How Many Secrets Can One Keep?

Secret No. 6: Love Conquers All

Everyone sat around the table, their breakfast was being served by Kreacher and Mrs Weasley. For the first time in weeks, Sirius had joined them, looking much better than he had the night before.

All the children were very eager to return to the diary. When they had stopped the previous night, Sirius explained that what they had read, was when he and Katerina offically became a couple.

When they finished breakfast, and the chores that Mrs Weasley had set for them, they met in Hermione and Ginny's room. Harry sat on a chair, Ron seated himself on the floor and the twins sat on the spare bed with the girls on the other.

"Is anyone else fascinated that Sirius had loved a girl?" Said Ron.

"I know, it is very un-Sirius," said Harry. Hermione shrugged and opened the old diary.

"I feel different now. I love being Sirius, he makes me feel wanted...

I lay in Sirius's lap on the staircase. I attempt to study for my Potion's assignment but Sirius is peristant to not let me. He plays with my hair and draws imagnery pictures on my stocking-covered thigh.

"You know if my brother was here and saw where your hand was, you wouldn't have a hand anymore,"

"But he isn't here,"

"Not now,"

"No, but I am. I will always protect you Princess," he smiles and leans down to kiss me. I reach up and wrap my hands around his neck to his hair. I pull him closer to me.

"I love you Sirius, I was wrong about muggle-borns. I wish I realised that five years ago,"

"The past is in the past Kat. I love you so much. When we leave this place, I will buy you a house and we will live there with our children,"

"But Sirius, I will be leaving before you. You still have two years after me," I say sadly

"You know I live at James's house don't you? I am sure that the Potters wouldn't mind you living there with me,"

"I cannot leave my brother Siri,"

"He has Narcissa Kat. I am sure she looks after him in more than one way,"

"When you leave school then I will live with you," I lift my head off his lap and peck his lips. "I will count down the days,"

"You will visit me on Hogsmeade weekends right?"

"Of course I will, but for now, please don't speak of it. Let us enjoy the time we have together,"

---------------

I run through the snow towards the Three Broomsticks. I swing open the doors and desperatly scan the room.

"LUCIUS!"  I yell and run to my brother. He stands from his chair and I leap into his arms, planting kisses all over his face. He chuckles and sets me down. I turn to my sister in law and pull her in an embrace.

We sit down and I can feel my smile from ear to ear.

"What has made you so happy?" Lucius asks me

"Can't me seeing my only brother make me happy?"

"Not that happy. Go on, spill Kat,"

"I have a boyfriend,"

"A WHAT?"

"Calm down Lucius," Narcissa whispers in his ear. Immediately he calms down and hold's his wife hand.

"Who is it?" asks Lucius

"Sirius," I say softly. Lucius's face becomes red again and I quiver in my seat. Narcissa presses a hand to his chest and whispers something in his ear. His face drops and apologises to me.

"If he makes you this happy then I am ok with it. Now is anyone wanting butterbeer?"

"Yes please," Narcissa and I reply in unison. Lucius leaves his seat and heads to the bar.

"What did you say to him?"

"I told him to look at your face and see how happy you are,"

"And?" I narrow my eyes at her. There is no way Lucius will give up that easily. She must have some sort of leverage over him.

"And I may have said no sex for a week if he continues to act like a spoilt brat," says Narcissa innocentlyy. "In saying that, you and Sirius haven't-"

"No we haven't. He is sixteen for Merlin's sake, he is not even of age,"

"Tell that to your brother, he lost his-"

"Don't want to know," I raise my hands in surrender. Narcissa chuckles and smiles at Lucius when he brings us our drinks.

Hermione flips the page and a moving photo falls out. She picks it up off the floor and saw a young girl with long blonde hair and grey eyes - she assumed it was Katerina - sleeping peacefully on a young Sirius's lap.

She flipped the photo and it read "the night I finally had a peaceful sleep,"

"What is that Hermione?" Asked Ginny. Hermione passed the photo to the youngest Weasley. She let out a small "aw" and gave the photo to the rest of the group.

"She seems to really love Sirius," commented George.

"Seems so," Replied Hermione. "Okay so lets presume that she had indeed faked her death and it was planned in her last year, we know that she didn't go through with it,"

"Which probably would be because of her love for Sirius," added Ginny

"Exactly, but then why disappear when he just returned from Azkaban? Why didn't she disappear after his sentence?"

"Too incriminating on Sirius?" Ron piped in, "I mean if she disappeared as soon as he was locked up, then wouldn't that make him look more guilty?"

"The Ministry would have thought she was withholding information!" Exclaimed Harry

"Ok so we know why she didn't disappear just after he sent to Azkaban," said Hermione

"So do we assume that she is dead?" asked Ginny. The room went quiet. No one knew what to say or think.

If she was dead, then it made sense, but how did she die?

If she was alive and faked her death, then what was the reason behind it? Why leave Sirius behind?