Among all the everyday fiascos, I literally forgot that my birthday had past too on 4th December. Though I couldn't figure out whether I actually turned 15 or it wouldn't have an impact on me after I go back in my time. There's one thing I clearly understood; meddling with time is highly confusing. 

It was a day before Christmas and there had been a great feast in the Hall. Though as a safety precaution I didn't go down with them because with this less number of students there were chances of me getting found out. 

Wormtail however had made a deal with the House elves to keep some food reserved for him which he brought to the common room afterwards so that I wouldn't die of starvation (if you hadn't noticed by now, I overly exaggerate a lot of things). 

Anyhow I was waiting in the dorm immersed in my books (to the evident dislike of Padfoot on me becoming a bookworm, not that it matters anyway), Sirius had gone off to the kitchens this time while the others were in the common room probably playing chess. 

Don't get me wrong but reading such a lot can be highly boring, I wonder how Moony is even alive considering that he has already finished reading every single book in the Library, so I decided to leave the books for a good two hours or more and join the others in the common room. 

I was just coming down the stairs when I heard voices, seems like the Marauders are having one of their heated argument sessions. 

"Bet you ten galleons, they're going to hit it off before the five months end," I heard Prongs. By the looks of it they were probably betting on something. 

"I don't think so. It's too far fetched," Lily on the objection point as always. 

I wonder how they get along with each other since James and Lily are always like the two poles of a magnet. Always disagreeing with each other yet it has to be Prongs who usually gives in. I paused by to listen since I didn't actually want to intrude yet I was curious all the same. 

"Seriously, Lils, have you seen any girl who can resist his charm and good looks? I know its a lot worse for his ego but that's just the way it has been. Being beautiful has its benefits." Typical Marlene statement. 

"Snogging someone is not a benefit, Marlene." 

The next thing I heard was James, "I dare to object, Evans." 

Trust me sometimes its difficult to prevent yourself from laughing when these two are around. And it does not help whatsoever when one is listening in on their conversations. Lily quickly formulated her statement, "except some exceptional cases, of course." 

Wormy finally spoke up, "Twenty galleons say nothing happens at all." 

Well I was quite surprised to hear Moony next, "bet you ten more, it happens this Christmas." 

All I had understood so far was that they were definitely betting on a likely-to-be-a-couple. I had heard Marlene talking about Gabrielle Bones and Michael Sardonian last night and I had to listen to her for an hour at least about how cute a couple that would be and how she was dying to get their cover story for her new song, so I was guessing that all this was about them. 

"Aw how exactly adorkable! What do you think should be the ship name?" Marlene spoke and all the others shouted a reply, "KARIUS!!!" 

Wait... What? 

I was about to make my presence known when the portrait hole swung open and Padfoot stepped inside. He might have heard the last bit of the conversation because he asked, "hey, what are you guys talking about?" 

James immediately replied, "nothing, absolutely nothing." 

I silently stepped inside. 

Padfoot gave James one of his knowing meaningful looks, "you're telling me now, Prongs or else no hot cocoa for the whole summer break." 

Nice threat or so it seems by the expression on James's face, "come on Padfoot, it was nothing." 

Sirius turned to face Moony, "you're up to something, aren't you, Moons? Why the hell are you SMIRKING?" 

Moony winked (and trust me he never does that so definitely something fishy's going on in here), "it's not my fault that I have a damn perfect intellectual sense of certain personalities, right?" 

I cleared my throat to get their attention, "did I miss something?" Wormy shook his head while chewing on his favourite sugar quill, "for your own benefit." 

What's up with them? Honestly? Sirius and I exchanged a look, it couldn't be possible that they were talking about us, could it? Damn unbelievable. 

"Hey Padfoot, the Halley comet is going to pass the Earth tonight," Moony remarked all of a sudden. 

"The Halley comet?" I had read about it in one of my previous school books, "you mean the one that passes the Earth after every 76 years or something?" 

He nodded, "precisely. I taught Sirius some basics of Muggle Astronomical Theories and stuff related to Astrophysics but looks like he doesn't even remember it." 

