I Can See You

The First Fight

The Marauders were huddled in their favourite corner in the Gryffindor common room.

Remus and Sirius were in the midst of a game of Wizard Chess. James was polishing his Nimbus 1000 and Peter was trying to finish his Arithmancy assignment.

Sirius frowned in concentration before finally moving his knight which slashed another of Remus' soldiers. He leaned back into the couch contentedly. He had a good chance of winning the game now.

"Er-Padfoot?" Remus began tentatively.

"Are you begging me for mercy now?" Sirius mocked, before shaking his head teasingly. "There's no mercy in war, Moony. I'll be going for your queen next."

Remus licked his lips uncertainly and tried again, "There's something I need to talk to you about." He quickly added when Sirius opened his mouth to respond, "and it has nothing to do with this game."

"Oh?"

"Are you still coaching Kathleen Curtis in Transfiguration?"

"Why the sudden interest?" Sirius asked suspiciously. None of the Marauders had ever tried to interfere with his personal affairs with the fairer sex - till now.

"Your lesson with her is over, right?

"Wrong. We're meeting again tonight."

"On a Friday night?" Remus frowned. "Are you serious about her, Padfoot?"

"Serious?" Sirius gave a little laugh that sounded more like a bark.

James, who had been listening to the conversation, stared at Remus as though the latter had just grown an extra head. "Since when has Padfoot been serious about a girl?"

"Then why are you seeing her?" Remus questioned Sirius again. "Your bet with Prongs is over."

"I'm not seeing her, Moony. I'm just giving the girl some pointers."

Peter put down his quill. "I agree with Moony. You need not have anything to do with her anymore. It's best to stay away from the Slytherins," he said nervously.

Sirius felt his temper rising. "What's wrong with you guys? It just so happened that I shot off my big mouth and offered to teach her. Now I'm stuck since I've to make sure she masters at least one decent spell before I say goodbye!"

"You should make that clear to Kathleen. You're just giving her false hopes by -" Remus was interrupted by a crash. Sirius had abruptly risen to his feet and thrown the entire wizard chess set onto the ground.

"I'm not a ten year old. I don't need to be told what to do," Sirius said coldly before leaving the Gryffindor Tower.

*

Kathleen was all smiles on Saturday morning, humming to herself as she got dressed.

"Oh dear me! Has someone turned her into a nightingale?" Tessa exclaimed in jest.

"More like a hummingbird," Pamela quipped as she carefully applied her mascara. "Her personal tutor must have cast the spell."

Tessa grinned. "Or perhaps our dear Kate fumbled in Transfiguration again and turned herself into a hummingbird without knowing it."

Kathleen beamed at her roommates. "You girls can say all you want and it's not going to bother me one bit."

"How's your lesson last night?" Natasha finally asked.

"Perfect," Kathleen purred.

"What do you mean by perfect? Didn't he tell you anything?"

Kathleen was too happy to wonder at the peculiar question. "Sirius told me that I've made some improvement! I managed to turn a lizard into a rock!"

"That's all he said?" Natasha muttered to herself, her voice heavy with disappointment. "So I guess your lessons are officially over?" she added hopefully.

Kathleen's green eyes were dancing. "Sirius said I need a couple more sessions. He'll be going through other spells with me."

That was not the reply Natasha wanted to hear.

*

Remus caught Natasha's arm as she passed him along a corridor. "Is something wrong?" he asked his girlfriend.

"No."

"Then why do I get the feeling that you're avoiding me?"

"I'm not."

"I've been trying to catch your attention at breakfast and at lunch. I swear you saw me both times before you looked away."

Natasha continued to sulk.

"What is it?" he pressed on. "Did I do something wrong?"

"You broke your promise," she replied accusingly.

The werewolf was speechless for a moment. "What did I do?"

"It's not what you did. It's more what you didn't do!" She glared at him. "Didn't you promise to speak to Black?"

"I did."

"Then why don't you do it?" she thundered.

"When I say I did, I meant that I kept my word and spoke to Sirius."

"And?"

"He lost his temper."

"He's still bothering Kate!"

"I don't control him."

"You should have tried harder!"

Remus let out a breath wearily. "Please be reasonable, Natasha. I told I can't guarantee that he'll listen to me."

She looked away, her eyes still filled with anger.

"I kept my word and tried," he said quietly. "If you don't trust me, there's nothing I can do." He released his grip on her arm and walked away.

Part of Natasha wanted to stop Remus and apologise. But she surrendered to her pride that kept her stubbornly rooted to the spot. She watched helplessly as he went further and further away, and wondered miserably if she had just made the biggest mistake of her life.

*

Natasha tried to catch Remus' eye at dinner, but he did not look her way. Not once. She was so enveloped in misery and self-pity that she did not notice something different - most of the professors were huddled together at the staff table, in frightened whispers. All except Dumbledore and McGonagall anyway.

At long last, Dumbledore rose to his feet and called for silence. A hush fell over the Great Hall at once.

