never until forever [s. black]

seventeen

katherine wearily walks up the stairs of the tower, staying conscious of her surroundings incase sirius really was just playing a practical joke on her. as she makes her way to the top, she notices him staring out one of the windows. he senses her presence and turns around, a soft smirk forming on his lips. she walks up to him, wrapping her arms around herself as the wind blows through the open windows.

"i didn't think you'd come." he admits, making her shrug as she looks around. sirius sees her slight paranoia as she inspects their surroundings. "don't worry this isn't a trick or something."

"rather safe than sorry." she huffs, as she looks up at him. their eyes connect and for the first time since they've known each other, they stare into each other's eyes without saying anything. a surprisingly comfortable silence settles on them. "why did you want me to come up here?"

"no reason." he says with a shrug, making her roll her eyes and turn around to leave. he grabs her wrist and pulls her back, a gasp escapes her lips as he chuckles softly. "i'm kidding. i needed to ask you something."

"okay. you can let go."she says pointedly as she looks down at his hand and he immediately lets go, like her wrist was on fire. she crosses her arms and looks at him expectingly.

"i heard that regulus is going to become a death eater." sirius hums and she nods in confirmation as she looks down sadly at the thought. "i need a favour."

"why would i do anything for you?" she asks softly, making him sigh as he runs his hand through his hair.

"because no matter how much we hate each other, princess. we both care for him. and i just need you to take care of him for me." he says and she looks at him with a soft look of empathy. he takes a deep breath and looks down in slight shame. "i'm not that good of brother, i left him when he needs me the most. and i don't know if i can do any better, but i know you've been there for him since day one so i trust you'll take care of him."

"you really care about him, don't you?" she asks softly and he looks up, nodding in reply. she smiles weakly and for some unknown reason, something between them seems to have changed as she walks closer to him and she puts her hand on his arm in a comforting manner. "sirius. you probably won't believe me, but you... from what regulus has told me, you're a great brother. and trust me, from someone who knows what a bad brother is, you're not."

"thank you, katherine. i appreciate that." he smiles down at her and she mirrors his smile, dropping her hand from his arm to her side. "you have no reason to tell me, but since we're being honest right now. is home really your home?"

it was a simple question, and if he had asked anyone else, they'd probably be confused. but her on the other hand, it spoke to her soul on an other level. she looks down. he was right, she had no reason to tell him and he could easily take the information then spread it out to the world. but something deep down in her tells her, even though it didn't seem like it, she had every reason to trust him. as she looks back up, he's slightly shocked at how vulnerable she suddenly is as her eyes widen.

"no. it's not. i don't think... i don't believe in there being such a thing as home, anymore. it's just, where i live and where i'll probably spend the rest of my life." katherine says honestly and he can empathise with her.

"serving lord voldemort?" he asks and she takes a deep breath, as she bites her lip.

"it's my fate. i don't have a say in it." she answers, making him frown and shake his head. he's about to say something, but she speaks up first. "i should go. uh, i'll keep an eye out for regulus. as best as i can."

"katherine..." he trails off, making her look up at him curiously and he smiles softly. "thank you. you know, we could still become friends."

"we have created a reality where us not hating each other, would be unnatural." she points out and he raises an eyebrow.

"is that what you think your life is, unchangeable? katherine if you want to get away from your family. i can help you." he says and she shakes her head.

"i don't think you can."