He scowled mockingly at Moony, "I do remember it despite the fact that it was a bunch of nonsense. What time tonight exactly?" 

Moony replied, "about midnight. And I suppose there are a few minutes left before it passes over the school towers." 

Sirius turned to face me, "would you like to watch it?" 

Why not, of course I would love it. I would be one of the lucky few who got the chance to witness the Haley comet. "Sure would," I replied. 

A slight smile was visible on his face, "anyone else coming?" All the others shook their heads in a no (wonder why though). 

"All settled then, hurry up or you'll get late," Marlene remarked cheerfully. 

Me and Sirius slipped out of the common room and hurried up to the Astronomy tower. 

***

According to him, the view from up there was always great. We perched up on the rails both being the daredevils we were always known for (I mean Fred and George had forbidden me one thing and that was to perch up on these rails because it was the highest tower in the castle and if I fell down, possibly no chance of survival) but I had wanted to do that since so long. 

Things which I'm forbidden to do always intrigue me. And its not a habit to be proud of but still... At least I get all my adventures that way. And same was the case with Padfoot. He liked to test the limits of how far he could go without getting seriously hurt or something. 

I looked up at the midnight blue sky which was dotted with beautiful silver stars here and there. The scene was so magnificent that I was utterly speechless for the time being. A short while later, the comet became visible as it shot across the blue hues splattering a silvery tail behind it. 

The only word to describe all that was enchanting. It was so mesmerizing the way the silvery comet pierced through the serene sky just like a cruise penetrates the calm of the blue sea. Ultimately speechless. 

I was feeling quite radiant because as in the words of an old saying: beautiful scenes always leave an impact. Finally I let out the breath I was holding, "the sky is beautiful." 

After a short pause I heard his voice which was reduced to a barely audible whisper, "and so are you." 

I kept silent for a while as if I hadn't heard him right, "did you say something?" 

This time I turned to face him and caught him looking at me, "yeah, you're very beautiful." 

I felt my hands go clammy and a blush rose to my cheeks. Thank God it was just the moonlight outlining us or else he could have seen the bright crimson shade on my face. I mean I know he's a renowned flirt but still there's something in his voice and the way with which he addresses me sometimes which makes me kind of... 

Having butterflies would be merely an understatement. 

"Oh, I'm flattered," I tried to laugh it off. 

"That's no flattery," he replied. 

God, why does he have to be so... Forget it. 

"Kat," I was roused out of my reveries by his voice. 

"Yup," I mumbled my mind still drifting from one conclusion to another trying to convince myself that there was nothing whatever like what I was suspecting. But then... 

"Would you mind if I..." he left the sentence deliberately incomplete. 

If he what? 

I raised an eyebrow quizzically to which he shook his head still smiling, "nothing. What did you expect? That I would ask you out to Hogsmeade this Christmas and we would have a romantic little walk by the Lake and I would kiss you lightly and confess my eternal never dying love for you? All very like the very romantic Muggle movies." 

Hey... He's having a laugh at my expense! I shoved him, "shut it, Black." 

He laughed silently, "know what, I would have wanted to do that." 

I asked, "do what? Ask me out to Hogsmeade?" 

He shook his head, "no, the other thing." 

The romantic little walk or... I checked his forehead trying to make sure that he wasn't running a fever, "you aren't having a nervous breakdown right now, are you?" 

He raised an eyebrow quizzically, "are you serious?" 

I smiled, "of course I'm not Sirius, but it looks like you are." 

His laugh echoed in the solitude of the surroundings, "I wouldn't be here if I was having a mental havoc, to be honest, I would be stuck in the infirmary with Madam Pomfrey. Why did you think about that though?" 

I shrugged, "you're extraordinarily unbelievable. I keep in mind to always expect the implausible around you." 

He spoke, "and does that mean you wouldn't have been surprised if I had a nervous breakdown during the soccer cup while cheering for Argentina winning the series?" 

Soccer? 

As if replying to my unasked question he spoke, "I know about soccer due to Moony. He secretly supports Argentina so now I do too. You know Moony, always comes up with a hundred reasons for his actions and somehow convinces me to get on his side. Before that I used to support France though," then dropping his voice he added, "they had all the good girls. Cheerleaders, y'know." 