"I have grave news for you. The Dark Mark has been spotted again this afternoon, over the home of the Tristons. It gives me grief to inform you that Peter and Margaret Triston, from the Ministry of Magic, did not survive the attack."

The students broke into nervous murmurs till the headmaster lifted a hand to restore the quiet once again.

"Students are reminded not to leave Hogwarts grounds at all times. I would also like you to report any suspicious characters within the school compound to your professors immediately." His face then took on a lighter expression. "Now, let us have our fill."

*

Natasha was awake in bed. She could feel a hollow inside her.

She turned around to lie on her front, pressing her head onto her pillow. Doesn't he care? How can he throw away our relationship just like that? she thought furiously.

Then another a little voice sounded inside her head. It's not him, stupid. It's you. You did not cherish him. You did not trust him. You chased him away.

"He'll be mine again tomorrow," she vowed aloud, before falling into an uneasy sleep.

*

The Marauders were making their way to the oak tree again.

Natasha followed behind as closely as she dared. To her frustration, she had not learnt anything new. They were not talking, and she could only see the back view of Remus.

She went in front of them as soon as they settled down on the grass patch, careful to tread slowly and soundlessly. A pang of guilt, remorse and pang overwhelmed her as soon as she saw the expression on Remus' face. He looked crestfallen and his eyes were lined and tired from the obvious lack of sleep.

"Can the two of you snap out of it?" James was the first to speak up.

"I'm fine," Sirius snapped. "As long as he minds his own business."

"It's not your business solely anymore," Remus said quietly.

"You don't see me getting all worked up over your choice of girlfriend, do you? What's your problem? Do I have to seek your permission before I speak to anyone from now on?"

"Quit it. You have done enough damage. She's not speaking to me anymore. I hope you're satisfied."

Peter looked perplexed. "Who's not speaking to you?"

"Natasha?" James ventured a guess and Remus nodded unhappily.

Sirius stared, open-mouthed. "I - I didn't know -"

Remus got to his feet abruptly and went towards the castle. He was not sure where he was heading. He was only aware that he wanted to be alone and desperately needed some peace and quiet. As he aimlessly turned into his second corridor, a familiar pair of arms reached out from behind him and wrapped themselves around his waist.

He stopped dead in his tracks. "Natasha?" he asked almost inaudibly, in a disbelieving voice.

The arms tightened their hold. He took the pair of hands into his own, gently loosened their grip and turned around slowly. "Natasha," he said again, a smile ghosting his face.

Natasha's eyes were glistening. "I'm sorry! I'm awfully sorry! I was a stupid brat. I should not have doubted you," she rambled.

His spirits lifted. "You're speaking to me again? You're not angry with me anymore?"

"I missed you."

There was a short pause.

"Me too."

"So you'll forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive."

She smiled, and wrapped her arms around his neck as he slid his around her slim waist. "Maybe we should kiss and make up."

Remus did not need further prompting. He lowered his head to hers and took her soft lips. Their kiss lasted till they were both out of breath.

"Hmm..." she purred happily as they finally drew apart. "That's nice."

"I've been wanting to do this for a long time."

"We had our last kiss barely two days ago," she teased.

"Two days? Are you sure? It seemed like eternity!"

"That's eternity all right." She rested her head against his chest. "Let's not fight again. I felt terrible."

"It's a deal. No more fights. No more cold wars."

"We have to make up for the lost time," she cooed as she closed her eyes and waited for him to press his lips to hers again.

*

"You seem to be in a much better mood today," Kathleen told Natasha at Herbology.

"Really?" The blonde smiled happily.

"You were moping around yesterday."

"Lupin and I have sorted things out."

"You two had a fight?"

Natasha shrugged. "Over you and Black, actually."

"Huh?"

"He failed to stop Black from bothering you."

Kathleen fell silent for a few seconds. "What did you do that for? Sirius is not bothering me."

"I've told you he's just toying with your feelings."

"He's not," Kathleen countered. "Sirius is the sweetest guy I know. He has been -"

"That tutoring nonsense is just part of his plan -"

"Don't speak about Sirius like that!" Kathleen said hotly. "You hardly know him!"

Natasha snorted. "And you think you do?"

"Look, Nat. I know you're just concerned about me. But this time, you've gone overboard."

Natasha stared at her in disbelief.

"If Sirius had ignored me as a result of what you did, I'll -"

"You'll hate me for the rest of your life?" The blonde was seeing red now.

"No! I didn't mean that! But Sirius is important to me, Nat. I'll be miserable if he starts ignoring me! I've waited more than five years for him to notice me!"

"You'll regret this, Kate. He doesn't deserve -"

"Why don't you just let me decide for myself?"

Natasha took a deep breath to curb her rising temper, her mind working at full speed. Soon, a mysterious smile reached her lips and lit up her violet eyes. "Why don't we do a simple test to find out Black's real motive. If he passes the test, I swear I'll not interfere again."

Kathleen felt uncomfortable when she saw the gleam in Natasha's eyes. Despite her reservations, she nodded her head slowly, anxious to prove that Sirius was perfect in every way.

***