The day of the Spring Ball was drawing near. February had started and I was very well aware that the day of my departure from here was drawing close too. Even though I would be sad to leave all of them (we have had such a brilliant time together) but still I would be glad enough to see my family once again. 

The Ball drawing near meant Marlene going absolutely haywire. She kept going on and on about the dresses, the jewelry, the decorum, the music and all such things. Once it got too much that even Lily (who never loses her calm) had to use a Silencing charm on her. 

But anyways, it's in her nature to be this over excited and enthusiastic and trust me I find it to be quite a nice aspect in one's personality even though most of the times it starts to bother us. And there was much of an uproar when I told her that I won't be coming to the Ball at all. 

I had to listen to her protests for an hour as she kept repeating how much she would have loved to do my hair and makeup and how I was being a dreadful spoilsport. Well now that's something which can't be helped; over the years I have discovered that I am a dreadful spoilsport. 

By every passing day, the excitement between the students bubbled and increased to a heightening extent. As each of the students had to go with a partner there was quite a hustle bustle and nearly everywhere people were asking each other out to the Ball. 

I recalled the Lockhart scene which made me cringe; thank God he fainted or else I would have had to accompany him to the tea shop on 14th Feb, heaven forbid. 

The Marauders too weren't glad of my decision to stay back in the dorm. Even I couldn't furnish a convincing reason to them as to why I decided on staying away (guess I just didn't want to attract much attention on to me and considering that Snape had seen me and was already very suspicious I knew that it was best staying undercover). Besides there is only one month left nearly and after that I would hopefully be back with my loved ones. 

***

Hogwarts had turned quite a lot into a flower shop as nearly everyone thought that presenting bouquets to their partners was much in trend. By now nearly everyone had found a partner. Even Wormtail picked up the guts to ask Mary out to the Ball. 

Sirius was a lot silent than usual but then he gets moody more than just often so I think I must have gotten used to it by now. It was almost midnight when he entered the dorm. I would have fallen asleep by now but since I sometimes (no actually all the time) suffer from horrible insomnia that is why I was still awake. 

"Hey Padfoot," I greeted cheerfully. 

He was startled as if he had expected me to be asleep. "Hey Kitten," he mumbled a reply. 

Not so enthusiastic as usual; I wonder what is wrong now. "And who is the lucky person going out with the famous Sirius Orion Black to the Spring Ball, may I ask?" I tried to keep up a small conversation. 

"Oh, no one yet." 

Now that's unbelievable, I told him so, "that's hard to believe. You must have asked someone at least." 

He laughed in his low rumbling manner as his eyes sparked in amusement, "yes I did, I asked Moony to accompany me but he refused saying that he was going with that Ravenclaw Clearwater Prefect. And it broke my heart. I mean, I'm still way better looking than Eleanor Clearwater. What do you think?" 

Oh poor Sirius. "Sure, you do have a point," I nodded silently laughing myself. 

"Besides, everyone else is taken," he stated in his usual careless manner. Then straightening up as if he suddenly had an idea, he asked, "hey, why are you not coming? I mean, you're a girl too I could ask you out." 

Don't tell me; he literally forgot that I was a girl too and he could have asked me out? Not really; I don't see that happening. Besides he's not stupid enough to overlook the fact that... Ah well who am I kidding exactly? 

"I just don't feel like going to the Ball," I replied vaguely. To be honest, I was afraid of getting caught out if I went to the Ball. 

Not long before, McGonagall had nearly smoked us out. Oh yeah I didn't mention it earlier; well, what happened was that we were in the middle of the execution of a hilarious prank (on Old Snivelly and don't worry Lily had not an inkling of what we were up to) but just before the effects could register, McGonagall unexpectedly came out of nowhere and yeah it was an absolute near miss. 

Moony and Padfoot attempted to distract her while I had to vanish from the scene as fast as lightening. She very nearly saw me and if I had waited for a second more, I would have been tried by the Ministry of Magic for unlawful intrusion by now. To be precise, in front of that Wizengamot thingy which Moony had told me about. 

"That's pitiful," Padfoot sighed dramatically shaking me out of my reflective thoughts on what might have happened, "I'm surely having a bad day today. Wonder if Moony would brew me a phial of Felix Felicis." 

