The next chapter here for you. I hope you enjoy it.

"Do I even want to know?" Madame Lewis asked as the four of us walked in a bit bloodily to the hospital wing.

"Not at all Kate," James answered. That was something we all liked about Matron Kate Lewis, she never asked too many questions but every student I knew trusted her to the extent that if they told her they were fighting or hexing some other student she would just let it go.

Lewis rolled her eyes and turned back towards her office. "Poppy, bring me some of that green potion." She called. "Last night wasn't a full moon, so what happened?"

"Kate, we can't." James said shaking his head and glancing at me.

"Mandy?"

"No Madame I will not." I said sternly.

"Does the Headmaster know?" She asked.

"No, and I don't know if I want to tell him." I answered as a middle aged woman walked out of the office caring a flask of the potion Kate had asked for.

Kate took the flask and walked to James first who was still holding me up. "Bottoms up James."

"What is it?" James asked after he swallowed and she had moved over to Black who was also supporting me. She poured some down Black's throat before answering.

"A potion that lets me see if there is anything wrong with you," Kate answered pouring some down my throat.

"That stuff is nasty and it smells like dragon dung." I said sticking my tongue out and wrinkling my nose.

"I completely agree." Black put in grabbing his nose. With the enhanced sense of smell that came with his Animagus form I'm surprised he didn't do it as soon as the potion was brought out. She finished with Parker and then let Poppy run her wand over the four of us.

"Well Poppy, what is it?" Kate asked.

"This one here," Poppy answered pointing to James.

"James Potter."

"Mr. Potter," Poppy corrected, "is perfectly fine. This one here..." She said pointing to Black.

"Sirius Black."

"Mr. Black has a case of mild exhaustion and a few scratches on his upper right arm. This young lady..." she pointed to Parker.

"Parker Dixon," Parker said, "And that's my cousin Amanda Hunter."

"Ms. Dixon is also exhausted and has scratches across her stomach, and a few bruises on her back. And finally Ms. Hunter is the worst off. She will do well with a good 12 hours of dreamless sleep and healing of several scratches, cuts, bruises, and a shower." Poppy concluded.

"Thanks," I muttered.

"You're about to fall over Mandy you could use the sleep." Kate said.

"I meant the shower bit. I know I need sleep. If it wasn't for these two holding me up I don't think I would be standing here." I said lightly.

"James, you have class in half an hour, you three to bed now." Kate ordered.

James and Black dragged me to the nearest bed and put me down in it as Parker lay down on my left and Black took the bed on the right.

"Madame Lewis who is she?" Parker asked as Poppy started her work on Black and Kate worked on her.

"This is my replacement. Madame Pomfrey to you kids, Poppy to the staff." Kate answered.

"Replacement?" Parker squeaked as Kate was rubbing her back with bruise removal.

"Yes, I've been offered a job at St. Mungos and it's a good position, so I did what Albus and I agreed upon. I found a replacement and accepted the job. Be nice to her do you hear me?" Kate demanded.

"We're always on our best behavior." James said sweetly.

"James."

"Yes ma'am," the four of us chorused.

"Poppy, you'll have your hands full with these four and two of their other friends, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew for the next year and a half." Kate informed Madame Pomfrey.

"You're leaving at Christmas?" I asked.

"Yes Stripes, now hush up and let me work." Kate said, "James you had better leave or you will be late for class. You can come back at lunch." James nodded and left. After healing me for the most part she handed me a potion. "Bottoms up Mandy."

"Dreamless sleep potion?" I asked taking the glass she handed me.

"Yes now go ahead."

"I can't sleep without my teddy bear." I told her.

"Poppy third shelf by the door. Go bring it here would you?" Kate asked.

Madame Pomfrey nodded and brought out a teddy bear. Kate took it and handed it to me. "Night guys," I said downing most of the potion.

Parker's PoV
Around noon I woke up from my nap to see Mandy still sleeping curled up in a little ball clinging tight to a stuffed bear. I knew it wasn't her bear Pubert but it was close enough she seemed to be sleeping well. I knew it was probably due mainly to the potion but it was still nice to see her sleep like that. I looked past her at Sirius. He was also sitting up as the doors opened and our other friends walked in.

"Afternoon boys." Kate called walking out to meet them.

"Afternoon Kate," the boys answered.

"How's Mandy doing?" Potter asked

"Still sleeping Potter." I answered.

"Oh you're up." Kate said turning to me. "How do you feel?"

