A Black Romance

Chapter 03

****Dumbledore’s Office****

Once Peter and Professor Dumbledore made it to their office, Dumbledore said the password, “Charlie’s Angles.”

“I just love that show,” he said, rubbing his chin and laughing. “Sit down, Mr. Pettigrew. Now, I don’t want to know how you did it, because I already know. I don’t want to know why you did it because I already know the reasons. But I do want to tell you one thing.” Dumbledore paused and looking sadly at Peter. He knew that this was the starting point of a long chain of events that would only end when he died. But there was a small place in his heart that he wished this wasn’t true. “Just know who your real friends are and be careful about the choices you make. Fame isn’t everything.”

“Yes sir, sorry sir.”

“Good, now go on back to your dorm and unglue Gillian and Sirius. And tell them I want to see them after breakfast tomorrow morning.”

****Pettigrew’s Folly****

Ah, this is where it gets interesting; in fact, this is where I make my entrance! To this day I still can’t believe Dumbledore knew I was there and didn’t try to stop me. But anyway, Peter was in the trophy room looking at the Quidditch cups with James’ name on there. I was standing in the shadows, waiting until his mind was clear.

“Ah, Mr. Pettigrew, I see you are admiring you’re friend’s great deeds. It’s a shame your name isn’t written on that cup.”

Peter gasped and slowly turned around. “Wwhhhooo are you?” I smiled and stretched out my hand.

“Voldemort, Lord Voldemort, but my Muggle name is Tom Riddle.”

“I remember you!” Peter said. “You were a Perfect and Head Boy for the Slytherin house. Are you here to see Dumbledore?”

I laughed to myself at his gubbliablity. Most Gryffindors sensed my evilness, but then again, he wasn’t a true Gryffindor.

“No, Dumbledore needs not know I was here. I am here for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes, I need your help. I need you to keep an eye on James Potter for me. He is holding a secret that could change the wizarding world. But he doesn’t know it.”

Then, I saw it in his eyes, all the greed, the hunger, but most of all, the want to do it.

“What’s in it for me?” Peter asked.

“This.”

I handed him a piece of paper.

“You can play a prank on Sirius and Gillian. You can receive your own glory.”

BAMN! I had him. In one simple word, I had a faithful servant.

“So then, are you going to do it?”

Peter stretched his hand to me and I shook it.

“Don’t tell anyone about me.”

And in a flash, I was gone. Out into the Whooping Willow and then I apparated back to my hide out in Bristle.

Peter stayed in the trophy room a little while longer. Thinking about what he just did. Was this really the right thing to do? What kind of secret could James have and not know? And could he really trust this Voldemort guy? But then again, he wanted so badly to be popular. Not just that puggy kid who hangs out with the Marauders. Maybe then, Lily or Amber or any other girl for that matter would look at him. And think he was cute.

After Peter left the trophy room, he slowly walked back to the Gryffindor common room and looked at James reading a Charms book.

“He’d been such a good friend,” Peter thought to himself. But then again, James was nice to everyone he met.

****After The Ball****

Once Sirius and Gillian were unglued, Gillian slapped Sirius and Peter, thinking it was another prank. Lily and James had “gone off” for some “quite time” and Remus had gone toget ready for the full moon the next night. Amber taking her quill and parchment into the common room and began to write her mom a letter for the first time since she made it to Hogwarts.

[I]Dear Mum,

Howis everything at home? Fine I hope. School is fine. All my classes are easy, except for Charms, but Lily Evans is helping me. She’s really good in that subject. Do you know Professor Weasley? Well, he’s leaving Hogwarts and is going to work for the Ministry! Speaking of the Ministry, I received a letter from them the other day. They want me to move to America and work for them! Isn’t that great? I didn’t give them an answer because I wanted to tell you first. The Halloween Ball was good. Until Peter Pettigrew glued Sirius Black and Gillian Harrison together. I went with Remus Lupin, you remember him. He’s the one you met in London with James Potter. Well, I better go. It’s quite late and I have to tutor some fourth years again in Muggle Studies. Hope to see you for Christmas, if you can. Love, Amber[/I]

Amber looked at the letter and rolled her eyes.

“All lies,” she said. “I always pretend that everything is fine. She isn’t going to let me go to American and she isn’t going to be home for Christmas. I don’t even know why I try.”

“You try because you have to live,” said a voice from behind her.

Amber smiled; she didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

“Of course you can say that. You could be a squib and your parents would be proud of you. I, I don’t have that.”

“Then why don’t you just go?”

