“What makes you think I’ll be alone?” Cat asked softly, touched by Sev’s apparent concern. “And who did you think was lying? Who else knows where I am?”
“Poppy left me go, I just wanted to tell Harry I was going to be in my room. I didn’t want him to worry when I wasn’t in the hospital anymore.” Cat explained as she held on tightly to Remus. She hated to admit it, but she was far weaker than she ever thought possible.
Remus looked down at her, she was still terribly pale and she looked as if she was going to fall over at any moment. “You should have staid in the hospital. Look at you ....” he said sternly as Harry and Ron joined them “you’re white as a sheet, you can hardly stand on your own legs.... what were you thinking?” Remus, Harry and Ron stared expectantly at Cat.
“I was thinking I was worried about you Remus Lupin” Cat said as her eyes tearing up “it’s not like you to be gone so long. And I didn’t want Harry to get upset when I suddenly disappeared from the hospital. I didn’t want him to worry” she told him, her feelings obviously hurt.
Remus softened immediately and hugged her tightly “You need to worry about yourself Kitty. Just because we’re guys doesn’t mean we’re helpless.. Alright?” he teased “I’m sure we would have figured it out when Poppy started yelling at us.” he rubbed her back as she leaned against him, she seemed so frail, so helpless, it was almost frightening to think of what might have happened to her if Ron hadn't have seen her falter.
Cat rested against Remus’s chest, grateful for his strength and compassion. “Remus... sweetie ..... what happened to you? You're still kinda furry...” She asked only to hear him laugh softly.
“Only you would ask something like that.... you, the one who can’t even stand..... and you're asking what happened to me.” Remus shook his head and looked towards the boys “Harry,.. .. Why don’t you and Ron lead the way. Miss MacLeod is going to her bed, immediately.”
“You won’t hear any arguments from me... I’m too tired” Cat replied softly, grateful for her friends compassion.
“Are you sure you can make it mum?” Harry asked, his voice full of concern “I can conjure a stretcher...” He had to laugh at the look on Cat’s face.
“A STRETCHER.!!!!” she practically yelled “Are you crazy... that’s all I’d need. I had to fight with Poppy to get out as it is. There is no way I’m going through the halls on a stretcher” she said emphatically, only to wobble on her own legs. Harry grabbed hold of her to stop her from falling and looked to Remus for advise.
Remus shook his head and gave her a tsk, tsk, “That’s it.” he said as he scooped her up in his arms “Stop being stubborn and stupid. You are going to your room, you are NOT walking, and Harry and Ron are staying with you until I make sure Poppy actually *did* let you leave.”
Cat tried to protest, but it was no use. She looked to Harry for help, only to see him smiling widely. Cat rolled her eyes at him “some help you are. I can only imagine the rumors that this will start.”
“Let them talk” Remus joked “they do anyway... did you know you turned down my marriage proposal... twice?” he chuckled as he saw the look of shock on her face.
“Oh sweet mother in heaven.... do I even want to know....” she sighed as she relaxed into Remus’s safe embrace.
Harry turned to Ron “Do you really think Pomfrey let her out. She looks awfully pale, and she can barely walk on her own.”
Ron shook his head slowly “I don’t know Harry, it doesn’t seem like something Pomfrey would do, but then again MacLeod can be pretty persuasive, I mean look at her and Snape. She’s got him wrapped around her little finger.”
“Don’t remind me.” Harry said as he rolled his eyes, “That’s all I need, Snape as a dad. Eeyyww.... At least Cat’s smiling again. I was terrified she wasn’t going to make it the other night. There was so much blood.” he said as he shuddered over the memory.
“Did you ever find out exactly what happened?” Ron asked
“According to Snape, she had some sort of vision.... but he didn’t really seem all that sure. I think that’s what scared me the most. He was just as frightened as I was.” Harry told Ron
“Snape?!..... come on Harry. He doesn’t have enough of a heart to be worried about anyone.” Ron replied bluntly.
Harry paused for a moment, remembering the look on Professor Snape’s face as he held Cat’s unconscious form in his arms. She was covered in blood and barely breathing, he remembered clearly the look of fear and helplessness on the potion master’s face as he ran with her towards the hospital. “I think you're wrong Ron. I honestly think he’s in love with her, I don’t know why or how.... but you can see it when he’s with her. He’s even trying to be nicer to me.” Harry added with a smirk.
Harry stopped as he heard Remus whisper. “Harry, open the door.” Harry turned to see why Remus was whispering. There was Cat, nuzzled up against his chest, fast asleep in his arms.