"Tired," I answered. She handed me a bar of dark chocolate and motioned for me to eat it. I did and handed the wrapper back to her. "When can I leave?"

"After dinner now try to get more sleep. Padfoot I know you're awake how do you feel?" Kate asked turning to him.

"I'm well thank you." She walked over to him and ran a few tests.

"Just to be sure I'd like to keep you until after dinner as well." She said. "Remus may I speak with you in my office? There is something I would like to discuss with you and my replacement Madame Pomfrey." Remus nodded and followed her down the wing to her office.

"Do you think they're going to tell her about Moony?" I asked.

"Most likely," Sirius answered as the door shut.

"It's Kate's job to make sure he gets out to the Willow and now that she's leaving it will most likely fall on her replacement to do it." Potter answered. We sat in the quiet for a bit.

"When do you think she'll let Mandy go?" I asked.

"Tomorrow, lunch at the latest. You know Mandy can't stand to miss Defense Against the Dark Arts." Sirius answered.

"Since when do you call her Mandy?" I questioned. He swallowed hard. "Oh Merlin, you do fancy her." I exclaimed.

"Shut up Dix. I do not." He said defensively. I just smirked.

"This is going to kill her." I said.

"And that's why you can't tell her. She hates my guts and I want her to be happy. That won't happen if she knows." Sirius said dejectedly.

"She doesn't hate your guts Padfoot she just thinks you're an arrogant, stuck up, self-absorbed, over-stuffed pigeon with an ego bigger than the Black Lake. Her words not mine." Kate said. We all looked up and saw her standing beside Sirius.

"What?" Sirius asked.

"Mandy, that's what she thinks of you." Kate said.

"How did you...?"

"I overheard the last part of your conversation. If you listen closely Mandy talks in her sleep. Even in her dreams you continue to bother her. Maybe someday you'll be able to make her see your good qualities." Kate answered as Remus came back out.

"We should get going. James you haven't eaten all day and then we have class this afternoon. We'll be back later Kate." Remus said.

"Take notes for me." I called. Remus nodded and walked out with Potter and Peter. "Hey Sirius," I said.

"Yeah Parks." He answered lying back with his hands behind his head.

"Do you know why Mandy doesn't trust Peter?"

"No, I don't. Maybe it's just some vibe she gets from him or something." Sirius answered.

Amanda's PoV
When I finally woke up from my dreamless sleep the clock on the far wall and it read 9:30 pm. I looked around and saw Black sitting in a chair by my bed.

"Hey Amanda, it's good to see that you're up. Kate said that when you woke up that you should just go back to sleep." He said.

"Where's everyone else?" I asked.

"Parker and I were released around 7:30 and the rest of the guys volunteered me to stay with you." He said. I nodded and tried to get back to sleep.

The next two weeks flew by pretty fast and the prank on Talon went off without a hitch and he would only say "Just y'all wait till rabbit and duck season."

It was the Saturday before the first big game of the season and I was sitting in the common room by the fire in my chair, I had finally moved back, wrapped in two blankets and a big warm afghan with the worst fever I could ever remember having. We didn't have enough blankets or heat upstairs so finally Parker and I convinced Lily to move me downstairs by the fire. Her only condition had been that I was wearing a long sleeve shirt and wrapped in blankets and I didn't try to go anywhere.

The bad thing was that I was burning up but I guess that was a good thing because it meant that the fever was breaking because I was sweating to death. I had convinced everyone that I was fine by myself and that they should go to practice. I guess they had let Timmy practice with them since I couldn't. I flicked my wand at the record player on the table that James had brought down from his room and I started singing along with the song. When I looked up from the fire I stopped singing seeing Remus, James, and Black standing there.

"Aw don't stop you have a beautiful voice." Black said.

"Whoa I thought I was breaking the fever but I could swear I just heard Black say I have a beautiful voice. Stupid delusions," I answered.

"He did say that and he's right your voice is very beautiful even though you're sick." Remus said as if that settled it.

"Sure just don't say anything." I said as Lumpy appeared with soup on a tray.

"Your soup Miss," the house elf said. I picked it up and sipped it a bit.

"Mmmm tomato soup my favorite, how did you know?" I asked.

"Because it's the only thing you've been eating for the past three days." James answered. "And Lumpy here was the one who has been bringing it to you."

"I'm surprised you haven't turned red from all the soup you've been eating." Black said.

