They changed the future. Kat's mind immediately went to that desolate scene in the grimy little kitchen with a frantic Remus and her own overwhelming emotions. It didn't have to come to that. They could fix it somehow, someway. She just had no idea how.

Lily had sat down abruptly after Kat had confirmed the date. She was staring at her with a mixture of awe and something else that Kat couldn't readily identify, but she knew that she did not like it at all. "Lily, I don't know—"

Ernie Summers came running up before Kat could finish. "Professor Dumbledore needs to see you," he said without preamble. He looked unreasonably pleased with getting sent on such an important errand to fetch her away to the Headmaster.

"Oh, thanks." Kat climbed to her feet and grabbed her bag. Lily looked like she was going to say something but thought better of it. Feeling a little uneasy with the way Lily was looking at her, Kat started her way up to the castle. It took her a few moments to realize that Summers was following her. "It's fine, I know my way to Dumbledore's office."

"Are you sure?" he asked eagerly. "He said to tell you something about Chocolate Frog Cards now that I think about it which is kind of a weird thing to tell someone, you know? Like what exactly are you supposed to do with that? I suppose you could try and list all of the cards you can think about but—"

"It's fine. I get what he's trying to tell me. I'll see you around, I guess." She sped up and left Ernie in the courtyard looking rather forlorn.

This was it, this was her chance to talk to Professor Dumbledore about how she could help fight against Voldemort. Clearly he thought something similar or he wouldn't have asked to see her, right? She took the stairs two at a time and barely noticed when Peter waved to her in the corridor. It was the first time she had seen him in days and he looked like he wanted to talk to her. "Sorry, Pete. Little busy right now," she said brushing past him. Within minutes she had given the password ("Chocolate Frog" and climbed the spiral staircase and stood outside the door to the Headmaster's office. She knocked and a voice immediately invited her in.

Albus Dumbledore sat in his magnificent chair behind the desk and was stroking his phoenix as it sat preening its feathers on his desk.

"Please have a seat," he said, gesturing. His office was much the same since Kat had been there last. A lot had changed since then though. "How are you today, Miss Potter?" He asked politely.

Kat swallowed, trying to moisten her suddenly dry mouth enough to respond. "Fine, sir," she eventually managed.

Dumbledore observed her calmly behind his half-moon spectacles. "I can imagine that you know why you're here," he began. Kat nodded. "Madam Pomfrey informed me of what you have been dealing with and, as I'm sure you noted in the paper this morning, we put it to good use." Kat nodded again, unable to respond around the dryness. "I would like you to keep me updated on anything else you might see, regardless of whether or not you think it useful." His cool blue gaze appeared to look right through her and Kat found herself wondering if she had left anything out in the reporting of her visions. She didn't think so, so she nodded once again. "That'll be all for today then, Miss Potter."

Recognizing the clear dismissal, Kat stood up and after an awkward sort of head bob beat a hasty exit. To her surprise, Remus was waiting for her out in the corridor.

"I heard from Lily where you were going," he said by way of explanation. "So it's true?" Kat nodded. "Bloody hell," he cursed softly.

"I know." They naturally fell into step with one another and strolled down the corridor. Kat didn't have an exact destination in mind and she could tell that Remus didn't either but she was content with just wandering for the moment. She was grateful that Remus didn't press her for more information.

"How are you doing, Remus?" Kat asked. She didn't want to think about the implications about her discussion with Dumbledore.

"'M fine," he responded. The dark circles under his eyes were more pronounced than usual and Kat had heard from Peter that he wasn't coming back to the dormitory until extremely early in the mornings only to get dressed and leave before the other boys were even fully awake yet. She and Lily had taken it upon themselves to spend time with him but it was frankly exhausting. He rarely spoke anymore and when he did it was only in one or two phrases. He was neglecting his Prefect duties and throwing himself bodily into his schoolwork. In the whole span of time since the last full moon he hadn't mentioned James or Sirius once.

"Tell me, honestly. How do you feel?" Kat tried again.

"I feel like I need a drink."

"I couldn't agree more."

"Pete got me a bottle of firewhiskey," said Remus. "Want to go get it and drink the whole thing behind the greenhouses?"

