A Black Romance

****January 23****

“Ok!” James yelled, “the new password is: Severus Snape is a nasty git.” Amber stared at James and Sirius. Lily also looked at James.

“This is not funny. Change the password James.”

“Aw, Lily. We’re just having some fun. Besides, it’s not like he’s gonna find out.”

“I’m not saying it,” Amber said, not moving her glare from Sirius.

“Well, you can’t come in the house if you don’t.”

“If putting someone down means being in there, I would rather stay outside.”

“Come on Amber,” Remus said, “it’s not like Slytherin doesn’t do it.”

“So we should go to their level and act childish also? I don’t think so.” And with that, she walked from the group and headed towards the library.

“Maybe that wasn’t a very bright idea,” Peter said, watching Amber walk away.

That night, Amber sat outside the common room door doing her homework. Every time someone would come to the Fat Lady, Amber would look up and glare at them before they said, “Severus Snape is a nasty git.”

Around midnight, the door flung open and the Fat Lady said, “All right, come on in.”

“No. I’m trying to make a point. So, just close the door.” The Fat Lady sighed and closed the door.

Soon, Amber became tired and fell asleep. Before she could go into a deep sleep, she felt a semi-cold touched her face. Jumping up, she saw a house elf with a blanket and a pillow.

“Sorry for waking you ma’am. But Blue seen that you’s was outside and thought you’d be cold. Don’t you ‘member your password?” Amber took the pillow and blanket.

“Thank you. And no, I know the password, but I’ve refused to say it because it makes fun of a friend of mine.” Blue, the house elf, sat down besides to Amber and put her hand on her shoulder.

“Amber is a true Gryffindor to stand up to her friends like that. Blue would be scared to stand.” Amber smiled and kissed Blue on the cheek.

“Thank you for the pillow and blanket.” By morning, Amber hadn’t moved and nobody could make her move.

“Amber, stop being like this. It’s just a joke. Besides, you’re gonna miss the Quidditch match,” Sirius said. Finally, after trying to make Amber change her mind, the group made their way to the Quidditch field.

Fifteen minutes later, Amber heard footsteps and turned around. It was Dumbledore.

“Good morning Ms. Perry, I see the protest is going strong.”

“How did you know that?”

“News travels fast.”

“Oh, well, I don’t want to get James or Sirius in trouble, but I don’t think that was very nice of them.” Nodding his head, Dumbledore crossed his legs and started to sit Indian style on the floor. [I]I hope the old man doesn’t break a bone.[/I]

“Whew! I haven’t done that in a long time. Anyway, that was a very nice thing you did; for Severus and Blue. Not to many people would have done that. Fifty points for Gryffindor.” Amber smiled.

“And the password?”

“Will be changed by the end of the day.” Amber smiled and Dumbledore waved his hand and the common room door opened. Amber was about to run to the door until she heard a cough.

“A little help, please?”

“Sorry Professor.”

Ravenclaw won the match 150 to 10 after the Ravenclaw seeker caught the Snitch.

“The longest game of the worst teams I’ve ever been to in my life,” James said. The next game would be Ravenclaw vs. Slytherin. And whoever won that would play Gryffindor for the Cup.

I myself was not on the Slytherin team, but if I was, I would assure you I would have been excellent. But I didn’t have enough funds for a new broom or nice robes. But am I bitter, no! Of course not. I don’t have to ride on a broom and throw a ball in a hoop to feel important. I can kill people with a single curse and have no remorse.

****February 2****

Hogsmeade, the only full wizarding town in the world. I loved the place! If that damned Harry Potter hadn’t stopped me, this whole world would have been full of wizarding towns. Even a wizarding country! Anyway, Lily had a list of things she wanted to buy her and James for the ball. She also promised Remus, Peter, and Sirius that she would make them something nice. “With no tights!” added Sirius.

At the Great Hall during breakfast, the owls came in with their letters. Amber’s owl, Spike, had two letters.

“One’s from Mum, and the other doesn’t have a name on it,” Amber said, trying to figure out whose handwriting it was.

“Open it!” Lily said, excited.

