell me?” Cat asked as she tried to smooth down his hair. “I don’t recall a Cho in Gryffindor..... Is she nice?”

Harry looked up at her, his eyes twinkling brightly “Yes. Very, very nice. I just know you’ll like her” he could feel his cheeks growing warm. He couldn’t understand why he was so nervous about having Cat and Cho meet each other, they were sure to adore each other. He watched as Cat smiled warmly back at him. Suddenly Hagrid gave a loud laugh.

“Well Cat, it looks like ye be aving your hands full now. Wot with ‘arry beein’ all starry eyed and such.” He laughed even harder when he saw Cat and Harry give him a warning glance, they had already become so protective of each other. It simply tickled him to see how much they cared for one another.

“What about you Ginny? Are you going to the ball?” Cat asked, trying to change the subject for Harry’s sake, she could ask him about this Cho girl later. “And have you both picked out your gowns?”

Ron laughed “Oh yeah.. Ginny has a date, dontcha Ginny?”

Ginny glared at him, “Just because you don’t think he’s *cool* is no reason to pick on him” Ginny fumed. “He’s very nice and you know it Ronald Albert Weasley”

“Ouch” Cat said, “full name,.... never a good thing” she smiled as Ron shrugged and gave her a crooked grin. “So Ginny, who is it?”

Ginny hesitated before she responded “Neville Longbottom” she shifted uncomfortably “he’s in Harry and Ron’s year.... he’s a Gryffindor” she added brightly “thats good, right?”

“Of course that’s good. What a silly question” Cat said cheerfully, she could tell by Ginny’s response, Neville was not her first choice. “Gryffindor is always the best house to get a date from” she added as she winked at Ginny. “So what do your gowns look like? Long, short, colour, style... give me some details”

Harry and Ron looked at each other and sighed, “girl talk” Ron said as they walked over to Hagrid to play with the bat.

Cat could tell something was wrong with Ginny, while Hermione talked happily about the gown her parent had bought her, Ginny kept changing the subject. Cat decided not to push, she could ask Harry later, he and Ron would know what was bothering her.

“Hermione, have you seen Cat..... uhm ... Miss MacLeod’s dress, its beautiful. Professor Snape is going to die when he sees it.” Ginny said “Is he going with you and Harry to see your family?” she asked innocently.

Ron and Harry looked at each other as they both mouthed the word *no*. They quickly made their way back over to Cat and the girls to hear the answer. “Severus,.... He doesn’t exactly understand my clan Ginny. I don’t think he’ll be joining Harry and I this year. Although we will be attending the dance and perhaps a late dinner afterwards.” Harry grimaced as he heard the last part of her sentence.

Ron spoke up “Harry told us what happened... are you really going to make it for the dance. I mean, the way he was talking it sounded like you were dead or something.”

“RON !!!!”.. Everyone yelled

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.. Gheez.” Ron said defensively as everyone stared at him.

Poppy, who had come to check on Cat again rolled her eyes when she heard the Weasley boy’s comment. Everyone staid very quiet as she checked Cat over, at least her heart was beating normally again. Although her colour could be better, Poppy sighed as she looked at Cat’s smiling face, hopefully she would make it through tonight without any more episodes. Poppy taped Hagrid on the shoulder “I was told I need to play veterinarian now?”

Cat smiled at Ron, “yes Ron, I will be fine in a few days. Just ask Poppy.” she winked as Madame Pomfrey rolled her eyes.

Hagrid smiled “course she will, and she’ll be dancin’ wit all of us. Won’t ya” he asked winking at her. As he got up and followed Madame Pomfrey to her office. "Ye're savin a dans fer me, right?"

“Of course I will” she smiled “ and one for my son, right Harry?”

Harry blushed as he nodded “Guess I have to dance with my mum.. Huh” he joked “although I think your dance card is going to be full already.”

“Well not if you don’t *want* to dance with me” cat said, sounding hurt. “I’m sure I can find *someone* who’ll be willing to humor me.” she played with a loose curl as she stuck out her lower lip, pouting at Harry’s words.

Harry grinned widely, he knew that look, “you're as bad as Remus sometimes,” he chuckled “but at least you convince people you mean it”

“How is Remus, he must be very tired” Cat asked, her voice suddenly soft “I haven’t seen him at all today. Is he alright?”

“Yes, he’s doing alright, a little worse for wear, but he always looks bad right after a full moon” Hermione told her. “I think he’ll sleep most of today, he’s usually himself a day or two later.” she paused for a moment, “it seems strange he always has the worst transformations at this time of year, he seemed so drained in class today.”

“Not strange, ... this was when he was bit. It always gets more....*intense* around the anniversary date. Just the rules of the game I guess.” Cat said softly. “I wish I could go to him, he gets so depressed at this time of the year...”

Harry sighed when he saw the tears forming in her eyes, apparently she still cared for him as much as he cared for her “I’m sure he’ll be fine. But I’ll check on him if you want me to. I didn’t see him at supper, maybe I can bring him something from the kitchen” he suggested.

Cat said warmly “I think that is a wonderful idea Harry. I know it would mean a lot to Remus as well.” she reached out and gently squeezed Harry’s hand as she smiled proudly at him.

Harry was practically basking in her approval. It felt so wonderful to have someone who meant so much to him show their acceptance and pride like Cat did. Only Dumbledore and Sirius had the same effect on him. “Oh.. I’m not sure if you care,. ... but Sirius got back..” Harry told her, hoping for the best.

“Sirius, really? Is he alright, did everything go well?” Cat asked anxiously, concern written on her face. She felt the familiar pang in her heart as soon as she thought about him, if only their lives had turned out differently. If only they had never parted, she could easily see herself married happily to him.

Harry smiled and wished Sirius could see the worry in her eyes. How could he doubt she still cared about him? All he had to do was look at her, at her eyes. If only Snape weren't around to distract her, Harry knew he could get her and Sirius back together in a heart beat.

Cat paused for a moment “I take it they all know about him?” seeing them all nod “How big a secret is this supposed to be... everyone seems to know about it”

“Well not everyone, Hagrid doesn’t know, and neither does Madam Pomfrey” Hermione said “and the other students have no idea, except for Fred and George, their father and mother know as well”

Harry spoke up, “He wants to see you as soon as possible. Do you want to see him?” he asked, feeling confident he already knew the answer.

“Do I want... of course I do Harry. I’ve been terribly worried about him.” she confessed “ Did Dimitri return with him? What about Cash, does he know they’re back?” She was getting more and more concerned as each new question popped into her head. Albus and Cash should have let her go with them.

“Calm down” Harry laughed “he didn’t say one way or the other. I had to stop him from running in here when he heard you were hurt. He didn’t tell me anything about Dimitri or the Roma” Harry tried not to smile to much as he added “He was so worried about you he never told me about anything else.”

Harry smiled as Cat’s eyes grew soft “He was worried about me?” she could hardly believe it, but she was probably reading too much into Harry’s comments. After all, Sirius was his godfather, of course he would seem worried to Harry.

Ron rolled his eyes “Worried?! .... the man’s half mad in love with you, of course he’s worried” he yelled exasperated.