Kat raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound like the kind of thing a Prefect should be doing."

He shrugged. "I've been known to do it on occasion. I'll meet you there."

An hour later the two of them were lounging underneath a magnificent shrub and over halfway done with a handle of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey.

"This mus be Professor Sprout's favorite plant," Kat slurred slightly, gesturing at the shrub. She took another gulp of whiskey, enjoying the warming sensation it left in her stomach.

"Mmmph," Remus responded. He accepted the bottle when Kat it to him and took a swig.

"I mean, look at it. I've never seen such a happy plant." The plant in question was swaying as though in an underwater current and the sight made Kat wrinkle her nose.

She was beginning to feel flushed and slightly dizzy. She kept thinking about what gigantic prats James and Sirius had been and it was making her angry. Particularly Sirius. What kind of person kissed someone who was yelling at them?

"That happened to you?" Remus was looking at her, amused and Kat realized belatedly that she had spoken out loud. "Who kissed you?"

"Okay, look," she started, sitting cross legged so she could get a better look at him. "This is gonna be a little weird all things considered but whatever." She reached over and plucked the bottle out of Remus' hands. "I was just minding my own business," she took a drink. "Yelling at Sirius for being a prat," another drink. "When out of nowhere the man goes and kisses me!"

Remus blinked at her before taking the whiskey back and nearly finishing it off. "Blimey," he said.

Kat sighed. "I hit him f'course. Took me completely by surprise, what was he expecting? But enough about my troubles," She took the whiskey back, "Here I am blabbering on about something that doesn't even really matter when there's more important things. Let's talk about you."

Remus looked at her with eyes the color of whiskey and suddenly looked immeasurably sad. "I'd rather not."

Kat frowned. "Remus Lupin, you have had far too much alcohol to not want to talk about this, so talk." She brandished the bottle in the air like a wand.

The corners of his mouth twitched. "It takes a lot more alcohol to get me drunk than you," he said. "Just one more thing to love about being a werewolf."

Kat's jaw dropped by its own volition and she said, "I didn't know that."

"We've never been drinking before."

"True." Kat felt like she was floating. The crisp air outside cooled her flushed cheeks and the sunshine glared brightly off of the glass from the greenhouses. She had to screw up her face to stay focused on Remus, otherwise her vision would start swimming and she felt like she would float away forever.

Remus exhaled heavily and ran a hand through his hair. It was getting shaggy and in need of a haircut. "Part of me wants to run away and hide forever," he confided. "While another part of me wants to hex them all into little tiny pieces for what they did. And yet—" Remus cut himself off with a shake of the head and fixed Kat with a wry smile. "Most of me wants to forgive them. They're my best friends."

Kat gave him a weak smile in return. "So talk to them." she said.

Remus snorted. "You should take your own advice. I don't think you've actually talked to Ja—" his voice got caught in his throat, unwilling to say the names of his best friends. "Them," he amended, "without yelling at them since the whole thing started."

"How could I? They make me so mad, every time I see them I want to punch them in their pompous noses." Remus made a small noise of agreement and Kat continued, "I still can't really believe that they went through with it, that they would do something like that to you. I may not have much experience out in the world still, but even I know that you don't treat your friends like that. Let alone your family." She reached out to touch Remus' arm but missed and hit grass instead. "And that's what we are, Remus. You, me," she gestured off to the side, "the boys. We're family."

"You don't have to stay mad at them for my account."

"I'm mad at them for you and I'm mad at them for me."

He grunted again and took the bottle, finishing it off in one final gulp. "Don't separate yourself from your family on my account. You've been alone for long enough." Remus studied her face intently and seemed to reach some sort of conclusion. He reached out and tucked an errant strand of her hair behind her ear and smiled sadly. "Let's get you back up to the castle and in bed," he said finally.

Kat wanted to disagree with him, to somehow make him understand that he was a vital part of her family too and should be there, but the immediate seductive powers of her bed won over. It wasn't until much later when she had changed into her pajamas that she had the feeling that a deep fracture had surfaced in their friend group and the likelihood of it ever healing diminished with each passing day.

