Chapter 40: Midnight Adventures (3)
Catherine woke up late the next morning. Since it was Saturday, everyone had left to enjoy their freedom, and there were just a few people in the Common Room, most of them occupied with leisure activities such as reading comics or playing games. The only person who was working, surprisingly, was Sirius. His head was lowered over a parchment, and there were quills and discarded drafts everywhere around him.
"What're you doing?" – asked Catherine, yawning, and sat on the chair next to him.
"A map." – he stated flatly without raising his head.
"I see. Where's James?'' – she asked.
"Helping Peter with the homework for McGonagall." – came the short answer.
"Is there any reason why you behave like this? Did I offend you somehow?" – Cathereine asked, frustrated.
Sirius stopped sketching and looked at his friend. On his face, there was not even a trace of his usual smile.
"You know, Catherine," – he spoke quietly – "you've always thought we're a bunch of stupid morons who could only get in trouble, and maybe you're right to a certain extent."
"This is not true at all!" – protested the young witch.
"Perhaps it's not so clearly defined as an idea in your head, but your actions speak for themselves."
"My actions?" – asked Catherine, divided between being angry at Sirius and being worried that she hurt him somehow – "Is this about last night?"
"It hasn't been just last night." – slowly exclaimed Sirius, now staring at the parchment in front of him – "I've been thinking a lot since yesterday, and you always seem like you're hiding something from us. It's as you have a secret agenda, and you do not care how it would affect us. You're supportive, but never truly honest, Catherine. Why's that? What is your goal at the end of the day? Why can't you be sincere about our relationship? I thought we were best friends. At least, that's how I felt about you."
Catherine opened her mouth and then slowly closed it. She wasn't sure how to answer, mainly because Sirius was right on many levels. He was wrong regarding how she perceived them, but she had never imagined he could be so sharp in his estimation of her personality.
"Sirius," – the girl said softly – "I understand why you may feel this way, and I truly wish I could explain myself, but I just can't. It has nothing to do with you or any of the others. I don't pursue any goals or have agendas, I just genuinely like you. Isn't this enough? Can't you just trust me?"
"I wish I could." – the boy answered, collected his stuff from the table and left the Common Room.
"This was truly heartbreaking." – Greg commented, taking Sirius' seat.
"Are you spying on me now?" – snapped Catherine, glaring at her brother.
"In a public space it's hardly my fault if you speak loud enough for me to hear from the sofa." – shrugged the boy.
"Sure, I'm more interested in why you and your smug smile didn't stay on the said sofa?" – hissed the witch.
"Unlike with you, my dearest sister, not every word coming from my mouth is dripping sarcasm. I was actually concerned about your apparent fallout with Black." – calmly elaborated the third-year.
"No need to be concerned." – Catherine responded darkly – "I guess it was too naïve to think I could have friends and be liked for whoever I was. Sooner or later my identity appears to ruin every chance I had of meaningful human interaction."
"You're a tad overdramatic. I know it's hard to always be careful about what you say and how much of yourself you could reveal, but Black and the others do like you for who you are. Don't give up on them just because of your pride." – Greg advised, smiling at the grim black-haired girl next to him.
"So basically, you're telling me to stick to Sirius and stay by his side even though he made it clear he could not be my friend under the current circumstances?' – Catherine asked anxiously.
"Kind of, yeah!" – said Greg and stood up – "Anyway, we have Quidditch practice soon, so he would probably burn out some of that negative energy."
"Did you know that Carter Thorne was an Air Mage?" – the young witch suddenly changed the topic.
"No, how do you know?" – asked the wizard, looking at his sister with curiosity.
"I've seen him use air magic." – she whispered, glancing around.
"Where did you…" – Greg attempted to inquire.
"Doesn't matter. Do you think he could be a spy? I mean from the Council or another House?"
"I sincerely doubt it. There are wizards and witches who just want to learn elemental magic. It's not so out of the ordinary." – the boy said, feeling cold sweat forming beneath his robes – "To be on the safer side, I'm going to write to Dad and ask him."
"Good." – Catherine nodded.
"Now, if you excuse me, I need to get my broom and head to the Quidditch Pitch."
"One more thing." – the girl said hastily – "I know this might sound silly, but do you hear voices from within the walls that tell you about secret passages or hidden rooms in the castle?"
"I do." – Greg smiled at his sister's relieved face – "It's normal for us. I believe it's called the Voice of the Foundations, although I'm not certain what exactly that is. But I know it was one of the reasons McMahons stopped attending the school. We had an unfair advantage, which made our ancestors hard to manage and discipline as students."
'One thing less to worry about.' – thought Catherine, watching her brother leaving for his Quidditch practice – 'Being able to hear voices the others could not is never a good sign.'