Chapter2

I sighed contently to myself as I wriggled comfortably on my deck chair. I was reading my Standard Book of Spells Grade 6 and found it rather interesting compared to all the other schoolbooks I had.

The sun was smiling down on me and at the same time giving me a very nice tan if I do say so myself. I curled up and pushed my hair behind my ears to continue reading.

I heard a clattering come from inside, followed by a series of giggles and bark-like laughs. I turned my head slightly to investigate just as James, Sirius, Peter and Remus ran out the back door in their swimming trunks and dive bombed into the pool.

I slammed my book shut and sat it on the table next to me. Snatching a towel from next to me, I covered my whole body so Sirius wouldn't be seeing anything else.

"What's with the towel, Ames?" James enquired, spouting water out his mouth as he came to the water surface.

I was sure I spotted a blush creep onto Sirius' face and he swam further away from James.

I shrugged, "No reason."

"Well then, care to join us, Amy dearest?" James smiled sweetly. "I'll humiliate you in front of my fellow Marauders by beating you in a swimming competition!"

I glared, "We both know I am the better swimmer, Jamesy-poo."

"Prove it," James grinned.

Glaring defiantly, I let my hair down from its bobble and hopped off the deck chair, allowing my towel to fall to the ground.

James grinned, knowing I couldn't resist a challenge like this. Remus gaped slightly, Peter blushed profusely and tried to hide behind Remus, and Sirius went pale, stepping further away from James. Then it hit me that none of them except James had actually seen me in my slinky blue bikini. I blushed slightly and dived into the water before any of the boys could look further.

"Right," James said firmly as he aligned himself at the far end of the pool. "Get your losing bum over here, Amy, and we'll race."

I rolled my eyes and swam beside him. I glanced at James and said, "I'd like to start the race with a dive, if that's alright with you, dear."

James grinned, "Very good thinking, little sis."

I smiled and hauled myself out the pool and got to my feet, and James followed me. We stood next to each other and I smiled at Remus, "Remus? Can you tell when to go please? I don't trust the other two."

Remus grinned and nodded, "Alright. On my count! One…"

I positioned my body perfectly in line and imagined myself slipping into the water gracefully…like a mermaid. I smiled to myself.

"Two…"

I bent my knees and ducked my head between my arms and felt my body fall slightly forward.

"Go!"

I let my body go and kept my legs tight together as I plummeted into the water. The water slid past my skin and I felt the comforting warmth of the water fill my ears.

I floated slightly for a couple of seconds before my arms began moving faster and faster, picking up the speed and before long I was gliding through the water.

I felt the water cooling slightly as I neared the edge and I pulled up for breath, before diving underwater and turning around, kicking off the side and starting back again for the other end.

The water rushed by me, steering me and guiding me towards the end and suddenly I felt the wall in front of me.

I came up for breath and grinned when I saw James only just arriving behind me.

I threw my arms in the air and clambered out the pool, "Ha! Well Jamesy-poo! I think it's safe to say that your wittle baby sister is better at something than you!"

I stuck my tongue out and James leapt out the pool to wrap his arms around me in a hug. "Yes well, little sis, I'll beat you someday," James told me.

I scoffed, "I've beaten you in swimming since I was five, James. I wouldn't count on you beating me any time soon."

I heard clapping from the other side of the pool and I grinned when I saw Remus, Peter and Sirius sniggering at James losing.

James smiled mischievously at me, before tightening his grip around me and throwing me carelessly into the pool. I screamed as I hit the water and was enveloped in a rush of bubbles surrounding me just as my hand touched the bottom of the pool.

I floated back to the surface to find James at the edge, laughing hysterically at me. I swam to the side and spouted water in his sniggering face.

"Oi!" He shouted. "That was uncalled for!"

I smiled innocently at him and climbed out the pool. "If you would be so kind as to excuse me my dearest brother, I will depart to the kitchen," I said in a posh accent.

I snatched my hair bobble from my seat and tied my dripping hair back in its bun as I headed into the house.

"Having a good time, dear?" Mum walked through from the living room, holding a novel, and her usual circular black-rimmed glasses were perched precariously on the crook of her nose.

I smiled warmly at mum and said, "Yes, I just beat James in a swimming contest."

Mum rolled her eyes and reached for an apple from the fruit bowl, "There's a surprise."

"I know," I reached for the bushel of grapes and popped a few in my mouth.

"Mum!"

We both turned to see James marching into the kitchen, dripping wet and grinning like an idiot. "Can we go to Diagon Alley tomorrow? Sirius just told me of a new Quidditch kit they got in yesterday in the Quidditch shop and I really want to get it," James pouted at mum and batted his annoyingly long eyelashes.

Mum rolled her eyes and smiled at me, "Alright. But you have to take Amy with you. She needs to get more supplies for this year and I'm sure she could meet up with a few friends while she's in there, right dear?"

I nodded dumbly. To be honest, all of my friends were all away on holiday with their families, having the time of their lives. So it was more than likely that I would either get stuck with James and his friends in Diagon Alley, or I would end up walking around on my own looking like an idiot.

"Right, well I have no problem with dear Amy coming along. After all, she is the best little sister in the whole wide world," James smiled his best smile at me and enveloped me in a hug.

"James! You're weirdo! Get off me!" I laughed and squeezed myself out of James' bone crushing hug.

"Well that's set then," Mum started walking back to the living room. "We'll get up early tomorrow to go to Diagon Alley."

I grinned, "Okay then. Now, Jamesy-poo, I think you said there was going to be Quidditch today."

James grinned back, "Right you are dear sis, let's inform the kids."

I laughed and followed James back outside to tell the rest of the boys.