Kat woke up with a hangover the next day and immediately regretted her choices of the day before. It would be a long time before she drank that much firewhiskey again, if ever. She resolved to talk to Sirius at some point in the day, if only to tell him and James about the Prewett brothers and whatever that meant for the future. She dressed quickly and went down to breakfast with that in mind. Surprisingly, it was only James at breakfast.

"Morning," she said, pouring herself a cup of tea.

"Mmm," James responded sleepily. He was chasing a bit of egg around his plate with his fork.

"Are you still asleep?" Kat teased.

"I wish I was. Then maybe all of this would be a dream and I would wake up and Mum and Dad were still alive." He flicked the bit of egg off his plate. "That would be grand."

Kat didn't know how to respond so she just patted his shoulder and began dishing out some food for herself.

"I hear you slapped Sirius."

Kat nearly dropped the platter of sausages she was holding.

"Good work," James clapped her on the shoulder. "But you should talk to him. The blighter's been driving me mad," he said, carefully avoiding eye contact. "Now I trust Sirius. I know he won't do anything stupid but that doesn't mean—"

"That doesn't mean you want him dating me? Is that what you were going to say, James?"

He sighed. "I just want the two of you happy and if that involves the two of you involved somehow, then fine. But just remember that he has a reputation with the girls for a reason," he warned.

"Oh please, Sirius has never had an actual girlfriend."

James snorted. "Maybe not in the time that you've known him. I could probably publish a whole book-"

Kat felt a small jolt run through her at the thought of Sirius having a girlfriend but pushed the thought away quickly. "James," she interrupted. "Something amazing has happened."

"What, more amazing than the image of you slapping Padfoot straight in the face?"

"Just listen would you. So I had a vision of the Prewetts and well...it wasn't the good sort. Dumbledore used the information I gave him to fix things and," she stuttered to a halt here, suddenly unsure. The repercussions of what had happened shook her to the core and she lowered her voice, swallowing thickly. "And James," she whispered over her cup of tea. "Because of me they're still alive."

For endless seconds James stared at her as if seeing her for the first time. The look of total awe darkened slightly to one of fear but was gone so quickly Kat thought she must have imagined it. James looked away, over her shoulder. He took a deep breath and a small, bitter smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "So, the future isn't set in stone afterall."

Kat didn't need to look to know that Lily had just walked in the Great Hall.

Exams fell upon them at last and nearly every minute of Kat's day was taken up by either preparation for an exam or taking one. The constant studying kept her mercifully occupied so that she didn't have to think about trying to start a conversation with Sirius. She still hadn't confronted him about the kiss and stalwartly ignored him whenever he came near, only to yell if he did anything to make her think about Remus.

Which usually included him breathing anywhere near her.

As a result, she didn't see Sirius much and her subconscious seemed determined to punish her for it. When she collapsed into bed after a long day of studying her dreams were littered with different versions of the kiss. Quite a few progressed into rather steamy encounters that had Kat waking up with a flaming red face, extremely grateful for the curtains around her bed. She needed to talk to Sirius and she needed to do it soon.

Their last exam was Transfiguration and was slated to be the most difficult one by far. Kat waited with James nervously outside with the other students waiting for her name to be called. The other Marauders had already been called in for their examinations. James seemed remarkably cool and collected as he lounged against the wall but Kat could tell by the way he kept running his hand through his hair that he was nervous too.

Her heart leapt into her throat when her name was called. James reached out and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before she walked into the classroom. It was stifling hot inside. Kat resisted the urge to immediately tug on her collar and followed the procter over to the table where her exam would take place. She could see Peter on the far side of the room, struggling with the Avis charm. She smiled when she thought of Peter being an Animagus and immediately felt more confident. If she could turn into a bird summoning some would be a piece of cake.

All things considered Kat thought she did rather well. True, instead of summoning canaries she had summoned a half dozen tiny hummingbirds, but at least they were birds. When the procter informed her that the exam had concluded she longed to show off her real transfiguration skills and transform into a falcon, but she knew better. She left feeling more elated than she had in days.

Kat stretched happily and settled down to wait for James to finish his exam. Only it seemed someone else had the same idea.

Sirius was lounging against the window frame, arms crossed and shirt untucked. His eyes cut over to hers as soon as she stepped out and Kat was immediately rooted to the spot. He didn't say anything, just gazed coolly at her. Kat felt the color rise in her cheeks. This was it. This was when she was finally going to talk to him.

