A Black Romance

****With The Boys****

The boys were in the joke shop looking at the fake wands and the gum that glued your lips together. "So, Wormtail," Sirius asked, "does Amber and Lily know who sent that letter?"

"No, no clue."

"Damn it!" Sirius asked.

"So you really didn't send it?" James asked.

"Of course not! Why would I send a goofy letter when I could have just asked her?"

"Just a question. You don't have to bite my head off. Besides, you and her are having fights everyday."

"If that stupid git Severus would keep his greasy paws away from her."

"Looks like someone is falling for his best mate," Remus said, winking at James and Peter. Before Sirius could reply, Professor Dumbledore walked in.

"Boys, I see where all the money is going. Just remember the dance. Don't want you all to come empty handed. I remember when I was your age. I had a date named Dolly. Beautiful jet black hair..."

"Um, that's nice Professor, but we have to go." James said, giving his friends a weird look.

"Sorry about that. Got carried away. Have a nice day then."

The boys paid for their stuff and ran down the street towards the clothing store. "Sometimes," Peter began, "I think Dumbledore is drinking more than butter beer."

"Here, here." They said in unison.

"Let's see what Lily and Amber have decided to embarrass us with." Remus said, eating some pink taffy that made you talk with bubbles.

****FLASHFOWARD****

"Because," Dumbledore continued, "if Amber had become an Amazon, she would go through life without ever talking to you. One of the rules of being an Amazon is letting go of all family ties. She would never have been able to keep in contact."

"Amber's written you?" Sirius asked.

"Used to. Up until Hermione started school, after that, her letters stopped." Severus said, whipping a tear from his eye.

"I think we all need to leave Sirius and Hermione alone so they can talk." Dumbledore said, noticing the tension between Severus and Sirius. Harry gently kissed Hermione and followed Ron and Remus out of the room.

"So Sirius, dad, how come you gave me up?"

"I didn't give you up. I was in Azkaban when Amber and Severus went to America. I guess they went right after Lily and James died. But I never stopped loving you."

"How come you didn't look for me once you got out?"

"First off, I thought you and Amber were dead. When I came back to the house, it was in flames and I heard screams. I didn't have anything else to live for so I let myself be turned in."

"What was I like, when I was born?" Sirius smiled.

"Beautiful. You and your mom have the same bushy brown hair. I gave you the nickname 'butterfly' because the pattern in your hair reminded me of one. You didn't take after me at all. Amber promised to have a son that was just like me. Anyway, you were so smart. Before you could talk you made sounds. I would talk to you like you could really talk back. Harry was your best mate. He was a little shy though. You would bring him books and try to show him the pictures, but he wasn't interested." Hermione laughed.

"Were we a happy family?"

"The happiest. When you were 3 months we took a trip to Spain to visit my family. You were the bell of the ball. Everybody wanted to hold you, and kiss you. But I wouldn't let them come close to you."

"And what about my mom and Snape?"

"He loved her too. Couldn't blame him. She was nice to everyone. She even loved house elves. Just like how you tried to get them freed, she wanted equal rights for them too. She had one named Blue. Once she came back from America she begged me to come to Hogwarts and get her."

"She was in America?"

"Yeah, once she graduated, she got a job with the American Ministry of Magic. Two years later, she came back for James and Lily's wedding. We started dating and by 1975 we got married."

"Why did you guys wait so late to have me?" Hermione asked with tears streaming down her face.

"Miscarriages."

****FLASHBACK****

Once the boys made their way to the store, the girls were walking out with large bags in their hand.

"Can I see what is in there?" James asked. Taking the bags from Lily.

"Thank you, and no you may not."

Sirius followed James' suite and took the bags from Amber. Unlike Lily, she didn't tell him thank you.

Quite rude of her if you ask me. In my day, girls and boys knew how to act. They weren't these crazy "free love" kids who didn't know an honest dollar. I, on the other hand work all summer just to make money for my schoolbooks and stuff. I didn't have a rich mummy or daddy to buy anything my heart wished. And do you see my complaining? (Don't answer that)

"Come on Lily," Remus begged, "tell us what's in the bag?"

"Don't worry, you're precious manhood won't be questioned. You'll be quite the men in these outfits. Won't they, Amber?" Lily gave Amber a sly wink.

"Of course! When the other girls see you, they'll say, 'WOW! Look how manly they are. I wish I could be like them.' And the boys will be jealous of you and the girls will try to rip your clothes off." Neither James no Sirius like the sarcasm in their voices but dropped it. They knew the girls weren't going to tell then until the night of the ball.

After getting their fill of butter beer, Lily and James went for a private walk. Soon after Remus went into the haunted house to transform into a werewolf. This left our heroes and Peter alone.

"Um, Wormtail," Sirius started, "could you give Amber and I some time alone?"

"Oh, sure, no problem at all."

Oh, just throw peter out. He's not important anyway.

Amber looked at Peter and mouthed the words, "Please don't leave me," but he just smiled and walked off.

"Ok, talk." Amber said, folding her arms and looking directly into Sirius' eyes.

"I know since the ball, I've been acting well, like an ass. And I'm not mad at you for not wanting to be around me because I don't like me acting like an ass either." Amber gave him a blank look.

"Are you following me?"

"As strangely as it sounds, yes."

"Good," Sirius said, rubbing his hands together and sitting on the grass. Waiting for Amber to do the same. "But there is a reason why I've been acting like this." "

"What curse has James put you under now? Or better yet, what poison has Severus given you?" Amber said.

"I'M JEALOUS!" Sirius yelled. "I'm jealous of the fact that you are Severus are such good mates. You're supposed to be my best mate!"

"Grow up Sirius," Amber added, "you are my best mate, but you have to realize that I need other people to talk to."

"I don't want to lose you."

"Si, I am not about to marry anybody. Especially Snape, he's just a good mate."

"Are you sure?"

"If it makes you feel any better, I promise you I won't marry Snape."

A wizard's word, in her case a witch's word is bond. Something stronger than any muggle promise. Oh, just to keep you from wondering, she does keep that promise. But it doesn't stop her from...

Sirius smiled. "Of course you can't."

"And why not?" Amber replied.

"Because you're supposed to marry me."

"Who told you that?"

"Professor Trelawney."

"Trelawney is a crazy lady with nothing better to do with her time than predict death upon all the students."

"If she's such a crazy lady then why are you making perfect scores in her class?"

"Just because I don't like a class doesn't me I have to fail it."

James and Lily smiled from behind a tree not to far from Sirius and Amber.

"I am so happy they finally made up." Lily said, sliding her hand into James'.

"So am I."

I, on the other hand could not be happy at this "blossoming friendship". All my plans were going to be ruined. But, I did not know how badly my plans were going to be. But I will say one thing to all of you, KEEP A RECORD OF YOUR FAMILY HISTORY! We Slytherins are always careful about who we married. Love came second.