“Remus... is she alright? She’s only sleeping, right?” Harry asked anxiously as he opened her door.
Remus smiled at Harry’s concern “Yes Mr. Potter, she fell asleep shortly after we started down the hall. She’s much weaker than I thought, I really have my doubts as to wether Poppy actually released her... I hope she didn’t sneak out again.”
Ron and Harry looked at each other “again?!”
Remus nodded to the boys to pull back the covers, “Yes, again... she was notorious for sneaking out of anything and everything” he explained as he laid her on the bed and covered her up “detention, hospital, curfew.. ..she could find a way out of anything.” he laughed as he remembered some of her more inventive moments. “After all, she was a marauder in spirit if not in name. Just like Lily.” Remus bent over and kissed he softly on her forehead. “Harry, Ron. I want you to stay here with her. I want to speak with Poppy myself.”
“Sure” they answered in unison “But what if Madame Pomfrey keeps you?” Ron asked.
“Yeah. Your not exactly looking yourself either.” Harry added.
Remus ran his hand through his hair as he laughed softly “Well you two have got a point there. But Severus is working on that problem, and Poppy realizes there is nothing she can do about it at the moment. So I think I’m relatively safe for now.” He looked at Cat and then back to the boys “Right now my first concern is her. I’ve seen her go through some pretty bad episodes, but nothing that’s effected her like this. I don’t like it.”
Harry and Ron made themselves comfortable as the waited for Remus to return. Ron watched as Harry sat on her bed and held her hand. “Uhmm Harry.... promise you won’t get mad?”
Harry looked at Ron “Mad? ... why would I get mad?” he asked curiously
Ron fidgeted uncomfortably “Well, I was just thinking about what Hermione said earlier.” he saw Harry about to protest “NO... wait... let me finish. I trust her too Harry, I just want to be sure. I mean.... it does seem strange first you don’t even know who she is, then you get nervous every time she’s around, and now you are calling her mum half the time. You have to admit. It is a bit odd.”
Harry sighed, Ron was right it must seem strange, but he didn’t know how to explain it. “Ron.... I know you and Hermione are concerned about me and I appreciate it. But ... I don’t know how to explain it. It feels right, I mean... I still get that weird feeling when she’s around... only now it isn’t weird, its ..... I don’t know... comforting. I know she’s near and watching out for me, I know she loves me.” Harry looked up at Ron, his eyes full of emotion as his voice choked “I’m her son, I have a family. I’m not alone anymore. I don’t know if you can understand what that means to me.”
Ron looked away for a moment as he blinked his eyes a few times to chase away his own tears. “Yeah... I think I do. I can’t even imagine being an only child, not that I wouldn’t like to try mind you.” he joked “Actually I think thats one of the reason my mum is always asking you to stay with us. She doesn’t like the idea of you being alone either. That and she thinks you’re a good influence on me.... whatever is she thinking.” he grinned as Harry laughed.
“Yeah... if she only knew how much trouble I lead everyone into” Harry said softly.
“Oh come on now Harry.... you know I didn’t mean it like that.” Ron insisted.
Harry smiled at his friend “Yeah... I know, but still. It seems like everything that happens is somehow because of me. The Chamber, Ginny almost dying, Hermione getting frozen, Voldemort” then in a very soft voice he said “Cedric” he turned his face away from Ron as the scene of Cedric’s death replayed itself yet again.
Ron sighed loudly “Harry... you have *got* to get over that... It wasn’t your fault. It was you-know-who that killed him, not you. There was nothing you could have done to stop it.”
Harry was about to argue the point when a soft voice stopped him “He’s right you know. You have to stop beating yourself up over things you can’t control”... It was Cat, she was looking up at Harry, smiling sweetly at him. “Voldemort is very strong... and you, my little one, are no where near full grown. Not to mention you were horribly outnumbered.... We all know that, and so did Cedric.”
“How do you know about it?” Harry asked as his eyes brimmed with tears. “You weren’t even here yet?” and he hadn't been able to bring himself to discuss it, not even with her, it still hurt him too much.
“How do I know..... oh Harry... in between Albus, Minerva, Severus, Remus and Sirius... I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve heard about it.” she sighed, “and they all say the same thing... you have got to stop taking the blame for Voldemort’s actions. They all understand what you are up against... most of them were amazed you survived at all, much less had the presence of mind or the strength to bring him back.” Cat tried to sit up, only to have Harry and Ron insist she stay as she was. “Oh no... not another one” she joked as she smiled at Ron.