His eyes twinkled, "oooh, someone's jealous." I might have made a face because he laughed again, "aw come on Kat you honestly thought you would make me change my ways?" 

Of course not. "I'm not that stupid to even hope about it. You're not going to change and especially not if I tried my level best," I stated. 

"Or perhaps you did," his voice came out in a barely audible whisper. 

I thought I didn't quite hear him right because it seems as if my own imagination is playing tricks on me. Surely, how could he say that? But kept my mouth shut all the same. 

"Have you ever wondered why some things happen to us that we never expect? For instance I never thought that a girl like you would reduce me to the point of confessing something from which I have been running my whole life." He sure was being weird. He gazed up at the sky then turned his eyes towards me, "I don't know why I have always been attracted by those who I'm forbidden to reach out to. Those who I know can't be mine." 

And at that moment I realized how exactly close we were and how alone, how his handsome face was just inches apart and how his curious dark eyes were fixed in my green ones causing me to melt. That was it. 

He was going to kiss me. A tingling sensation went up my spine as I noticed him slightly closing the gap between us. Slowly. Gradually. As if asking for permission. 

But the spell of the moment broke as I hastily stumbled to my feet, "I... I'm sorry." 

I don't know what got into me and I felt unimaginably guilty when I saw the hurt that was visible on his face. I didn't mean to hurt him. I didn't mean to do any of that. But at that moment I had felt something other than what I had expected. A dreadful pang of fear. 

Professor Trelawney's voice rang in my ears, "balances will disrupt, hearts will be conquered..." Then like an immediate blow another voice took hold of my senses, "you must go back before the prophecy comes true." I don't know. I just don't know what I should do. 

Sirius stood up to face me and gently took my hand in his. He seem to always know when I got troubled, "what's wrong?" 

What could I possibly tell him? Should I tell him that I had pulled apart from him because I was scared? That I was afraid of falling in love with someone or rather causing someone to like me that way? That I had kept ignoring the attraction I felt towards the boy with long black hair who had introduced himself as Padfoot, who had offered to evacuate his dorm and sleep in the common room just so I could be comfortable, who was the only one whom I had allowed to address me as Kitten? 

I knew I wasn't meant for him and I didn't want to disrupt the balances. And yet... My voice was stuck in my throat as if scared that I would say something which might hurt him. 

"Kat...," he spoke again his eyes taking in every single expression that was depicted on my face and his hand reached out to tenderly caress my cheek as if he knew and understood what I was going through. 

His eyes made me regret to ever have broken the moment. But what's done is done now and nothing can change it. I couldn't say anything to him. I just couldn't take the risk. So I did the only possible thing I could do. 

I left him there alone and rushed back to the common room. The terrible ache that had risen in the midst of my heart was intolerable, it was almost like how I had felt when I saw him wounded in my nightmare. And there was  a feeling that told me that he was broken far worse than I had seen him once before. And I was the one to blame for that.

***     

Thankfully there was no one in the common room when I entered. Because I surely didn't want to face anything right now. The guilt of hurting Sirius was too much for me. I didn't go to the dorm instead I curled up in an armchair in the corner and buried my head in my hands. 

There was no possible explanation to my sudden reaction nor to the fear I had felt. At that moment, everything had felt so beautiful one second and the next it all turned out to be formidable; as if forbidding me from crossing that barrier. The only fact that registered in my mind was that I wasn't meant for him. 

"Hey Kat have you seen my red heels? Must have misplaced them or something." I looked up to see Marlene, "Kat...?" She must have noticed my troubled expressions. 

I was confused within myself and was unable to find the answers I needed. She sat down beside me, "hey why do you look so sad?" I kept silent. She spoke, "come on, you can tell me. What happened? Was Sirius being a jerk to you, did he say something?" 

I replied, "no... He didn't." 

She narrowed her eyes questioningly. Soon enough we were joined by Lily who seemed as worried as Marlene was regarding my sudden mood change, "Kat, is something wrong?" 

