To those of you who haven't read Sirius Changes, I don't think it matters yet. If a time comes when there's going to be some confusing stuff for you, then you'll probably have to read Sirius Changes to understand. And of course, if you want to, read Sirius Changes aswell! :) xx
'Lily, stop fretting,' I laugh.
'I just know I messed up the last question! The one about the Gryndylows. What did you say?' she asks worriedly.
'I said that they're water demons that like to drown people. Now calm down!' I say again.
'Lily, we all know you did great,' Tessie says as we get carried towards the door out of the Great Hall. The OWL's are nearly over.
'Better than Mary Robinson anyway,' I say. 'She wrote on the sheet, 'I was absent when we studied Gryndylows!'' We all burst out laughing.
'She's such a fool!' Maddie gasps.
'She doesn't have a bit of cop on!' Jelly says, shaking her head. I spot the small red haired girl across the hall, talking anxiously with her friends. She is proof that people with glasses are not always smart.
'Come on outside before the next test,' I say, leading the way towards the big double oak doors.
'It's roasting out,' Maddie says happily as we walk towards the lake, behind dozens of other fifth years, eager to enjoy the nice weather after their OWL's.
'I know. It's brilliant,' Tessie says dreamily. She plops down in the grass by the edge of the lake and we follow her lead.
I pull my jumper over my head, and then drape it over Jelly's head. 'Put your tongue back in your mouth, Green,' I laugh. She snatches it off her head and hits my arm, but laughs.
'I was not staring,' she says.
'Nooo,' we all chorus.
'I think you should just ask Michael out,' Lily says logically.
'Lily, look at him,' Jelly instructs. We all look across the grass at Michael Hudson, lying there in all his top-less glory.
'That boy is fit,' Maddie says appreciatively.
'Definitely lush,' I agree.
'If I were you, I'd ask him out quick, before Amy does. Ye are both single now, and Michael Hudson has a cute butt,' Maddie grins.
Jelly sighs. 'He'd never go for me.'
'Of course he would!' I say, surprised. Jelly is gorgeous, how can she not see it?
'You're much prettier than me Amy. I won't be sour if you ask him out, promise,' Jelly says in her Scottish accent, lying back in the grass, using my jumper as a pillow.
I roll my eyes. 'I don't want to ask him out. If I'd wanted to, I'd have done it in February,' I say. I open the top three buttons of my shirt, in the hope of getting a tan.
'You'd need to open a couple more buttons before anything happens to you,' Maddie says knowingly.
I stick my tongue out at her. Sometimes I wonder why she is one of my best friends. I'm sure I could find someone nicer. But then, Maddie Ashton is one of the smartest, most loyal, truthful girls in the world. Same for Tessie McKenzie, Jelly Green and Lily Evans.
'Summer at last, eh? Holidays tomorrow,' I say dreamily.
'I know. I can't wait to see your dog Amy,' Lily grins.
'She's big,' I warn.
'I know what retrievers look like,' Lily rolls her eyes.
Lily, Tessie, Maddie and Jelly are coming to my house for the first few weeks of summer.
'I've never been to Ireland,' she says thoughtfully. 'Does everyone speak the way you do?'
I roll my eyes. 'It's a good thing I don't get offended by these things,' I mutter.
Maddie pulls off her socks and dips her feet cautiously in the water of the lake. Then she sighs. 'This feels so good. Won't you join me ladies?'
I pull off my own socks and stick a toe into the water, followed by my feet. 'Ah.' I let my head fall back and relax.
'Sirius is watching you,' Tessie says.
'Where is he?' I ask.
'Over there, by the big oak tree.'
'I don't want to look,' I mutter.
'Amy, just look,' Tessie says, rolling her eyes,
'No,' I say stubbornly.
'I wish you'd just admit it,' Tessie says quietly, as the others splash eachother and laugh.
'Admit what?' I close my eyes again, more to look casual and like I don't even know Sirius Black is near me.
'Admit that this whole 'Let's be friends' thing is not working out. It's awkward and it's strained, and quite frankly,' she pauses and then says, 'it's sort of sad.'
'Is that what you think?' I ask pleasantly, looking at her.
'Yes. Answer me this. Do you still like him?'
I sigh deeply and drag my foot around on the surface of the water. Jelly looks away hastily, hands flying to her hair, as Shawn Windsor, her ex boyfriend, strolls past. The two broke up in April and things have been very awkward indeed. 'We're friends. Of course I like him.'
