Here's the next chapter. The answers to your questions. Same disclaimer as always: I only own Mandy and the Millers.
Amanda's PoV
When I woke up the next morning, I looked around and saw Black holding me looking half asleep. I looked over at James who was sleeping in a chair. "It happened again didn't it?" I asked looking up.
"Yeah."
"And you saved me because I'm stronger than Talon."
"Uh huh."
"Last time I sleepwalked Max stopped me and stayed with me."
"Really when was that?"
"When I was nine."
"You remember that?"
"Yeah I never told anyone though."
"Well it's about 6:30 you want to wake him up or change first?"
"Let's let him sleep I'll go change then come back and get him up."
"Ok."
So I went and changed and noticed Lily was still asleep." She must have been there too." I walked back downstairs sorta lost in thought.
Once in the common room I smiled noticing James was still asleep. I walked over to him and crouched by his ear. "The oompa-loompas are coming to get you."
"Ahh short people," he said sitting bolt up right.
"You know it's not nice to make fun of people who are shorter than you Prongs." Remus said coming down the stairs, as I fell over backwards laughing.
"We all know you don't object to them because you want to live there with all that chocolate but she knows midgets scare me Moony."
"Sorry Prongs I had to." I said.
"Yeah sure Stripes what ever you say." He said heading up to change.
Remus smiled and offered me a hand up off the floor. I took it gratefully and sat down on the couch next to him. "Hey Moony I can trust you right?"
"With your life," he answered.
"You remember the night I got bit?"
"Yeah what about it?"
"I was bit by a tiger and something strange happened."
"What happened?"
"Well all I know is that because of it every month on the 30th I become a tiger. James helps most of the time and then there's Parker. She does what she can."
"That's awful Mandy. But that doesn't change what I think of you."
"I know thanks. I also know that your furry little problem doesn't prevent you from having fun."
"My rabbit what about it?"
"Not that problem I know the real meaning behind it. You actually think James could come up with that on his own?"
"I guess."
"I know about the boys too. I was the one that suggested that they should talk to Parker about it. Besides I've seen it. Who do you think that bear is?"
"You? Since when?" he said dropping his voice.
"Since I was 11."
"How?"
"That's not my secret to share but if you think about our last conversation carefully I've already told you."
"Ok."
"Hey Stripes, how goes it this morning?" Parker asked.
"Not too bad Monkey, not too bad at all." I answered.
"So how are you going to tell Sirius and Peter?" Remus asked.
"I don't know Moony, and I don't know when either."
"Tell them about what?" Parker asked.
"Her 'furry little problem'," Remus answered.
"You're not actually thinking about telling Peter, are you? I mean you said you didn't trust him."
"I don't really want to think about that right now Monkey."
"Breakfast anyone?" Black asked.
"How long have you been standing there Padfoot?" Remus asked.
"Long enough to know that Amanda's considering telling Peter something." Black answered.
"Do you know what she was considering telling him?"
"No I didn't catch that part." I could tell he was telling the truth. Black had never once lied to Remus and I hoped he wasn't starting now.
"It's Friday, it's morning, and it's breeeeeeeeeakfast." James said coming down the stairs stretching and letting out a huge yawn when he said breakfast.
"Let's go then." Remus answered.
During Transfiguration Talon plopped down next to me taking Black's seat. "How you feeling Pandy?" he whispered.
"Do you have a wish to visit the hospital wing as a patient?" I answered quietly.
"No, why?"
"Because you'll be there if you don't stop calling me that. You know I hate it." I spat back.
"Hunter, Miller what was I talking about?" McGonagall snapped.
"The importance of paying attention in class?" Talon asked.
"No but that's what I'll be talking about next if you don't pay attention."
"Sorry Professor." We muttered.
"So..." He muttered.
"So what?" I whispered.
"How are you?"