I raised an eyebrow at the weird name to which he replied, "the Luck potion, y'know. Advanced stuff really. Will be brewing it for our NEWTs exams. And by the way I forgot; there's only one subject that Moony really sucks at. And that subject is Potions itself." 

Well then I do think the famous Sirius Black is having an unlucky day for the first time in his life at Hogwarts.

***

The next day was the day of the Ball. Or rephrasing what I just said: The Day Of Utter Havocs. I couldn't set foot into the girls' dormitories because all of them were getting paranoid matching the right jewellery, the best make up shades, arguing on the perfect hairstyles and all sorts of stuff. 

Matters were not so better in the boys' dorms either. 

Moony was struggling to make his hair fall flat to a manageable extent (someone had spiked them up last night when he slept unawares), Peter couldn't get the rumples out of his dress robes, James was the one who was all ready way before the others but was still fussing about, "hey Padfoot, you think it would be cool if I brushed my hair to this side or to that one? Aw, come on, I look so much less awesome without my messed up hair. Let me mess them up for once, will you?" 

Padfoot was being treated like a style expert at the moment. I left them to their chaotic preparations and went to the dorm intending to read a book or two. 

The last thing I heard before closing the door was Wormtail protesting to let him wear a yellow bow tie (which his Gran had sent him for Christmas) and obviously Sirius must have refused to that, "a yellow flower tucked in your pocket would do very well, Wormy, but I'm afraid you'll have to desert your ideas of the bow tie. For now, at least." 

I was on my bed reading one of those books which I had borrowed from Moony when Sirius came in all dressed up for the Ball in his black robes. He was combing his hair for what seemed like the first time but still they were perfect as always. 

At times I couldn't help but notice how handsome he really was as if he was someone right out of a fantasy novel. He turned back to me with his characteristic smirk registered on his face, "take a picture. It lasts longer." 

Slightly embarrassed I immediately looked down at the book attempting to hide the red color of my face. 

He pulled out a black silk tie from his drawer and looked at it as if considering something in his mind, "ah well I think I should just tie it round my head. Don't wanna bother doing it properly. Takes too much time and effort." 

I looked up a bit surprised, "tie round your head? Are you serious?" 

He laughed, "of course I am. Who were you expecting, Severus?" 

Obviously not. 

"It would make me look unique, right? A bit rebellious but very ME in all sense," he stated. 

"And to think that you made Prongs flatten down his hair for once," I mumbled, "I thought you had a terrific sense if you could make him do that." 

He shrugged, "well, I had to or else Evans would have killed me if I let James turn up to the Ball with the after effects of a rocket explosion on his head."

He was about to tie it round his head when I got up and took the tie from him, "wait, let me do that for you." 

While I worked on tying the knot, he was unusually silent. I looked up when I was done, "there you go. All done." Observing the silence on his part I asked, "what's the matter? Why are you so silent?" 

He shook his head, "nothing. Just wondering." 

I took a step back, "and what are you wondering?" 

A slight smile graced his lips, "have you ever wondered why so many people love the moon?" 

Now that's weird. "Because it's beautiful?" I suggested. 

He nodded, "and there's another reason too. People love the moon because it's beautiful but unreachable. No one can possess the moon. And that's what increases it's beauty. Because no one can grasp it. Untouchable. Inaccessible. Yet so admirable." 

I was impressed by the intense philosophy but I wonder why he's so interested in the moon all of a sudden, "that's very deep. But why are you talking about the moon like that? Is it because of Moony?" 

His eyes shifted a little, "no. Because of you." 

Me? Honestly...? I raised an eyebrow quizzically, "what do you mean?" 

He glanced straight in my eyes with the look that clearly made me melt, "because you are just like the moon, Kat. And I'm just an admirer who wants to reach out to you but knows its not possible. I can never make you mine. I can't be close to you. You are untouchable, inaccessible yet so beautiful that it becomes hard to resist." 

I dropped my gaze to the floor because I couldn't meet his grey eyes that I knew would be perturbed. 

He walked past me to the door and turned back one last time, "I know you can't be in my sky forever. But I would be grateful if you let me admire you while I can." And with that, he was gone.

Afterwards, I considered. A lot, to be honest. His words were floating around me as I thought it all over. I wasn't being cruel to him, right, or was I? 