She gives me a despairing look. 'I bet he still likes you.'
'He doesn't. He's going out with Cathy Heinz.'
'But she'll be gone next year, won't she?' Tessie says slyly. 'She's doing her NEWT's. She won't be here.'
'I don't care, Tessie. I'm happy being friends and I'm happy being single,' I say sternly.
'Ok.'
'And, what's more, my lesbian club would be lost without Amy,' Lily chips in unexpectedly.
I laugh. 'See Tessie, I could never go back to the couple's life.' Never mind I'm not actually a lesbian. I'll tell you what I am. I am Amy Summers. I'm fifteen years old. My birthday is the 14th of February. Yes, I do know what day that is. Yes, it is cheesy. I used to be freakishly tall, but now I'm not so much freakishly as just tall. Everyone around me has finally started growing.
I'm a Gryffindor. I used to be a Ravenclaw, up to third year, when Tessie, Jelly, Maddie and I ran away from school and searched the world for Tessie's dad, who was accused of being a death eater but was really innocent. We helped him break out of Azkaban, with some help from his friend, Vladimir Tchaikovsky. Then we helped him hide. Then we returned to school, where I was sorted into Gryffindor, met Lily Evans, became best friends, and then I started going out with Sirius Black, but my friend, Matthew Jones wasn't happy. Eventually, we broke up - after I thought he was cheating on me- though he wasn't really- and agreed to be friends.
All that happened three months ago, in February. On my birthday, too.
'Look at Potter, with that stupid snitch,' Lily says venomously. 'He's such a show-off.'
'Just ignore him,' I say vaguely, digging in my bag for a hair band.
'He'd do anything for attention,' she rants, but she turns her back to him and opens her transfiguration book.
We all sit around, testing eachother on Transfiguration, when we're interrupted by a shout. My head snaps around and I see Severus Snape, lying on the ground. Sirius and James stand a few feet away, wands raised and laughing. I sigh deeply. Here we go again.
I can hear them guffawing like idiots and shouting. I shake my head. 'Why do they always have to be so loud?' I ask of no one in particular.
'They're going to hurt him!' Lily whispers.
'No they won't Lily- Lily! Come back!' But she doesn't listen. She marches over to them, her back straight, hands in fists, ready to defend her Slytherin friend. 'Lily!' I call again, rising to my knees to see her around the crowd of people gathered around to watch Snape being humiliated.
'Leave him ALONE!'
I get to my feet and hurry over to the tree, followed by Tessie. I have to watch her.
'Alright Evans?' James asks pleasantly, with a lazy smile.
'Leave him alone,' she says again coldly. She's standing a few feet in front of me. 'What's he ever done to you?'
'Well, it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean…'
I can see Lily swelling with anger as the surrounding students laugh. I hear a sigh near my legs and look down to see Remus Lupin sitting down, seemingly immersed in his book. I lean against the tree.
'Remus, do something,' I appeal to him.
He fidgets uncomfortably. Lily's voice drifts to us, telling James he's not funny, he's arrogant, leave Snape alone.
'Why don't you do something?' he asks, trying for casualness.
'I will if you got out with me Evans. Go on…go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again.'
'I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid!' That's a new one…quite clever, too.
'Bad luck prongs.'
Sirius, why?
'OI!'
Snape flicks his wand, and for a terrible moment I think he's aiming at Sirius. My foot makes its way forward; ready to tackle Sirius to safety, but Tessie catches my arm and shakes her head at me. I stay where I am reluctantly. It wouldn't do if I went charging over to save one of Lily's arch-nemis'.
He isn't aiming at Sirius anyway. His curse hits James. A gash appears along his cheek, splattering his clean white shirt with blood. James swears, whirls around and then Snape is hanging upside down in the air by his ankle.
Ah, the impedimenta jinx. I was victim to it a couple of weeks ago, when Henry Abbott thought it would be hilarious to hit me with it as I was coming back from the loo. I got revenge though. I don't think his RainCollector broomstick will ever smell the same again.
The crowd roars with laughter as Snape's robes fall over his head, revealing his greying underwear and skinny legs. I can't help it; I let out a snort. The Gryffindors all cheer. James and Sirius are howling with laughter, Peter behind them.
Lily, in front of me, looks like she desperately wants to smile. But that passes as quick as it comes and she's left angrier than before. 'Let him down!'
'Certainly,' James says courteously. He flicks his wand and Snape falls in a heap on the ground. He tries to get to his feet, but is stopped when Sirius shouts 'Petrificus Totalus!'
