A Black Romance

Chapter 08

****Severus and Amber****

Amber made her way down to the Muggle Studies classroom. She checked her notes to make sure she had everything. But she felt a hit of guilt because she couldn't tell Sirius where she was going. She knew if she did it would cause a chain of pranks that might lead to somebody getting expelled or their feelings hurt. As she opened the door, she saw Severus holding a telephone and looking at it.

'Bloody muggles,' he said to himself, 'couldn't they just use owls.'

'They can't use owls because it takes a magical person to use them.' Severus jumped at Amber's voice.

'I, I didn't know you were here.'

'Well duh, we had a date and I am not one to break them. So, let's get to work.' She took the phone away from him and held it up in his face. 'This is a telephone. Muggles use it to talk to each other.' Severus gave her a funny look. 'Instead of wasting time using an owl to talk to your parents, all you have to do is pick up a phone and dial the number of the house. And it's just like having a face to face conversation, but you can’t see the other person.'

Severus took the phone out of Amber's hand and looked at it.

'And how does one acquire a telephone number?'

'Well, it cost money to have a phone, so the phone company gives you one and you keep that number until you move into a new house.'

'How do you know so much about muggles? I thought your mom hated them?'

'Just because she does doesn't mean I have to. Now can we please get back to work? We only have an hour and a half left.' Over the next hour, Amber and Severus talked about cars, televisions, and other muggle things. Afterwards, they made their way down to the Potions room. Little did they know that James and Sirius were hiding behind Elsie, the talking statue.

'Curiosity killed the cat, mates.' James, who hadn't said a word before, looked up at Elsie.

'A statue and prying eyes are easily parted.'

'What business would Amber and Snape have?' Sirius asked, pulling out his wand.

'No, no, don't. We don't know what's going on yet. We need to find out what's going on.'

'Can't we ask Lily?' James smiled and shook his head.

'I know somebody better.'

The boys looked at each other, 'Hagrid.'

'We'll wait a week or so then question him.' James said.

Once the study session was over, Amber and Severus stayed and talked. Severus showed her some laughing potions and Amber showed him some 'interesting' muggle toys. Before they knew it, it was 8:00 and the dinner bell was ringing. Grabbing their stuff, they ran out of the classroom and into the Great Hall.

'Wait!' Severus said.

'You go in and I'll come in later. Don't want anybody getting the wrong idea.'

'Sure.' Amber shifted her bag to her right shoulder and opened the door the Great Hall. Finding that none of her friends were there, she gave a sigh of relief and sat down. Ten minutes into her eating, Lily showed up.

'Where's you better half?'

'I'm not sure. He and Sirius went off 'pranking' again. How was your date?'

'It was not a date, we just did some studying.'

'Well, if you went studying, why are you blushing?' Amber picked up a carrot and threw it at her.

'Much to your disappointment, nothing happened.'

The girls laughed and giggled until the Remus, Peter, Sirius, and James walked in.

'So, how did the study session go?' Sirius asked in a mocking tone.

'Good, I really learned a lot.' Sirius rolled his eyes and looked over at the Slytherin table. Then, directly focusing on Severus Snape.

'Who did you study with?'

'This is some wonderful pumpkin juice!' Lily said, trying to change the subject. Sirius, taking the hint, decided to drop the subject, for now.

FLASHFOWARD

After the graduation ceremony, Professor Dumbledore called in Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ronald Weasley into his office.

'Professor,' Hermione started, 'aren't we going to miss the train?' Dumbledore smiled as he sat down at his desk.

'Where we're going, the train can't take us.'

'Us?' The tree kids said in unison. Before Dumbledore could start, the door opened and a thirty-nine year old Sirius Black and Remus Lumpin walked into the room.

'Excellent speech Harry,' Sirius said. Again, before Dumbledore could speak, the door opened. Severus Snape walked in.

'Keep this up and we won't have anymore room,' Ron said, laughing.

'Now, I've called you all in here because we all have some unfinished business.'

'Voldemort is finished. What's left? Darf Vador?' Ron said again, smiling. Dumbledore also smiled and shook his head.

'I think Ms. Granger and Mr. Black need to sit down for this.' Harry walked behind Hermione and put his hand on her shoulder.

'Dear, you're adopted and Sirius is your father.' As Dumbledore said this, blue sparks arose from Sirius and Hermione's faces.

'The Feliums Charm,' Remus whispered.

'Correct! Now, Mr. Snape and I have something to tell you. I won't go to the details, because that's for Amber to explain, but Sirius and Amber were married and had a daughter. Now, when Sirius was sent to Azkaban, Amber and Hermione, with the help of Professor Snape fled to America. I was their secret keeper. But, Death Eaters followed them and the trio had to split. Amber went into deeper hiding, Ms. Granger was adopted and Mr. Snape came here.'

All the while Sirius said nothing. His face went from smiles to tears. Hermione, on the other hand, never changed her frown.

'So, I still have a wife?'

'Not quite. While you were in Azkaban, Amber got the divorce finalized.' Sirius looked hurt. 'It wasn't that she didn't love you, but of the rumors.'

'So, where is Amber now?' Harry asked.

'Or better yet, who's the secret keeper?' Remus added. In unison, everybody turned to Severus.

'It's not me! I wanted to be, but she didn't. And it's all your fault.' He yelled, pointing at Sirius. 'I loved her more than you did. I took care of her for the three years! You only wanted her to complete your little picture perfect life. You never knew the real Amber!'

'Bloody hell!' Sirius answered. 'Amber was so out of your league.'

'STOP!' Hermione yelled. The room went silent while Hermione talked.

'So, who's Amber, my mom's keeper?'

'You are.' Snape replied.

'Me?'

'Ingenious!' Dumbledore yelled. 'You were to young to remember anything, and that would make it impossible for you to know.'

'So I'll never find my mom?' Dumbledore stopped grinning and looked at Hermione.

'Of course not. The only person more clever than you was your mother. And when you're not thinking, the secret will pop up and everything will come full circle.'

'How do you know that?' Ron asked.

'The Amazons said it would happen.'

'Amazons?' Severus asked, walking closer to Dumbledore.

'Amber joined the Amazons?'

'No, but they were responsible for finding the Grangers and keeping her safe once you left.'

'Professor,' Harry asked, 'if the Amazons could protect her, then why didn't they tell you where she was.'

Snape jumped in. 'Because, the Amazons live in another world. They are like the Goddess of Witches and Wizards. Beautiful women, smart. They also live forever.'

'I've never heard of them,' Hermione said.

'Not much is taught about them because people have died searching for them. Because if you can get their necklace of Oracle, you can live forever like them. Your mom was offered a spot in their order, but she refused.'

'Why,' Ron asked?

Ok, back to the story. Over the next few months, Amber and Sirius meet on Wednesdays while James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus spied. Finally, the boys could no longer hold it in and decided to do some pranks on Severus.