After a while had passed in restlessness I opened the closet. Right there was the white Chiffon drape dress which Marlene had given me to wear on the Ball. 

I know you can't be in my sky forever. But I would be grateful if you let me admire you while I can. 

I don't know. I don't know what I should do. But he surely deserved a beautiful evening instead of whiling his time away alone at the Ball. 

***

I made up my mind and took the dress out. The dress was short (not quite my choice of preferable lengths but this will have to do for now). I released my hair from the ponytail and let them fall loose, the red color of my hair displayed a striking contrast to the white dress. 

After a slight touch of liner and mascara I slipped my feet into the white heels that Marlene had lent me along with the matching jewelry (that girl is always prepared for everything and she was so hoping that I would come that she had everything ready for me in case I changed my mind which I did). Glancing in the mirror for the last time, I decided that I was ready to go.

At the Ball everyone was dancing and it was a very happy atmosphere. Hogwarts looked its very best in the festive decorations. There were flowers everywhere and that was quite expected since it was a Spring Ball. 

I saw Sirius standing in a corner with a glass of Butterbeer in his hand watching James and Lily twirl together on the dance floor. All the students were paired. All except Sirius. 

"Come dance with us, Padfoot!" James called. 

He shook his head, "I don't feel like dancing." 

I watched amused as he got startled hearing my voice beside him, "well of course you don't. Who would want to dance without a partner anyway? Would look quite silly, right?" 

He turned around to face me. For a second he just stared as if mesmerized and I felt the familiar red shade creep up to my cheeks. 

I waved my hand in front of his eyes, "Earth to Sirius. It's just me; Kat. Not some alien from another dimension." 

He blinked, "of course you're not an alien. Aliens aren't supposed to be that stunning." 

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

He smiled, "that's no flattery." Then after a short pause he added, "thank you." 

I raised an eyebrow, "for what?" 

He replied, "for coming. For considering what I had asked of you a while ago." 

I nodded, "you're welcome." 

He offered me his hand, "may I have this dance?" 

I placed my hand in his as he took me by a firm grip, "of course you may." 

He led me to the dance floor. The traditional Waltz music was being played. The melodies overlapped with a heart rending richness so that the music seemed both timeless and utterly from the heart. 

It swept us along and those few moments were the most memorable ones of my entire life. It was almost intoxicating making one forget what was going on and what lay ahead. Perhaps it was the only Waltz me and Sirius would have with each other.

*** 

Halfway through the song, the dance was rudely interrupted by a deafening crash and all of us stopped suddenly. Damn Peeves. The music ceased and the spell of the moment was broken. 

"It's not Peeves," James muttered from beside us. 

If not Peeves then who exactly... Before I could even have completed the sentence in my head there was a succession of crashes as if someone was trying to break into Hogwarts. 

"Go back to the common room," Sirius ordered. His eyes were anxious yet focused and he had his wand at the ready. A jet of green light whizzed past us and the door to the Great Hall seemed to be coming apart. "Kat just go," he urged. 

I knew he wouldn't let me stay any more so I made my way to the Fat Lady's portrait as fast as I could. I had just reached the staircase when there was an uproar. Glancing back I saw curses flying everywhere. 

The light produced by the red and green jets was almost blinding. There was a jolt and I looked up to see that the staircases were moving. Now of all times. I ducked immediately to prevent a head injury. Oh great the only way to the common room is gone now. 

The jets of curses were drawing near so I squeezed out and ran towards the other corridor hoping to find some way to help the others. I hadn't gone much further when I was pushed away into the wall forcefully. A swarm of students hurriedly passed through. Oh, I see, that way leads down to the dungeons. 

So we probably have Slytherins here who are running to safety. And they almost knocked me off. How polite. Before I could recover from the blow of hitting the wall (I had noticed that my lip had split from the pressure off being knocked off and was probably bleeding) someone grabbed me and I was thrown into a broom closet. 

Today is definitely such an unlucky day. Because seriously it is in no way enjoyable being pushed into a wall face first then hitting the back of one's head in a broom closet shortly afterwards. 

However the unnerving thing was that someone was pointing a wand at me and I was held stiffly against the wall. I couldn't see who it was due to the darkness in the closet as well as the constant painful swirling of my head which was making me dizzy. 