"Potter, if you do that to your frog again I'll be forced to give you detention." McGonagall called. Then I started laughing uncontrollably. "Hunter, do you want to tell me what's so funny?" I put my hand over my mouth and shrugged.
"Amanda, can you control that some of us are trying to work here," James said.
"I don't think she can." Lily said. I looked around the room trying to figure out who was torturing me. It wasn't any of the Slyterins from what I could tell, James was actually working, and then I turned around to face Black.
"Black, detention tonight," McGonagall called.
"I didn't do anything Professor." Black answered. She gave him a look. "How did you know it was me?"
"I didn't you just told me. I had hoped by blaming you who ever really did it would fess up and it worked didn't it." Black nodded swearing under his breath. "Potter you can join them. I told you not to do that to your frog."
"Them, Professor?" James asked looking up.
"CAN'T ... BREATHE ... PROFESSOR." I squeaked out.
"Mr. Black would you kindly return Miss Hunter to her original emotional status so she can continue her work." Professor McGonagall stated rather than asked. "And yes them Mr. Potter. I do believe Amanda told you about her week's worth of detention." I slowly stopped laughing.
"Oh yeah sorry," James answered.
Later on at lunch I noticed that James, Black, and Remus weren't around. "Not more bad news." Talon said looking up. I sighed as an eagle owl swooped down and landed in front of me. I took the letter and it took off. I was hesitant about opening it but I knew waiting wouldn't change anything.
I read it as my friends sat there and watched. I looked up after reading it and blinked back a few tears. "Don't worry about me I'll be fine." I said standing up and taking off to the common room. I reached the steps to the girl's dorms and the events sank in. I pulled back with my left hand and punched the wall. Not the smartest move I'll admit especially when the pain started coursing through it but it was all I could think of doing at the time. I climbed the steps slowly and started swearing in German.
"You know you shouldn't punch walls that haven't done anything to you. Not to mention it kinda hurts." I heard a voice say behind me. I sighed knowing that voice.
"Warum er das ein ist, das immer mir nachkommt?" I asked quietly. (German translation: Why is he always the one who comes after me?) I turned to face him and noticed he was holding his broom. That explains how he got up here.
"Is that German?" He asked. I nodded and started swearing again. He walked over to my bed and sat down. "You want to tell me what you're saying or why you're conveniently not speaking in English?" I shook my head still swearing. "You should really get Kate to take a look at that hand, it's starting to swell." Still softly swearing I looked at the letter in my other hand and reread it. Then the tears came. "Mandy? Please it might help to talk about it." He whispered.
I heard the door open and I looked up. I switched back to English as I saw Lily and the girls standing there. "GET OUT!" I yelled. Lily shut the door sadly. After their footsteps died away I looked over at Black.
"Mandy, please just talk to me. I promise I won't say anything unless you want me to." He said. I walked over to my bed and sat down in front of him.
"I've told you and James about cars and 18 wheelers right?" I asked as tears started sliding down my cheeks. He nodded and dropped his hand to his lap.
"18 wheelers are big trucks with 18 wheels right?" He asked.
"Yeah." I knew he was refraining from touching me. "And how car accidents can happen right?" He nodded again. "And I've told James that my favorite cousins on my dad's side were his sister's sons Mike who was 16 and T.J. who was 10."
"Yeah James told us about them. What happened, Mandy?"
"Mike was taking T.J. to school and an 18 wheeler couldn't stop in time. The impact killed them instantly. Their 13 year old sister is a mess. She loved them so much and she's become depressed and suicidal. Her parents are scared they're gonna lose her too." I said and then got choked up.
"Shush Mandy, please don't cry." Black said taking a huge risk and pulling me into a hug. I didn't resist or pull back. "Mandy, they're in a better place now. Please don't cry. Please they wouldn't want you to." He said rubbing my back.
"Hey guys are you coming to..." James started but trailed off. "Padfoot is she ok?"
"Not right now. Mike and T.J.," he answered softly.