Lily spins around quickly and looks expectantly at me. She wants me to help her, wants me to do something about my ex, because she thinks he'll listen to me. He probably might.
Why, why, why? Why did you have to get involved Sirius? Why do you have to be mean? Why do you have to put me in this situation? I'm about to step forward, and lily can see that, a grateful smile forming on her lips-
The crowd cheers and she spins around again. 'LEAVE HIM ALONE!' she shouts. She pulls out her own wand, and now it's serious.
'Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you,' James says earnestly.
'Take the curse off him then.'
James heaves a long-suffering sigh. 'You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus-'
'I don't need help from filthy little mudbloods like her!'
Oh no he didn't!
I step forward angrily, ignoring Tessie's outstretched hand. I stand behind Lily, ignoring the looks I get from the gathered students, hoping I'll join the scruff.
'Fine, I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants, if I were you, Snivellus.'
I think I'm going to burst with pride. No tears from my Lily.
'Apologise to Evans!' James points his wand at Snivellus.
'I don't want you to make him apologise!' she shouts. 'You're as bad as he is!'
'WHAT?' he yelps. 'I'd never call you a- a you-know-what!'
And then James gets a nice fat helping of Lily's finest bitching.
Finally she turns on her heel and hurries back to where Jelly and Maddie are waiting, faces masks of resentment. She snatches her schoolbag up and they follow her to the castle. She ignores him when he calls her.
'What is it with her?'
'Reading between the lines, mate, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited,' Sirius grins.
'Right,' James says furiously. 'Right!' There's a flash and Snape is in the air again.
'Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?' he asks the crowd magnificently.
The crowd cheers. I want to cheer, because I saw the hurt in Lily's eyes as she hurried away. But she'd never forgive me if I let him do this to Snivellus.
'I don't,' I say clearly.
'What?' James looks at me as if only just noticing me.
'I said, I don't want to see you take off Snivellus' pants,' I repeat slowly.
'Really? You don't?' James studies me. 'Well, what if I said, I'm going to anyway?' James asks cockily. I'm used to his arrogance, after spending so much time around him when I was Sirius' girlfriend. But, right now, he's hurt my friend, and it doesn't matter if I do like him, because Lily is much more important.
'I would say…Expelliarmus!' James' wand flies out of his unprepared hand, onto the ground at my feet.
'Amy,' Tessie hisses warningly.
'Summers!' James shouts accusingly.
I turn to Sirius. 'Let him down.'
'Amy…' He doesn't want me to cause an argument over Snivellus. He doesn't want me to defend him, side with him over my fellow Gryffindors.
'Now.'
The one word is enough, and Snivellus drops to the ground. He looks up at me. There is no sign of gratitude or a thank you on his face, not that I was expecting one, nor do I want one.
'Don't,' I say dangerously, 'come to Lily with an apology. Or it'll be my wand that's jinxing you, not James'.' With that I turn and join Tessie at the lake, grabbing my bag. We walk quickly up to the castle, to join Lily in the library where we know she will be, with the other two, studying needlessly for transfiguration.
I can feel Sirius' eyes all the way.
!
'Well, that's it girls! Our OWL's are finished!' Maddie announces as all the fifth years flood out of the Great Hall for the second time today.
'I know! Can you see this?' I take a deep, exaggerated gulp of air. 'I can breathe again!'
They all laugh.
'What did you think of the test, Lil?' I ask.
She shrugs and nods. 'Good. Things were making sense.'
'Which means you got everything wrong!' Jelly teases.
'Don't jinx me!' Lily laughs.
Our study period before the test wasn't used to study. It was used to console Lily. She assured us she was fine, that she was expecting her and Snivellus' friendship to come to an end soon anyway. After all, she'd said, why would she want to be friends with a death eater? I think I'd die if one of my friends was, or was going to be, a death eater.
'Amy!'
I turn and grin. I weave through the crowd, making my way towards the boy that had called me. A boy with toffee coloured hair that curls slightly at the ends, caramel coloured skin, the result of having a black mother and white father, and eyes the colour of chocolate. I hug him.
'We're finished! At last!' I laugh.
'Easy for you to say that! You're not going out into the big bad world now!' Matthew Jones grins.
I roll my eyes. 'How was your potions test?' I ask.
'Fail. How was your transfiguration?'
'Outstanding,' I grin.
'Cocky,' he accuses playfully.
