James stopped dead in the hall standing in front of him were three of his dearest friends and yet they didn't look at all like themselves, it was as if they had been taken over by someone else. He felt Sirius' hand fall to his shoulders and a whistle leave the boys lips.
"Wow I didn't know that you two could scrub up so well."
Alice and Ginny blushed but smiled happily. James though had his eyes on Amanda and unbeknown to him he wasn't the only one. Aaron moved towards the four boys and turned to look at the girls.
"Isn't it scary one moment they're all scruffy and now look at them."
Remus' mouth was a little open as he studied the way Ginny stood in front of him; she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. From behind they heard the adults calling them to the dinning room for their meal.
Without thinking Remus moved forward and gave Ginny his arm.
"May I?"
She grinned and allowed him to lead her into the room, the others snickering from behind. When they reached the room they found that the adults had already situated themselves. Mr Brewer was at the head of the table with his wife on the left and Lora on his right. Lora was sat next to Thomas and next to Mrs Brewer sat Henry.
Aaron moved quickly and took the space next to his father pulling a face at Alice as he went. She quickly moved to her own seat next to her brother. Remus carefully leaving the seat next to Mr Potter for his wife pulled out the next chair and allowed Ginny to take it taking the one next to her.
Peter quickly sat next to Remus with Sirius on his other side. Amanda sat next to Alice and James took the seat at the very end of the table so that he faced Mr Brewer but was between Sirius and Amanda. His mother entered the room almost immediately and the starter was carefully laid out before them all.
Looking into the bowls there sat potato and leak soup and James knew that his mother had gotten the recipe from Tad. They all happily began to eat it and after a few minutes Mrs Brewer spoke out.
"Well this is lovely Jacqueline."
"Thank you Mrs Brewer."
Silence resided again and then it was Mr Brewer that spoke up.
"Are you going to introduce us to your lovely friends then Miss Scott?"
Alice looked straight up and looked at her father but Amanda's voice rang clearly.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr Brewer you must excuse my manners I seem to have forgotten myself tonight. My lovely friend over there in the beautiful black dress is Ginevra Dunn and I am Amanda Dixon, and of course you have met this lovely girl next to me before."
His eyebrows raised a little as he looked around the table.
"So we have a Black, a Dixon and a Pettigrew joining us tonight well then we are honoured aren't we."
"No Mr Brewer I can assure you that we are the honoured at being received so kindly at this engagement by you and your lovely wife."
Amanda smiled at the elder man before taking another mouthful of the soup. Her eyes locked with Sirius but nothing was said at all between them for the time being. Jacqueline though turned to look at the girls.
"Well it is nice to finally meet you I have heard so much about you all since the boys arrived to stay."
Ginny and Amanda shared a guilty smile but Sirius sat up straighter in his chair.
"It is good to be able to see you all again and you all are dressed so smartly, but I must ask, what is up with your hair Mandy?"
"Manners Sirius, you are at a dinner party didn't your mother ever teach you how to behave."
He raised an eyebrow at his friend turning to look at Peter as he spoke.
"Says the girl who made a fuss, refused to eat and stormed out of the last dinner party."
The adults laughed and the tense atmosphere seemed to lift right away Amanda though gave a wicked smile looking at the boy.
"Yeah but at least I've never wet myself in a dinner party because I was too afraid to say I didn't like the food."
Sirius looked outraged as he looked back at her.
"Yeah well I haven't been sick on a house elf."
"Yeah and well at least I'll never have to go to another dinner party with my family since they've disowned me."
"Yeah well I'm going to be disowned too because I'm just as bad as you are."
"No you're not, I'm worse than you Sirius Black."
"No I'm worse."
The two were now on their feet leaning over the table and all the adults were looking at them shocked as if they would implode at any moment. Then Sirius reached across grabbing Amanda's head and quicker than anybody could have reacted licked the girls face.
"Oh Sirius that's sick!"
"Told you I was worse."
Around them laughter resounded again and Henry looked at his boss very red in the face.
"I'm so sorry Mr Brewer I don't know what has gotten into Sirius tonight."
The old man chuckled and shook his head at the man.
"No it's alright its what we need at the moment some light entertainment. I must admit that's its good to see a Black that can behave like that it gives me hope that there is good in people even if they come from the darkest families."
The group of youngsters all looked up at the man heading their table and it seemed as if something had just dawned on him.
"You haven't told them have you?"
Thomas shook his head quickly.
"No sir we didn't want to scare them it's not as if the news is good."
Peter's voice was small as he spoke up
"Who has father had killed this time?"
All the adults along with most of the younger guests turned to stare at him, their main course (Rabbit pie) completely forgotten. It was Henry that spoke though.
"Peter what do you mean by that?"
"Well its obvious isn't it Riddle is trying to take over and he wants control of the ministry so father is killing off all those that oppose Riddle and replacing them with men that will do his bidding."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded looking at Sirius as if wanting him to conform it but he couldn't but Amanda nodded.
"Uncle Tom has spent a bit of time at my parents house he is there as we speak staying with them for the summer. He wants power and he's always been a big bully if he can't get it the right way well then take out all those that don't see it your way."
"Sounds like we need a new Minister then doesn't it?"
The room fell silent as the meal was continued but when desert appeared conversation once again picked up.
"Mrs Potter, may I ask what this is?"
"It's a family desert; my mother passed it on to me and my grandmother her and so on. It's really good go on try it."
Everyone bit into the cake but Amanda continued to watch and then Sirius squealed with what they could only take for delight.
"It has strawberries in it, I get two deserts!"
Everyone looked at him as Amanda stood up gracefully and moved over to Sirius and placed her desert onto his plate then looking at Mrs Potter she explained.
"I am sorry if this seems rude but I'm allergic to strawberries and there's no point letting this –"
Her voice faded as her eyes widened. Everyone turned their heads to the doorway, standing there was…