"I'll tell Slugy you're not feeling well. I can understand if she's not at practice also." James said. I felt Black nod and heard the door shut again. When class was over I was still a little upset but I was crying any more instead I was just leaning against Black. I heard the door open for the third time and then looked up to see the girls standing there again.
"Mandy?" Shelly asked timidly.
I looked over at her carefully and Black bent down and whispered "you want to talk to them right now?"
I shook my head and looked at my lap. He looked back at them and I felt him shift a bit between me and the door. "Are you ok Stripes?" Parker asked.
"Leave now." Black said firmly.
"You can't kick us out of our own dorm Sirius." Parker protested.
"Get out." He said a little meaner this time.
"I will not." Tiff answered.
"GET OUT." He roared. They jumped but turned and shut the door.
Parker's PoV
We walked back down the stairs and sat down on the couches near the Marauders. "I can't believe we aren't allowed in our own dorm." Shelly said drawing their attention.
"Stop whining Shelly. Did any of you notice exactly what was going on?" Lily asked.
"Going on where?" Peter asked.
"Up in our dorm," I answered.
"Yeah Amanda was being comforted by Sirius. So what Lil?" Tiff put in.
"Amanda comforted by Sirius? Not in this lifetime, I can't think of a time when they haven't been at each other's throats." Anthony said walking by.
"Think about what he just said and Remus said they've been in there since she came back from lunch." Lily answered.
"Guys did any of you see her left hand?" I asked.
"No why?" Shelly asked.
"Her arm was leading to her lap and I got a quick glance before Sirius noticed and shifted and hid it from view. It was red, puffy, and swollen." I said.
"That's because it was shattered." James put in.
"Sirius shattered it?" Peter asked confused.
"No Wormtail, you dolt. She did. We heard her come in so we went to the landing where we could hear and see her and before she went upstairs she punched that wall." James explained pointing at the wall next to the girls stairs. "We guessed it had something to do with the letter in her right hand. Padfoot said it had something to do with Mike and T.J. but I don't know exactly what."
"Oh no," I said covering my mouth with my hand. Mike and T.J. are her favorite cousins.
"That damn bird needs to be shot." Timmy said coming down from upstairs.
"Why?" Remus asked.
"Have you ever seen her parents eagle owl bring anything but bad news?" Timmy answered. We all thought for a few moments then shook our heads one by one. "See my point exactly shoots the bird, no more bad news."
"Hey Potter don't you have practice today?" I asked.
"Yeah we got about 20 minutes. Where's Talon?" James answered.
"Upstairs hiding from the wrath of an upset Mandy as he describes it. I'll go talk to her." Timmy said.
"I said she didn't have to be there." James responded.
"You know as well as I do she needs to get her mind off this and the only way she can do that is by playing."
"You're willing to go up there and brave their tempers? I envy you kid." Tiff said.
"Who else is up there?" Timmy asked.
"Sirius," Lily answered.
"Seriously? I don't think I want to know why." Timmy said heading for the stairs.
"I still can't believe you're actually going up there."
"Look, you can't let her temper affect you. That makes you weak like my brother who happens to be hiding in his room. As for Sirius he's nothing I can't handle." Timmy said levitating himself up the girl's stairs. James on the other hand walked up his stairs to go get Talon. A few moments later we heard yelling.
"GET OUT OF HERE!"
"SHUT UP BLACK I WASN'T TALKING TO YOU!"
"I DON'T CARE SHE ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE."
"SHE HAS PRACTICE AND SO DO YOU SO SHUT YOUR BIG MOUTH!"
"JAMES SAID SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THERE HE UNDERSTANDS!"
"IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HE SAID I'M SAYING THIS NOW IF SHE DOESN'T GET HER MIND OFF OF THIS NOW SHE WON'T BE THE SAME PERSON YOU KNOW."
"I..."
"SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU! I'LL GO ALRIGHT. NOW GET OUT SO I CAN CHANGE." Amanda shouted over Sirius's sentence. All four boys appeared in the common room moments later.