I laugh and we continue trying to fight our way towards the staircase that leads to Gryffindor dorms and common rooms. Matthew is a Ravenclaw, but also a gentleman, one that insists on walking me to my common room.
'Are you going to Hogsmeade?' I ask.
A look of dread passes over his face, then he seems to realise he's not alone and quickly rearranges his features. 'Maybe. Are you?' he asks, something hidden in his eyes that leads me to believe the question is important.
'Naturally,' I reply, confused at his behaviour. All fifth and seventh years are allowed go into Hogsmeade today after the last exam, for dinner and a dance to celebrate. My friends and I wouldn't miss out on a chance to dress up.
'I might see you there.' He leaves me at the Gryffindor portrait hole. I watch my friend walk away with a fond, if not a little confused, smile.
Matthew was the one that led me to believe Sirius had been cheating on me. He was jealous of Sirius, because he liked me. After we broke up, I expected him to try and move in on me, but I actually haven't seen very much of him. So, therefore, I don't know if he still likes me or not. My friends didn't expect me to forgive Matthew, but, as I'd told them, I was about to experience lots of new changes, and I didn't want to be weighed down by a grudge. But it seems Matthew has been experiencing some changes too, ones that have left him mysterious and secretive.
I walk up the stairs to the girls' dorm. Quickly, I take off my robes, and put on the short little pale turquoise eyelet dress I'm wearing tonight. Lily comes in from the bathroom, wearing the light material, green dress that comes above her knee and has spaghetti straps. The green makes her eyes stand out even more, and sets her red hair on fire.
'You look brilliant,' I tell her.
'You too. Hurry and do your hair.'
I slip my feet into my white ballet pumps, and then brush my hair. I gather all the long blonde wavy curls and tie then into a high ponytail. The shorter bits from the front escape and fall around my face. I exhale irritably.
'They look nice like that,' Maddie says, coming into the room, wearing her own short, light material purple dress. She's followed by Jelly in an orange dress and Tessie in a very pale green dress.
I leave my hair alone. 'Are you ready?' I ask.
'Yeah, and we have to go now. The carriages are already outside,' Jelly informs us after looking out the window by my bed.
We all leave the Gryffindor Headquarters, people not caring that three Ravenclaws have been in the Gryffindor living space. They've long since stopped wondering how these three Ravenclaws always manage to get in. They've long since stopped caring that Lily and I give them the passwords so they can come and go as they please.
We file into a carriage outside and sit back as it takes us down to the village.
'D'you ever wonder how they move without any horses or other animals pulling them?' Tessie asks.
'Enchantments,' Lily shrugs.
We get out when we reach Hogsmeade. We follow the other students to the Three Broomsticks. The inside has been transformed into a big, bright room with tables around the walls and a dance floor filling the middle.
'Wicked,' I say.
'Sit down now, and we'll get ye fed,' Rosmerta, the barmaid, shouts. We all follow her orders, out of pure hunger.
We sit at a table with Conor Davis, Maddie's boyfriend and Andrew Collins, Tessie's boyfriend. When everyone is seated, Rosmerta claps her hands and food appears on the tables. We all tuck in. The food is nothing compared to Hogwarts, of course, but it's still good.
After dinner, music comes on, and Tessie and Maddie are led away by their boyfriends to dance. I watch Tessie laughing as she dances with Andrew. He's really nice, and I like him. He's brave too, because he didn't run away when Tessie's father, Matt (the accused death eater) was found dead on Christmas Day. It was really hard for Tessie.
I see the people I know, and the people I don't, talking and dancing. I don't see Snape anywhere, or Matthew.
'Care to dance?' I look up at the boy. It's Finn Wood, a handsome Gryffindor in my year.
'Err…ok,' I say, letting him help me to my feet. Why not? It's boring just watching others anyway. He twirls me around and we sway in time to the music.
'You look really nice Amy,' he says.
I smile at him. 'Thanks.'
'How did you find the tests?' he asks.
I feel like sighing. He's trying to be friendly, and I'm barely even listening. Does this make me mean?
'They were good. How did you find them?' I ask back politely.
'Not too bad. Wish I'd spent more time studying for Transfiguration though. McGonagall will probably send a howler home to my mother,' he says with a wince.
I pat his shoulder absently. 'You'll be fine.'
'Mind if I cut in?'