Ron for his part beamed “Yep... me and Harry. The team supreme” he laughed as Harry groaned.
“Oiy... almost as much trouble as Fred and George I’ll bet.” she said as they all laughed. Ron watched as Harry smiled brightly, relief written all over his face. Ron could actually see the joy bubbling inside of Harry when Cat MacLeod looked at him and winked. She was going to be alright and so was Harry. Ron was more sure now than ever that Cat was not a threat to Harry as Hermione feared. In fact he had the feeling that Cat would kill or die to protect Harry just as his mother would for him.
Remus knocked as he walked in. “Unbelievable as it sounds.... Poppy did let her go. Apparently there was some concern for her safety in the hospital. Care to explain that Kitty?” he asked sternly
Cat sighed “Think about it Lupy..... Malfoy has wanted me dead and gone since I was a student. I’m quite sure Draco went right to his dad as soon as he heard the news.... and lets face it... Lucy has no qualms about killing innocent bystanders.”
Ron smiled widely, “Lucy... as in Lucius... I love it” he said as he began to laugh uncontrollably “Oh man... do you actually call him that to his face?”
Cat gave Ron a crooked grin “That and a lot worse... trust me.” she began to laugh herself, Ron was a hoot, and it felt good to laugh again.
They all talked for a few more minutes until Remus chased the boys out, telling them to get some lunch and not to be late for their next class. He closed the door and went to Cat, “So... how bad it is really?” he asked as he held her hand, squeezing it gently.
Cat looked up at him with tired eyes. “*That* bad. I don’t know what we’re going to do Remus. Voldemort is scarey enough, but Clan Tremere is my deepest concern. Voldemort can be defeated, it will just take time, after all he’s not immortal. However Clan Tremere is another story all together, I’m almost tempted to call on the Assamites, at least they can be reasoned with.”
Remus’s eyes grew large “The Assamites. Catri.. they are assassins, they consider themselves to be the judges of the undead, you fail you die. Can you really take that chance?”
Cat looked defeated “I know, but what choice do I have, the dark-skinned terrors of retribution, or the soul-less murderers of innocent lives. Either way, even with the Gangrel and the Nosferatu, I don’t like the odds.” she sighed as her mood turned dark. “Remus, there are just too many innocent children here. Gustavas would be in his glory.”
“Gustavas!!!” Remus gasped. “Oh Kitty... I’ve heard about him, even the other Tremere give him a wide breath. He’s murdered his own childer, . .”
“I know, now maybe you can explain it to Albus and Severus, they seem to think I’m over reacting.” Cat explained as she looked out of her windows at the bright sun. It would be hours before Cash showed up, and Remus had classes to teach. “Remus, where is Sirius? Is he still on the grounds, or has Albus sent him on another mission?”
Remus smiled softly “Sirius is still here Kitty. Do you want me to get him? I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”
“No, its alright. I was just wondering. He tends to show up at night with Cash anyway. Besides, Cash knows I’ve left. I wouldn’t be surprised if either Shashe or Snuffles shows up at any minute” she laughed, Cash was so protective of her, it was almost funny, he was every bit as bad as her brothers.
“Snuffles? You know about him now?” Remus asked hesitantly.
“I know he either belongs to Harry, Sirius or Albus... apparently it depends on what day of the week it is.” she smirked. “And I know someone’s been sending him to keep and eye on me. I know it sounds really strange, but I do feel very safe around him. Poor puppy... I made him sleep with me last night.”
Remus winced and tried not to laugh “Sleep with you huh? I’m guessing he didn’t put up much of a fight.”
Before Cat could ask him what he meant, their conversation was interrupted by a loud knock at her door, they looked as the door swung open, revealing Severus who rushed in, a look of complete disbelief on his face. “I honestly thought he was lying” Severus stated as he stared at Cat “What are you doing here? You are hardly well enough to have left the hospital.” Turning on Remus, Sev continued “Professor Lupin, if you had anything to do with this. So help you...”
Remus raised his hands as if in surrender “I completely agree with you Professor Snape. And I assure you I am as shocked as you are. But I have spoken with Poppy, this came from Dumbledore, it is just too dangerous to leave her in the hospital.” Remus explained as he looked pointedly at Snape.
Severus paused as the meaning behind Lupin’s words sunk in,
“What makes you think I’ll be alone?” Cat asked softly, touched by Sev’s apparent concern. “And who did you think was lying? Who else knows where I am?”