"She's got a big mouth." Tiff said.
"It's a lot louder when she loses complete control, which by the way, none of you have seen before." Timmy put in retreating back upstairs. Sirius shook his head and walked up the stairs to change out of his school robes.
Amanda's PoV
After I changed into pants and a comfortable shirt I put the letter in my trunk then walked down the stairs and noticed a comfortable silence. They all looked up at me. "James and Talon already went down but Black is waiting outside." Lily said jerking her head to the portrait hole.
"Thanks anyone coming?" I asked.
"Nope," Parker answered. I walked out the hole and Black stood up and walked with me. For once I let him lead the way. We were about 3 floors up when he led me into a secret passage way and halfway down it he stopped and turned towards me.
"Mandy...what do you see in that wimp Talon?" He asked.
"First off Black, Talon isn't a wimp and secondly I don't think that's any of your concern but thank you for comforting me this afternoon. And when do you use my first name?" I asked.
"You don't want me too?"
"I thought you hated me."
"You know I only do that because it's easier."
"Easier than what?"
"Than...never mind forget it." He said turning around again.
"No tell me. Acting like you hate me is easier than what?"
"Than admitting...never mind it doesn't matter."
"Why do you date so many different girls?"
"To keep my mind off someone else. Some one who is out of my league and hates me anyway." He said walking away.
"Sirius, stop." He did and turned back to me.
"What?"
"Who is she?"
"It doesn't matter I told you she hates me."
"Do you know that for sure?"
"Well she does make that painfully clear."
"You'll never know until you take a chance and tell her how you feel." I said then a thought hit me. Am I actually helping Sirius here? Damn these stupid hormones.
"You think that'll work?"
"It might, it might not." I answered. "You'll never know if you don't take that risk." He cocked his head and stepped toward me and then bent down and kissed me square on the lips. "No stop." I said pushing him away. "What the hell Black?"
"You told me to take that risk. You're the only girl I've ever had on my mind that I can't get out Mandy I like you a lot. I was doing what you told me to."
"The one time you do decide to take my advice is the time you could greatly screw up my life." I snapped. "I can't do that to Talon. I just couldn't. Not when he's been my everything for the past two years and 8 months. It'll be three years on Christmas Eve." I said shaking my head quickly trying to clear my mind.
"But he's a wimp. What do you mean three years? What about that guy you dated last year?"
"It's been about three years like I said. Besides what Talon doesn't know about won't kill him, or our relationship for that matter so you'll keep your trap shut if you know what's good for you."
"Oh alright," Sirius said stepping toward me a bit. He put his hands on my shoulders and leaned in again. "You are incredibly beautiful and I bet Talon doesn't tell you that enough." Then he kissed my cheek and continued farther down the passage way. Once out on the grounds and at the entrance to the changing rooms he looked back at me. "What about your hand?"
"Oh that here watch this." I tapped my hand and with a few well chosen words it was as good as new again.
"That's amazing." He said.
"Thanks." I answered. After changing into our Quidditch robes we met out on the field and James flew down to us.
"Release the snitch and get up here. Sirius you'll be honing your skills against Talon and I don't want any incidents like last time. Do you understand?" Black nodded, "Mandy I don't really think its best if you're here but Timmy said it'll help you heal so keep yourself entertained with that snitch."
"Thanks James." I said walking to the crate with Black. "He doesn't like Talon much does he?" I asked.
"What would make you say that Hunter?"
"The fact that we just showed up about 20 minutes later than I did with Talon last time and got off with out anything."
"You're going through a rough time Mandy he knows that. It isn't fair to punish you after what happened to your cousins. Hell he's probably surprised you're even here." He answered as I opened the crate and took the snitch out.
"That's just not fair." I said but joined practice anyway.
So Sirius told her how he feels and looks like Mandy is spooked. Will she ever return his feelings? Tune in next time for a big shock. And for their detention.