"Who the hell are you? Answer me truthfully or else you'll regret the consequences," that someone muttered threateningly. Oh wait, I recognize that slow brooding voice. Snivellus Greasy the one and only. 

"Really Snape? I'm flattered; there's an action fight going out there and instead of saving your ass you're in here asking me who I am. Surprising indeed." 

Not quite the correct choice of words considering that he used to be (or rather will be) my Potions Professor. But still; I normally act instinctively in such situations, so there. 

"You do not belong here," he hissed, "you are an intruder portraying to be a Hogwarts student under the wing of those four troublemakers. For all I know you could be a Dark Wizard, a Death Eater, a murderer or a deranged killer." 

How intelligent, but it turns out that I do not fit in any of the categories that were mentioned so I guess all the effort of figuring it out was plain useless. 

"And considering that the Marauders have a certain liking for monsters and abominable killers alike..." 

I interrupted him, "I'm not any of those Dark Death Eating creatures which you just mentioned earlier. And if you mean what I think you mean about any of the Marauders then you are gonna regret it." 

He shrugged, "oh really? You don't even have a wand in the first place." 

Ugh, how stupid of me, indeed. 

"I wonder why we are having this useless little chat when I could have just punched you on the nose," I stated and without waiting for a reply I aimed the strongest fist attack I could manage right on his beak like nose. 

There was a sickening crunch as he tumbled out of the closet grabbing his nose and wincing in pain. Before he could regain his composure, I had sped off. There wasn't any time for me to consider my reaction and even I didn't want to think of the consequences at the moment. 

Though one thing was fairly certain; if I did make it to my own time period I should best be prepared for a rather dangerous confrontation. And if I escaped it without getting scathed then I would surely be the luckiest person alive on Earth. 

***

I kept running without exactly knowing where I would end up and stopped only when I literally bumped into someone. And that someone nearly toppled down from the unexpected encounter. 

"Sorry," I mumbled and helped that person up (not exactly a favorable time to be helpful) but I was glad I did because that person was none other than Moony. 

"You're hurt," he stated. Well, I know that, thank you very much. 

"What's going on?" I asked him as he led me up the stairs. 

"I'll tell you later," he replied vaguely, "hopefully it will all be over by now. Seems like it." 

A voice close to us nearly made us jump, "it is over now." 

We turned around to find Sirius. He looked as if he had just been out of an enormous blast. His hair were messy and his robes were torn at the edges, his face also had a few scars. 

"And what exactly are you doing down here?" he asked as if he had just noticed my presence, "I told you to go to the common room, didn't I?" 

I spoke, "I tried but couldn't. Long story actually." 

His hand gently wiped away the blood that was now dried on my lower lip, "and you got yourself into a mess again. I must say you're quite a trouble magnet. Anyhow its good that you didn't go to the common room. Hogwarts is being secured and checked thoroughly for any of those Death Wishers lurking around (they are quite worthy of having death wished upon them) and the only place where we can hide you away safely is the Secret Lair." 

Oh that's why we are on the Seventh floor. Guess Moony had already figured that out earlier. And I still don't get what those Death thingys are; Death Eaters, Death Wishers, I just don't get it. We went through to the Secret Lair. 

Moony told me, "look Kat we're going to leave you here for a while. Must go the common room so that Minnie won't come looking for us here. We'll be back soon as everything's cleared up. Okay?" 

I nodded. Yeah right. I'm not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself very well.

A while did pass in solitude but not long afterwards Sirius returned. He was still in that messy state which meant that he hadn't gone to the infirmary at all despite the cuts and scars on his face. 

"You should go to Madam Pomfrey, y'know," I told him. 

He placed forward a handkerchief and a few antidotes in front of me, "Madam Pomfrey was forcing to let her sort out my life-threatening injuries but I told her I'd be back only when I'll have washed the dirt off my handsome face. However, I brought these for you." 

How nice and considerate of him. "But you're hurt too," I remarked. 

"I can take care of myself," he replied. 

"So can I," I answered back. 

He sighed, "but you were not supposed to get hurt, remember? You know more about time than I do. If things happen in the past that are not supposed to then it could damage you." 