[I]Dear Amber,

You probably have a date, but I wanted to know if you would do me the honor of going to the ball with me? I can’t tell you who I am because you might be embarrassed of me, so I’ll tell you what I’ll be wearing. I’ll have on a black cloak with a silver trim. My mask will cover my whole face and on one side it will have a smile and the other will have a frown. I will be waiting in the Great Hall by the door for you. Send your reply by your owl and tell him it’s for “Rabbit”. He’ll know who it is.[/I]

“How romantic!” Lily squealed.

“I wonder who it is?” Amber asked, trying to remember the handwriting.

“Maybe it’s Sirius,” Lily said.

“No, he would have just told me to go with him like always.”

“What are you going to wear?”

“I have no idea. I was thinking about not going altogether.”

“You can’t do that! Your Prince Charming is waiting on you.”

“Probably just some joke Sirius and James are pulling on me.”

“Doubt it, but if it makes you feel any better, I’ll have talk with James myself.”

During the train and carriage ride to Hogsmeade, Amber sat in silence and thought about who wrote her the letter. Then an idea came to her. And when it came, she jumped up and bumped her head on the ceiling.

“Keep this up and you’ll be foaming at the mouth,” Sirius sourly said.

“I’ll put it on my to-do list,” Amber replied. After rolling her eyes, Amber turned to Lily and whispered, “I figured out a way to see who sent me the letter.”

“How?”

“I’ll go to the costume store and ask the clerk who bought an outfit like this.”

“Brilliant!” Lily said. “And I talked to You-Know-Who and he said he and him didn’t have anything to do with it.”

The girls smiled at the boys' blank faces.

“Who’s your date, Remy?” Lily asked, putting her head on James’ shoulder.

“Olive Wood.”

“Life imitates Quidditch I see,” Amber said, laughing. Peter, who had been quite the whole time put down the Daily Prophet and looked around.

“This Voldemort guy is serious. Did you see his write up in the paper?” Sirius nodded,

“Mum owled me the other day and told me to be careful. A real nutter that guy is."

This is what I had in the paper

[I]I Lord Voldemort have self-proclaimed myself the model wizard. It is time for the true, pureblooded wizards of England to take a stand against Muggles and Mudbloods. They have infested Hogwarts, a place where real wizards and witches were suppose to be able to learn the craft. But Albus Dumbledore, the new Headmaster, thinks it is ok to have werewolves, Muggles, giants, and all other sorts of people there. If we don’t put a stop to it, house elves and goblins will be sharing a dormitory with your children. It must be stopped! There is only one way to be rid of this pestering race. And that is by death.[/I]

I happen to have liked it myself. Of course that was my first interview and I was quite scared of what might happen. This was the first of many messages I would send through the Daily Prophet. And the Muggles thought I was some crazed cult leader killing people. Ah, the good old days.

Anyway, the trip to Hogsmeade was excellent. The girls headed for the clothing store while the boys went to the Joke Shop.

“Let’s meet for butterbeer at 1:30 sharp!" Lily yelled to the boys as they ran towards the joke shop.

Once the girls were inside, Lily parted. “I’ll be in the back. Once you find out who it is come back there.” Amber nodded and walked to the desk.

“Excuse me sir,” the man turned around. Well, it really wasn’t a man, but a goblin.

“Yes?”

“I was wondering if any body bought a clock with a silver trim and a two-faced mask?”

“As a matter of fact, I had an order by owl come in this morning.” Amber smiled. “But the person who bought it wanted me to send it back to him.”

“Did it have a name on it?”

“More like a nickname if you ask me. Hold on.” He picked up pieces of parchment until he came upon one with the same handwriting as the letter. “He calls himself ‘Rabbit’. Silly if you ask me. But I don’t ask questions. I just make clothes.”

“Thank you anyway.”

Amber hurried to the back of the store where she saw Lily holding up some green tights.

“I hope those aren’t for James.”

“And what if they are? It’s just for a few hours. He can handle it.”

“And what if he can’t?”

“I’ll charm him,” Lily said, with an evil grin.