* * *

Sirius took hold of Catina's hand and led her to the nearest staircase. He perched himself on a step and patted the spot beside him which the girl took diligently, her hands folding in her lap where they remained whilst Sirius spoke.

"There are many reasons why people don't like Slytherin's, sweetheart, because many do not give others a choice because of their actions. If I'm honest, I don't like them. Mainly because of my delightful family. When you mentioned that you are a Slytherin, my stomach dropped and I can't help that. From the moment I saw you have given me these feels that tell me that you are a lovely person but my feelings towards Slytherins are too strong. My family are awful! They are wretched excuses of human beings and my ideologies about Slytherins have been derived from them and I'm sorry. I don't hate you, I just hate your house and I don't think that will change. Too many alumni Slytherin's have created chaos, havoc and brought destruction to life which stems people's hatred. I understand that you are not like that and that there may be others like you. Does this answer your question?"

Catina huffed. Her head slumped down and her thumbs began to battle each other. Sirius frowned, he didn't want to upset the girl but he didn't want to lie to her either; if the truth was hurtful then that could not be helped. He watched as she sucked her cheek in and let it go. "Right, well, I guess I should get my belongings then." She stated, rising to her feet and hurrying off down the corridors.

"Cat, wait!" Sirius calles out after her, chasing behind her, knocking items onto the floor but he didn't care. He didn't know too much about the girl but he knew she had nowhere else to go and he would not be able to forgive himself if something was to happen to her.

"Padfoot, what's going on?" Quizzed Remus who emerged from the landing above Sirius.

"I think I've just scared off Cat." Sirius informed his best friend who sighed and followed behind the curly-haired man quickly.

"What did you do?"

Sirius ran a hand through his curls, tugging at the roots in exasperation. "She asked a question. I gave her an answer, albeit a quite harsh and truthful one and now she's going to leave."

Connecting with the crown of Sirius' head, Remus slapped him (quite hard) in annoyance. "You idiot!" He cried, "Do you know how many times she has run away or tried to run away?! For crying out loud, Pads, you just had to push her, didn't you? Did you even listen to Dumbledore's briefing? You have to tread carefully with Cat!"

One of the twins stopped the men, his arms folded across his chest and his eyebrows raised. "Why?" He questioned Remus, his eyes boring into him.

"Now is not the time, George, move!" Cried Sirius attempting to manoeuvre around the redheaded boy by the twin stepped in front of him once more.

"I'm Fred, Merlin's beard, Sirius, I get 12 years in Azkaban is awful but clearly you haven't forgotten how to tell twins apart. Now spill. Why do you and probably the rest of us, have to "tread carefully" around the girl?"

"Why do you care? You're horrible to her anyway." Remus retorted, placing his hands on Fred's shoulders and guiding him out of the way, although, that didn't stop him following.

"I'm not horrible to her! Never have been actually, I'll have you know. C'mon, bloody tell me!"

Sirius snapped his head towards Fred, his eyes like slots and his jaw clenched. "Stop being an insufferable bugger and let us deal with this situation. Then, perhaps, Moony will inform you. Okay?"

Sighing in defeat, Fred nodded his head and backed down. He let the two men follow after Catina whom, during the short stop due to Fred, has managed to collect a bag of her belongings and rush down towards the front door. Having not unpacked fully it was a breeze to grab some essentials and dash out of the room leaving Ginny in a puzzled state.

Remus and Sirius continued after Catina, not caring anymore that Fred was following them still, however, this time he remained silent. He didn't know much of Catina's existence except for the fact that she was a girl in his year with quite, how should I put it, 'out-there' friends. But now, having overheard the elder wizards' conversation or rather Remus' rant to Sirius, he grew with curiosity over the girl and her background. Why did she have to stay with them? Why does she run away? Why do they have to 'tread-carefully'?

Catina had managed to make it further than the park this time. She had broken off into a sprint a few houses down from Grimmauld Place. She had become accustomed the running from a new home, running from people that didn't want her or at least didn't show it (in her eyes that is) and despite her abrupt and rather determined manner, she couldn't help but feel small and vulnerable each time she ran. Some might say she a fragmented personality; sometimes she was strong and fearsome, sometimes she was shy and endearing, other times she was angry, and lastly, she could be sad but did she ever feel happy?

Skidding, Catina threw herself down a side street, her curls bouncing off of her forehead and flowing behind her. She hurried past mother's with prams, she pushed through groups of teenagers, Catina didn't want to stop. The girl kept going, her legs were being pushed and felt as if they were on fire but it only fuelled her determination to get as far away from there as possible. There was no way that she was going to live in the same house as a bunch of Gryffindors who hate her house. No chance. Why would she succumb herself to such torment when she could be alone, riding the winds and rubbing free as a lone wolf? Or at lest a lone wolf until she got to one of her friends houses.

In retrospect Prosper would be the easiest to go to for a number of reasons. For example, he lived in London, Caspian was on holiday and Lulu, well, Lulu was forced to summer school by her parents. Also, Prosper knew more about her than the other two did based in the fact that he had known her the longest out of them three as well. However, the part of London Prosper lived in was over five miles away.

"Cat!" She heard Remus hell after her and foolishly she turned her head to look. There he was, redheaded boy beside him and big black dog in front of him, all running after her. When she gasped and turned back to facing forward she collided into something - or rather someone - and fell right to the floor, hitting her head on the pavement.

"Oh crap, I'm so sorry!" Exclaimed the person she had crashed into. They bent down to the girl who laid with her eyes clenched shut.

Catina groaned in pain, raising her hand up to the back of her head. "My fault." She hissed as her touch stung.

Remus, Fred and Sirius (in dog form) caught up with Catina and the man who leaned over her. "Is she yours? I'm sorry, I wasn't looking-"

"And neither was she. Let's just get her home and sorted out. Don't worry about it, mate, she's a toughen." Fred told the man, "go on mate, you seem in a rush."

"Are you sure? I don't want to leave if she's not okay." The man said, rubbing his neck in worry. "My meeting, it's not important."

Remus nodded as Fred crouched down beside Catina, "she'll be okay. Trust me on that."

The man sighed, nodding his head and hurried off, his briefcase banging against his knees. Remus watched as the man scurried off before reverting his gaze to Catina who remained on the ground.

"Fred can you help her up?" He asked as he held onto Sirius.

Fred nodded his head and went to put his arms under her hers when she pushed him off of her. "I don't want nor do I need your help." She hissed, pushing herself up, one hand still cupping the back of her head.

"Hey, hey, hey, we were okay earlier, what made you change your tune?" Fred Exclaimed, ignoring her and picking her up and holding her level on the pavement.

Catina rolled her eyes, "quit shouting. Bloody hell, I don't know which one you are. How was I supposed to know the red thing spinning in front of me is the one who was talking to em earlier or the twat who thinks he's better than me that looks exactly like you."

Fred chuckled, "I'm Fred, the better looking one, the other ugly mug, is George. Even when I'm apparently spinning I'll be better looking than him."
The boy leaned his head behind hers and plied off her hand to see crimson blood filling the lines on her palms. "Bloody hell, she's bleeding."

Catina gagged, she didn't even have to see the liquid for it to make her feel vile. She stomach dropped and her face fell. It was much worse when she pulled her hand down and actually caught a glimpse of it. Remus watched in horror as her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fell backwards once again, this time thankfully into Fred's arms.

"Oh great, an injured girl who runs away and can't stand blood!" Fred Exclaimed adjusting the girl in his arms.

"Let's get her home."