“Because, it takes money to move, it takes money to have an apartment. It takes money that I don’t have. Besides, I have to wait until October for my job. There’s June, July, August, and September.”

“You’re forgetting one thing.”

“What?”

“You can come and live with us until you move.”

“That’s nice, Sirius, but after seven years, I need a break.”

Sirius was hurt. He thought that Amber would jump at the idea of living with him. Maybe if I mention Remus living with us, she’ll change her mind, he thought.

“Remus and James will be there too. So it’s not like you’ll be alone. And we’re trying to get Lily, but you know how she is.”

“Smart,” Amber said, laughing.

Amber gently kissed Sirius on the cheek, “Thanks for your offer anyway. It was really sweet, but I think I need to do some stuff on my own.”

Sirius smiled and watched Amber walk up the stairs. Amber had kissed him! Well, not a real kiss, but it was a start. Now, he regretted ever looking at Gillian, but he was happy she was mad at him. Now he didn’t have to put up with her and watch Remus and Amber. But something about what Peter did made him feel uneasy. It was not like him to do such a hard curse. Or come up with one on his own. He had to have had some help, and he planned to find out.

Once Amber got back to the girl’s room, she showed Lily the letter she’d written to her mom.

“You think she’s gonna buy it?”

“Do you really need her approval for something you’re gonna do as a grown woman?”

“You know, I just got the same lecture from Sirius. I just wanted to let her know what’s going on, even if she doesn’t care, I do.”

Lily looked sadly at her best friend. Each year they had gone through the same discussion. Why Amber was so dependent on her uncaring mother she couldn’t understand. But then again, her parents never not cared for her.

“I just don’t want to see your feelings hurt when she owls you back.”

“Ok, I’ll make a deal with you, if my mom owls me back and is mad, I’ll do whatever I want and not tell her. But if she’s at least ok with it, I’ll continue to tell her. Deal?”

Lily smiled and shook her hand. She knew Amber’s mom hated Muggles and wouldn’t consent to her moving to America.

“Are you going to send it now or tomorrow morning?”

“The sooner the better.”

“Ok, let me ask James to use the map so we don’t get caught or anything.”

It doesn’t take Professor Trelawaney to tell you Amber’s mother wasn’t letting her work for Muggles or live in America. And I myself don’t blame her. Muggles are stupid creatures. But don’t take my word for it - I was always a little prejudice against them. As usual, Amber cried on Sirius’ shoulder, which he was more than happy to supply. Remus was also there for her, but in the next chapter, that would all change.

****Divination Class****

It was a quite boring day in Trelawney’s class. I myself was caught nodding off a few times when she predicted my death in my fourth year. I was to die by drowning in the lake. And then in my sixth year I was suppose to be in a horrible accident involving a magical car. But then in my seventh year…but that’s another story - and for another time. Besides, I’m not destined to write MY story. It is to early for them, or even for him for that matter.

Anyway, Trelawney was giving a test that day. An Astrology test where they had to predict their partner’s future. Remus and Amber had a table. Lily and James sat together, and Sirius and Peter were stuck together. As the professor was passing out the zodiac papers, she suddenly stopped between Amber and Sirius’ table.

“No, no. All wrong. Sirius you’re supposed to sit with Amber. Remus, you sit with Peter. No, Peter you’ve already fixed your future. Quite disappointed in you. But nevertheless, Peter you’re excuse from the test. So Mr. Lupin, that means you’re stuck with me.”

Peter looked amazed, but gathered his books and left the classroom. Remus rolled his eyes at James and slowly sat at the table with Trelawney.

“Ok,” Amber said, pulling out her chart. “I’m a Libra and you’re a…let’s see…Aries.”

Sirius gave Amber a blank look.

“If you would have been listening any of the four years we’ve been in this classroom, you would know that all it means is you’re an ass and I’m level-headed.”

“Oh, thank you. It’s taken four years to finally find that out,” he said, grinning.

“Ah yes, I expected Amber to figure everything out quickly. Ten points for Gryffindor. Very compatible signs the two of you share. It’s a shame so much pain the two of you will go through. Of course Potter will help, but it’s going to be all up to Ms. Perry if she’ll decide to forgive.”

She whispered in Sirius’ ear, “I’d be careful about letting Mr. Pettigrew hold secrets if I were you.” And she walked over to Lily and James’ table.

“And why do we need to take this class?” Sirius asked, pointing his wand and Remus and shooting out some purple sparks, making Remus’ face turn into a dog.

“Because, you may need to read the future or something. I don’t know. Change Remus back right now before Trelawney notices.”

Grunting, Sirius again pointed his wand and Remus’ face was restored.