Do all Things Happen for a Reason?

~*~

Chapter Eight: Can't Think of a Damn Title

~*~

"Way to go, Moony!" Sirius cheered, as the Gargoyle closed behind them. "One teenage daughter, one two year old son, and another kid on the way!" he looked at Remus grinning. "I don't think even I could have pulled that off."

"Kat's not his though," James pointed out, while Remus threw a dirty look at Sirius.

"Oh yeah," Sirius said.

"Hey, do you mind not talking about me as if I weren't here?" Kat asked sounding a bit annoyed.

"Sorry," James and Sirius mumbled looking at the floor.

"Thank you," she replied. "So Snake Boy, had any experience with children before?"

"If you mean, do I know how to take care of a child, then: yes, I do," Harry said. Then added, "And don't call me that!"

"Call you what?" Kat asked innocently. "Snake Boy? It's just a name, and it fits you perfectly."

"Have you ever heard someone speak in Parseltongue?" Harry asked Kat.

"N-no not particularly," she said startled at the question, and shifting Andrew to her other hip for better balance.

"Then don't call me that and you won't have to," Harry said.

"Was that a threat, Harry?" Kat said feigning a look of shock. "Ooh, I'll have to tell your Godfather about this."

"What's he going to do? Give me a lecture?" Harry asked, rolling his eyes.

"I wouldn't put it past him," Kat muttered darkly. "You know? The other day he gave me this huge lecture on 'The Birds and The Bees'. God, I was so embarrassed!"

"Who gave you that lecture?" asked Lily.

"Sirius," Kat said. James, Remus, and Lily took one look at Sirius then burst out laughing.

Andrew tugged on Kat's sleeve and she looked down at him, "What?"

"Who you talkin' to?" he asked his curios yellow eyes open wide.

"No one. I'm just rambling like I do at home," she said smiling kindly down at him.

"Where we goin'?" he asked.

"Gryffindor Tower," Harry told him. "You'll like it up there. Do you like pranks?" Andrew nodded and Harry grinned, "Good, because I got some Dungbombs we can throw at Ron and Hermione while they're making out."

"Harry!" Kat said sharply as the Marauder's burst out laughing. "That's so childish."

"And telling Ron that you're pregnant isn't?" he asked sounding highly amused.

Kat opened her mouth to say something, changed her mind, and shut it again shaking her head, "Fine."

Harry looked absolutely shocked and stopped in his tracks, "Okay, who are you, and what have you done to the real Katrina Smith, because the Kat I knew wouldn't give up that easily."

Kat gave Harry a small tired smile and said, "I'm too tired to fight right now, Harry."

A very awkward silence settled for about five seconds before the distant sound of hurried feet came their way.

"Who's that?" asked Kat, pointing to a woman with long brown hair coming their way.

"Dunno..." said Harry. "She's certainly not a professor, but if she's here to take over Trelawney' job I have no objections."

"That old bat still teaches?" James asked. Harry nodded.

"Excuse me," said the woman as she stopped in front of Kat and Harry. She looked quite young, as if she were in her early thirties. She did a quick double take when she looked at Harry, as though she was seeing a ghost. "Do you know where Professor Dumbledore's office is? I was here when I was a kid, but I'm afraid I've forgotten where everything is. It's just been so long..."

"We could, miss," said Harry. "But it wouldn't do you any good. He's not here at the moment. I'm sorry."

The woman sighed and ran hand through her long hair, "Could you tell me if Professor McGonagall still teaches? I could wait in her office until Dumbledore gets back."

"Yes, she does," replied Harry. "Do you want us to show you the way?"

"No, that's all right, I think I'll manage," she said smiling kindly at him, and then she walked away in the direction of Professor McGonagall's office.

"She looks familiar..." Remus said, trying to remember where he saw that face before.

"Of course she does," said Sirius hoarsely. "That was Jessi."

"Who?" Kat and Harry said at the same time.

"What? Are you sure?" Lily said ignoring Harry and Kat.

"Maybe it was just wishful thinking, Sirius." James said. "They said she was d -"

"I'm telling you," Sirius said in a shaky voice. "That was Jessi! I wouldn't forget what she looked like no matter if she was fifteen or thirty-five. I just wouldn't."

"Who's Jessi?" Kat interrupted loudly putting a stop to the Marauders argument.

"Jessi Ripkin is Sirius' girlfriend," Lily explained quickly. "Sirius' - er - older self told us that they had gotten married when they got out of school and that she was supposedly killed after he went to Azkaban."

"And you think that woman is her?" Kat asked raising her eyebrows suspiciously.

"I know it's her!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Well, if you're sure ("I am!"), then we'd better go and tell older Sirius as well, so he doesn't have a heart-attack when he sees her." Kat said turning around and making her way back towards Dumbledore's office.

"You've got one smart daughter, Moony," Sirius whispered to his friend. "Even if she isn't yours."

"I know," Remus murmured back, grinning proudly. "I know."