Oh well... Yeah, I guess. 

He made me sit down on one of the cushions that were strewn on the floor, "welcome to St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. You are in the Burns and Cuts department at the moment that deals with minor injuries, wounds, cuts, scratches, bruises, burns etc etc." I laughed at they way he portrayed and acted out the part. "Now we request a little cooperation from you to wait for a short while until the renowned Healer Sirius Orion Black arrives," he resumed. 

"You never cease to act like you think you're the best thing ever to happen to this world," I remarked. 

He looked a bit taken aback, "uh oh, sarcastic now, are we? I do not think that I'm the best thing to happen ever to this world." 

Oh really? Now that's some news to me. 

He finished the sentence observing my expressions rather amused, "in fact, love, the truth is that I am the best thing ever to happen to this world."

"Stop calling me love," I remarked.

"Now don't pretend that you don't like it when I address you as love," uh oh, there goes lover boy all over again: Mr Lover Boy who is a lot full of himself as well. 

Anyhow I consented to his request (or rather an order) of letting him heal the few cuts I had received only if he let me treat his injuries afterwards in turn. He was a bit reluctant at first but of course this is me we are talking about and usually I get my way with everyone. 

While the Renowned Healer Sirius Black treated the minor injury, I asked him what had happened down there in the Hall. 

"Oh well, Mouldyrot decided to crash down the party," he spoke while gently applying the ointment, "its the Dark Lord, you know. I prefer calling him Mouldyrot or Vouldymouldy. His followers are known as Death Eaters. Though personally I wish Death eats them before a way of consuming death is ever discovered. These are not good times for the Wizarding World with him trying to usurp everything and destroying all that comes in his way. This attack on Hogwarts was very much expected if you ask me. We were all prepared for it." 

But he soon turned silent as if he didn't wish to talk about that anymore. When he was done with the healing stuff I reminded him that it was my turn to patch his cuts up. 

"You don't really have to do that. I'm absolutely fine," he protested but I paid no heed. 

I did my part quite carefully and cleaned away his cuts while mildly observing the perfection of his features; rather aristocratic with that straight nose, high cheekbones, deep set grey eyes and angular sculpture. 

"Don't be so nice to me, Kat," his voice came out in a whisper, "or else I'll miss you terribly when you're gone." 

The proximity of the moment hadn't escaped my notice and it only made me nervous. "I... I feel really bad sometimes," I spoke, "I think that the way I reacted on the Astronomy Tower was very stupid and I shouldn't have..." 

He took both my hands in his which made me pause for a moment, "you don't have to feel bad at all. You don't even have to tell me all this. I know. And I understand." 

I was a bit taken aback, "what do you know?" 

He smiled slightly, "that night when you thought I was asleep and confessed all you thought and felt, I wasn't asleep at all. I heard every word. I didn't just mumble that I loved you in my sleep, Kat. I said that fully aware of what I was saying. I said that because I meant it." 

He heard every single word? And all this time he had known why I was hesitant of opening up to him in that way and yet not once did he let me know that. Sirius Orion Black, when will I ever understand you? 

"Hey I never expected you to be this surprised," he stated, "I thought you already knew that I was listening." 

Oh well yes he's right; I did suspect that. But still there is one thing which is surprising, "how did you know my name?" 

His eyes sparked up, "oh, so you really are Katerina! Splendidly genius of me to guess it out, don't you think so too?" 

Yeah absolutely marvellous (I was literally shaking my head like Moony does all the time; Sirius never misses an opportunity to show off). 

"It wasn't that difficult. Honestly. I figured that if you're called Kat for short then your name must probably be either Kate, or Katie, or Katherine, or Kathleen or Katerina. None of them suited you except Katerina (seemed most likely to me) so I supposed it would be that. Point which really matters is that I got it right." 

Yeah, you did. A big round of applause for Mr Black due to his immeasurable efforts in solving the mystery of my name. 

"Tell you what, you get to know such things if you really want to," he remarked. 

He was looking at me with that same dazed expression which he had had in his eyes that night on the Tower when he very nearly kissed me. I had a feeling that told me that he would try and do that again. Though this time, I wasn't going to object. 

He had stood up and tilted my chin upwards so that he was gazing down straight in my eyes. But before anything could happen, the door opened and Moony stepped in. 