"Well then thank you my dear." I said turning to the house elf. She gave a curtsey and with another sharp crack she was gone. "So boys, how was practice?"

"Talon, was right Timmy is one of the best seekers there is but he's not as good as you are. Makes me glad we have him on our team." James answered.

"Everyone else went down to dinner but Sirius here begged me to come check on you." Remus said.

"Did not," Black snapped. I just rolled my eyes as Remus placed his hand against my forehead.

"How do you feel?" Remus asked ignoring Black.

"Still a little weak but burning up," I answered.

"You're still a little warm and clammy but you seem to be getting over your fever." He said. "Eat your soup and Lily will be up to check on you later. I still don't understand why you just won't go to the hospital. Madame Pomfrey could have this cleared up in minutes."

"Because I don't like the hospital wing. You boys could go nick me a Pepper Up Potion if you were that concerned." I said.

"Will not." James said.

"Fine, you know one day Lily will make a great mum."

"I know, let's go boys." James said.

About 20 minutes later Lily came up and said "Maybe you should get some sleep."

"Really? And my fever?" I asked.

She tested it. "It's gone down a lot but you still need to stay wrapped up."

"So you want me to go upstairs to our freezing cold dorm and try to sleep?"

"No I'm saying you should either try to sleep here or sleep with one of the boys."

"I'm sure Black would jump on that one." I said.

"I'd jump on what?" Black asked walking in the door with the rest of our friends.

"The chance to have me in your bed again because the rest of the guys don't lie still enough when they sleep," I replied as Parker climbed the stairs to the girl's dorm.

"Hey." They complained as I heard a door open.

"It's true ain't it? That's why you made me sleep in his bed last time right?" James exchanged a look with Remus and nodded.

"Yeah but..." James trailed off.

"Here," Parker butted in.

"Aw my sweet, sweet Pubert." I said cuddling my black and brown teddy bear that was probably older than dirt. I could tell the guys were trying to hold back their laughter. I just rolled my eyes. Parker picked up a throw pillow from the couch and did as its name said. She threw it and hit James right in the forehead.

"That's not fair." James said.

"You're the ring leader of that little group so you should be able to control them especially the over-stuffed pigeon." I said.

"So now I'm a pigeon?" Black barked sitting on the arm of my chair.

"Yes a homing pigeon because no matter how many times and however I try I just can't get rid of you. You keep coming back." I said trying to shove him off my chair. It didn't work.

"Admit you like me and maybe even fancy me and I'll leave you alone for the rest of your life." Black proposed.

"Absolutely nothing in this world could make me do that." I answered. I didn't miss the look between James and Black after I said that. Black's kinda said 'See I told you' and James's said something along the lines of 'Sorry mate or don't give up.'

"Mandy why don't you let Sirius take you upstairs and get some sleep you look extremely tired." Remus said.

"You know as much as I dislike this idea of yours, sticking me in his bed, I'm too tired to argue with you right now." I answered trying to cover a yawn.

"Come on Hunter, beddy bye time. Say good night Hunter." Black said.

"Good night." I answered yawning. Black scooped me up and took me up the stairs laying me down on his bed and unwrapping my blankets. He tucked me under his blankets then under the one's I had been wrapped in before stripping down to his boxers and climbing in next to me. I slid closer to him and fell asleep.

The next morning at breakfast I heard the owls swoop in and didn't bother looking up. Someone swallowed hard and I heard Timmy say "I'm telling you we really need to shoot that damn bird." I looked up and there sat my parents' ever foreboding eagle owl. It had both a letter and a package. I relieved it of both and it took off again.

I opened the letter slowly and looked up at James. "Oh God," Lily whispered.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing just read the letter." She said.

"Lily..." Parker started.

"No just read the letter." Lily demanded. I nodded quickly and pulled out the letter.

'Amanda,
Our sweetest daughter, since you are receiving this letter and not the other one you know we are safe and your brother is too.'

I looked at Black who was next to me. "Do you mind?" I asked as he was trying to see what was written. He shook his head and went back to his breakfast.