Well that is precisely what I would like to know, I don't know what's wrong yet everything seems out of order. They were persistent to know why I was in a near crying state so I managed to get the words out, "S-Sirius likes me...?" 

Marlene shrugged, "we have known that. He likes a lot of girls. And considering that you share his dorm, well all of us were kinda surprised why nothing happened between you guys yet." 

I stared at her in disbelief while Lily shook her head as if disappointed with her, "you're not being helpful, Marlene." Then turning to me, she spoke, "did he tell you himself?" 

I mumbled, "sort of; one doesn't nearly kiss someone if he doesn't like her." 

I had spoken the last few words in a barely audible whisper but seems like Marlene heard anyway. 

"Honestly Kat you're unbelievable! Here we are hoping for Sirius to confess that he has fallen for you since so long and now when he has finally done it, you're here in the common room running away from him? How hilarious." 

I muttered, "its not funny Marlene." 

She resumed however, "yes it is. We even thought out a ship name for both of you: Karius. Speaking of which Moony won the bet as usual. Lily owes him a couple galleons." 

Wait, what? So they were betting about us before? 

Lily spoke, "but don't you like him too?" 

I gave a low nod, "I... I do. But I'm scared." I had no idea on how I was going to explain it to them. I don't even know why I'm being so odd myself. 

"But there's nothing to be scared of," Marlene insisted, "you don't have to run away from him." 

I'm not running away from anyone. I am just terribly confused. "He's not meant for me," I reasoned, "I came here from the future. I disrupted the balances once and I don't wanna do that ever again. I don't wanna break his heart when I leave." 

And that is the truth. I don't wanna break anyone's heart. Especially Sirius. I can not bear to hurt him. I can't take that much risk. 

Before I could say anything else, the portrait hole swung aside and Sirius stepped in. He walked past us to the dorm without even so much as giving a single glance our way. I felt really bad; he had been in such a happy mood before and I had ruined it. 

After he was gone and we heard the dorm door slam shut, Lily resumed, "we know. But I think he must be more heartbroken if you don't acknowledge him. He has never been that civil to any of his girlfriends before, nor has he ever been genuinely anxious about someone. Me and Marlene think that he has possibly fallen for you." 

Marlene nodded, "of course. Remember when the chandelier fell on you and you were hurt? James said he had never seen him so worried about anyone other than the Marauders before." 

That's... Unbelievable. I never thought... 

"At least for the short time you're here let him be with you," Lily spoke, "follow your heart, Kat, trust me you won't regret it."

***

I went to the dorm after I was certain that Sirius would have been asleep by now. I opened the door carefully and stepped inside, sure enough he was sleeping. When I peeked through the curtains in my dim wand light, I saw him asleep with a rather exhausted expression on his face. 

Silently I tiptoed over to his bed and making sure not to disturb him, I entangled my pale hand through his dark locks of hair. I had wanted to do that since so long, his hair always that perfect tempting me to touch them in order to see the contrast it would make with my hands. He stirred and I froze but he didn't open his eyes so I assumed he was deep into the realms of sleep. 

"I'm sorry, Sirius," I spoke softly, "I like you, I really do. But we don't have a choice. I don't want to break your heart. You deserve a lot better than me." I would never have said so in front of him when he was awake but I figured that I had to get the burden off me as soon as possible. 

"There must be some girl in your time who would capture your heart, who you would love and live happily with," I resumed, "you're a great person and I don't wanna mess up things for you. I wish you would be happy in your own world." 

I became silent and sighed softly. It was sad as if my heart was crushing. I carefully withdrew my hand. I was about to get up when I heard a low whisper, "I love you, Katerina." 

It took me by surprise when I heard my real name from his voice, the name that I hadn't even told him. I couldn't understand how he knew that. And yet he had said he loved me... That whole night I was unable to sleep. 

I love you, Katerina.

His words kept flashing in and out of my mind. I don't know exactly when and how but the truth was that there was something between us quite close to the feelings he had said he was experiencing. Quite close to love. What I had been trying to deny, he himself had confessed.

***