"Sirius, I," he raised an eyebrow and Kat stuttered to a halt. She didn't know what to say. All of the things that she wanted to say suddenly didn't seem right. Sirius continued to stare at her but when the rest of her statement wasn't forthcoming he snorted and started walking away. She watched him go before she processed what was happening.

"Sirius, wait!" Her loud shout turned the heads of everyone in the corridor, but she didn't care. She ignored the butterflies in her stomach and followed after Sirius' retreating back.

Honestly, she had no idea what she intended to say to him. She still felt her blood boil whenever she so much as looked at him but enough time had passed that she found herself missing his presence. Remus had resumed relations—if somewhat icy—with his friends, it was about time that she did the same. Only she was certain part of what she felt was fear masquerading as anger. Could she really feel the way she did about Sirius Black? There was only one way to find out.

"Hey, wait!" She finally caught up with him in the courtyard. The evening June sunlight cast everything in a golden light.

Sirius stopped but didn't turn around. "Oh, so now you're talking to me again?"

Kat bit her lip. "Yes," she breathed. Her palms were sweaty and she resisted the urge to wipe them on her skirt.

"It's only taken you what, until June? Bloody hell, Kat," Sirius turned around and his grey eyes were narrowed in hostility.

"I'm sorry."

"That's it? 'I'm sorry?'" he said, raising his voice in a mocking imitation of her voice. "You haven't so much as looked at me in weeks other than to yell about how big of an idiot I am and all you have to say is 'I'm sorry'?"

"Sirius, please." She moved closer until she could reach out and touch him if she wanted to. "I just—"

"You just what?" he interrupted. "I know what I did was wrong, alright? I know I betrayed the trust of one of my closest friends and was nearly thrown out of school but do you want to know what's really messed up, Kat?" He threw his hands up into the air, completely losing the cool he usually kept around school. "That's not what I regret the most. What I regret the most is kissing you."

Kat lurched back like she had been stung, an icy feeling creeping into the pit of her stomach, replacing the butterflies with a dead stillness.

"I've wanted to kiss you for ages now and when I finally did, I regretted it immediately. Do you know why?" Kat shook her head. "Because it made you stop wanting to be around me. It made you stop wanting to talk to me, to start ignoring me, to just shut me out completely."

She didn't know what to say. She stared at Sirius with her mouth slightly open, willing her brain to form an adequate response. Kat took a step closer instead.

"You need to grow up, Kat," Sirius said, his voice growing truly cold for the first time. Kat was close enough at this point that she had to crane her neck in order to meet his gaze.

"Well, how did you expect me to react?" Kat found her voice again and enough of her fire again that she poked him in the chest. "I was in the middle of a perfectly good rant and you had to go and muck it all up by kissing me."

He flushed and rubbed the spot on his chest where she had jabbed him. "I don't know what came over me."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

They stood glaring at each other for a moment. Kat tried to figure out what she was going to do next. Was it possible that Sirius had completely changed his mind about her? He was certainly acting like it. She decided to gamble and take a chance.

"Well I wish you'd just do it again."

"What?" Sirius choked out in a strained voice. Clearly he hadn't expected that.

"Here I am yelling at you," Kat said, eyes flickering toward his lips. Yes. This is what she wanted. "And I can't help wondering what's taking you so long."

A look of utter disbelief appeared on Sirius' face. Kat huffed in annoyance before she reached up on her toes, heart racing, and kissed him.

It was better than she remembered. Sirius seemed frozen in place and Kat broke the kiss, worried that she had pushed him too far. But he sighed and brushed a thumb across her cheek before bending and kissing her again. She had her hands fisted in his shirt and after a few seconds Sirius' hands were at the small of her back. Kat had a fleeting thought of how cliché this was, kissing in the fading light of a warm June day, but it was quickly wiped away by the feel of Sirius right in front of her. She could feel his heart beating beneath his shirt in sync with her own. She could do this forever, she decided.

"If this is what happens every time we argue—" Sirius trailed off.

Kat giggled. "I guess we'll just have to see."

Sirius chuckled and kissed her again.