He took in the situation quite immediately and I couldn't overlook the way his face turned scarlet from embarrassment, "I...uh... I should wait outside. You carry on." 

Sirius rolled his eyes and dropped his hand that was gently caressing my cheek, "no, you can stay. Thanks for the interruption. Just what we needed." 

Moony scratched the back of his neck nervously, "well... Coast is clear. You can come back to the Common Room." 

I asked, "how are the others? James, Lily, Marlene, they didn't get much hurt, did they?" 

He seemed to have recovered from his embarrassment by now, "yeah, everyone's fine. Nobody got seriously wounded because Dumbledore drove out the Dark Forces way before that." 

Sirius added, "and we don't have anything to be afraid of when we are at Hogwarts with Dumbledore as Headmaster." 

Yeah, I suppose. 

Moony's voice shook me out of my thoughts, "how come you don't know about the Dark Lord? You're from the future, right? You should know more than us." 

Fair point but the thing is that I know very little about magic and stuff even now since an year ago I hadn't even imagined that all this could be real. "I only know what I was told," I mumbled. 

Padfoot spoke up, "wait a second here. You only know what you were told. Does that mean... Does that mean that old Vouldypants will suffer his demise in the years to come? That the people in your time, 15 years later on, will only know what they are told about him? That he would be no more?" 

Uh, not exactly. "I can tell you only this," I replied after a lot consideration, "in the battle between good and evil, only the ones on the right path succeed." 

It was hint enough, I guess. And Moony was unimaginably observant, "it's good to know that." 

Sirius spoke up, "well I think the others might be waiting for us. We should go now." We stepped out of the Secret Lair. "But you are to go to Madam Pomfrey first and I'll take Kat to the common room," Moony stated. 

Sirius made a face, "you're asking for a good lecture aren't you, Moons? First barging in on us now offering to take her to the common room yourself. Should I not be suspicious?" 

A joke. Definitely a joke. By now I have gotten used to their nonsensical conversations that happen about 80% on an average daily basis. 

Moony, however, glared at him, "it's not like I wished to witness that, Padfoot. I hadn't even expected..." 

But Sirius held his hands up in surrender before he could finish his sentence, "fine. You take her to the dorm, I'll go to Madam Pomfrey. God bless the merry siblings yet give the brother a sense to stay out of some situations." 

Moony nodded, "that's a lot better. Though I don't think that I'd be saying a prayer for you both. And what can I even pray for in the first place: God bless the love this vibrant couple has and bless them for the years to come in staying united as one through thick or thin, good times or bad and...? I forgot what the Priest used to say in our town church or I could have added that." 

I spoke, "you're not standing at the altar, Moony, neither are you offering your services on a nuptial." 

Moony added with a smile, "I would rather be Best Man than a priest. Not at Padfoot's wedding though. If Padfoot had a wedding (though I don't see how he's going to be steadfast enough for that in the first place) he would make James his Best Man. The two of them had signed an agreement or something in our fifth year that they would be Best Man at each other's wedding." 

Well... Padfoot and Prongs are unimaginable future planners then, that's all I can say. 

Sirius laughed, "I know you would object at the notion of me marrying Kat (that is, if it happened, though sad to say that the chances are minimal). All brothers do that at first. Besides I would be like... Probably as old as her uncle or something when the time comes? (Moony could easily pass for a priest though). Major obstacle if you consider the age difference, you going back to your time 15 years ahead of us is another obstacle. The list could go on and I know Moony would gladly furnish a few other points. However if you stayed..." He left the sentence incomplete. 

"We'd both be in our forties, Padfoot. While the idea of her staying here is definitely not possible," Moony stated then when we have descended nearly all of the never ending flight of stairs he added as if he had just remembered something, "and don't forget to bandage your arm as well." 

Sirius mumbled only so I could hear, "I hate it when he starts being Mummy Moony." 

But he heard too anyway, "or rather I think I should ask Marlene to accompany Kat and drag this two year old to the matron myself." 

Sirius rolled his eyes, "no thanks. Go to Madam Pomfrey, bandage my arm, take some horrible potions, stay in my bed for rest... I get it, Mummy, now can I go?" 

Moony hid a small smile, "of course you can."

***