Please say no! Come on, Finn, show some courage and tell him no way! Don't- no- please-
'Yeah, sure,' Finn says, letting go of me and allowing Sirius to take his place. I exhale and with a resigned wince, I put my arms around Sirius' neck. He holds my waist and we start to move around the floor. He doesn't say anything, just guides me over to an empty corner, still dancing expertly.
'You really hurt James' pride today,' Sirius says conversationally.
'Really?'
'Mm. He thought it was totally ridiculous, and swore he would have been able to block your spell, had he not been overcome with Hay-fever at that moment.'
'He didn't sneeze once.'
He grins. 'I know.' There's a silence and then he says, 'Amy, are you mad at me?'
I sigh and look at him seriously. 'You were mean,' I tell him.
He sighs. 'You're always so truthful.'
'You need to hear the truth,' I say.
'I definitely do. Cathy doesn't tell me the truth that often,' he says thoughtfully.
I look at him sharply. 'Cathy Heinz is a nice girl.'
'I know.' Something unsaid hangs in the air.
I sigh and realise we've stopped dancing. We're just swaying back and forth now.
'What are you doing for the summer?' I ask.
'I'm going to James'. What are you doing?'
'I'm going home and the girls are coming.'
'That'll be nice for you. You haven't been home in ages, have you?'
I look up at him, surprised. 'No…'
'I can see the excitement on your face when you talk about your home. I can tell you can't wait to get back,' he smiles.
'I forgot how-'
There's a loud bang and the door of the Three Broomsticks is blasted off its hinges. Hooded figures flood into the room. They raise their wands and start firing spells everywhere. Tables are sent soaring across the room and all the lights go out with pops. And, of course, as they always do when they're left in the dark and being attacked, people start screaming.
'Sirius,' I say, gripping his hand.
'Stay behind me and take out your wand,' he tells me. Then he starts to move toward where James is standing with Remus, Peter and, surprisingly, Lily.
'No, Sirius, I need to find Tessie, Maddie and jelly,' I object, tugging on his arm.
'Amy, you need to stay safe. Come on,' he says, annoyed.
'No-'
A flash of light soars past my arm, close to hitting me. I let Sirius pull me towards him. But then our path is blocked by two of the hooded figures.
'Expelliarmus!' Sirius shouts, aiming at the taller of the two.
He deflects it and retaliates with a jinx of his own. I raise my own wand to help Sirius, when the other person grabs my arm and starts hauling me to the door.
'Amy!' Sirius shouts, but he's so busy in his duel he can't get away. Then he is joined by Maddie, who helps him take on the hooded man.
'Come on,' the person says in my ear. That voice…
He drags me outside and starts to bring me toward one of the carriages. The cool wind makes me shiver in my light summer dress.
'Let me go!' I scream. My wand fell somewhere inside.
'Have to get you back to the castle,' the hooded person mutters to himself.
'Let me go NOW!' I lash out at him, and my fist connects with his head. His hood falls back to reveal-
'JONES!' Another hooded man appears on the other side of the carriage. He is holding Jelly, who is struggling madly.
The man holding me- Jones?- reaches up quickly and secures his hood. In that moment his grip on me loosens, and I break free. You'd think I'd run and get Dumbledore, but no. I throw myself on the other man, clawing at his hands, trying to loosen his grip on Jelly.
'Stop it!' he roars. 'Jones, do something!'
'Will you-OW!' He backs off, clutching his hidden nose after my fist connected with it, hard.
'IMPEDIMENTA!'
Our captors are thrown backwards, and then, as if being dragged by an invisible rope, are hoisted into the air. They hang upside down as Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall come running towards us. The two men are gripping their hoods, holding them over their faces.
'Where is your master?' Dumbledore booms.
There is silence from them. Jelly hurries over to me and hugs me. I hold her hand as McGonagall comes over to stand in front of us.
'Ah, boys, what did I say? No distractions,' a soft voice says from the side of the Three Broomsticks. It's close to me, and I whirl around, frightened. I see a figure in a long cloak standing in the shadows.
'Mr. Riddle,' Dumbledore says politely.
'Dumbledore,' the man responds. Who is Mr. Riddle?
'Well Tom, we must speak about all this,' Dumbledore says, still light and airy.
'Oh, yes Dumbledore,' Mr. Riddle says. 'Just…not tonight.' And with that he disappears, along with the two men in the air. As they poof out of sight, their hoods fall back, revealing-
Matthew Jones and Shawn Windsor.
Chapter 1 of the sequel to Sirius Changes. Hope it lives up to your expectations :) Welcome back ;)
Please review :) xxxx