'Unfortunately we have bad news we need you to tell the Miller children. The same can not be said for Tina and Thomas. Death Eaters attacked their home late last night. A few of the people sent to help them fight the Death Eaters off got the twins out and to a safe place while the rest took down several Death Eaters but Tina, Thomas, and Max were killed. We are so sorry baby we really tried and you know if they had to die all three wanted to go down fighting each taking down at least two Death Eaters with them. You must let Dumbledore read this letter at once and let the Miller children know they trust you to tell it to them straight. Tell Parker we say hello and we send condolences to all of you. Now you can open the package.
Love always,
Mom and Dad'

I swallowed hard and looked up at the Headmaster. He was in conversation with Professor McGonagall. I stood opening the box in front of me. Right on top was the Bugs Bunny Doll I had given Max and my Carebear right under that. "Shysta cracker monkeys," I cursed.

"Mandy." James said worriedly.

"No, not now Jamie I have to go." I said getting up hurriedly. I strode the seemingly long distance to the teachers table and looked at the Headmaster. "My parents sent this today sir. They said you needed to read it." I said handing him the letter. Professor Dumbledore took the letter and read it.

"Minerva I need you to gather the Miller children and take them to your office. There are a few things I need to sort out. Ms. Hunter after informing the Millers and Parker you are to tell no one else the specifics. You may speak of it to Messrs. Potter, Lupin, Black, and Pettigrew, and Ms. Evans if the Millers allow it but only of the deaths not of the specifics. Do you understand me?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes sir." I answered. Professor McGonagall stood and followed me back to the Gryffindor table collecting Ashley and Cathy along the way. I picked up the box and motioned Timmy and Talon to follow me.

We reached her office and we went in before her letting her close, lock, and silence the door so no one would overhear anything. I placed the box on her desk and looked down as they sat in the seats McGonagall conjured. She stood back and let me do the talking.

"Amanda what's wrong?" Cathy asked. "I can feel it Mandy, ever since you got that letter something's horribly wrong."

"Feel it?" McGonagall asked.

"I'm an Empath, Professor." Cathy said.

"Bugs, what's bothering you?" Timmy asked. My hands started shaking bad at the mention of my nickname.

"Another spike, what's going on?" Cathy asked. I ignored her question and pulled everything out of the box. My Bugs Bunny and Carebear, Ashley's Mickey Mouse and baby blue blanket, Timmy's sombrero, Talon's stuffed eagle, Cathy's yellow bird, Parker's Daffy Duck, and a note. I lined the toys up on the desk and read the note.

It said 'Amanda,
We took found this stuff that said return to my sibs if something happened to me and it was in Max's handwriting so we knew he'd want you all to have these now in this time of sorrow. According to their parents will the children are to be in their godparents care until Cathy is out of school and comes to a decision. We followed their wishes and we won't say who in case this falls into the wrong hands and their parents murders' come looking for the twins. The children will know who their godparents are and will be informed of the living arrangements in time.'

I put the letter on top of the note and turned to face my friends. "What do all of these have in common?" I asked.

"Max," Ashley whispered. I handed each person their belongings and looked at the floor.

"I got this box along with a letter from my parents, I really hate saying this because it is cliché but I have good news and I have bad news which do you want first?" I asked.

"Give us the bad news." Cathy said shakily.

"Ok the bad news...well um there's no easy way to put this but Death Eaters attacked your house last night. Your parents and Max didn't survive." I said.

If I was told to pick the emotionally strongest one of the four children in front of me I would have said Timmy hands down. He had rarely ever cried in the time I knew him and I was surprised to see that he broke first. I wanted to hug him but I knew that it wasn't my place. Talon sat in shock as Ashley and Cathy let the tears flow. Cathy pulled Timmy into her lap as Talon did the same for Ashley. I stood there looking at the floor hugging tightly to my Bugs Bunny.

"The twins, what happened to the twins?" Timmy asked quietly.

"That's part of the good news. The team of people sent to help your parents and Max fight off the Death Eaters, a few of them got the twins out and to a safe place until their godparents can look after them. The twins are a little shaken but if I know your parents they named good people godparents, people who will know how to calm them down, people who are good with children." I said.

"It looks like I'll be coming home with you for Christmas." Cathy said.

"What do you mean?" Talon asked. "I thought Mom and Dad named Cass and Patrick godparents over all of us."

"The five younger ones yes." Cathy answered.

"Wait what?" I asked.

"Cassandra and Patrick Dixon are Talon, Timmy, Ashley, Caroline, and Mathew's godparents. Max, Alicia, and I have different godparents. Mom and Dad named your parents, Lynn and Scott Hunter, our godparents. They were going to name them Talon's too but you were born first and they figured out that after Talon was born if something happened to them, Mom and Dad didn't want to burden the Hunter's with more than 5 kids so the Dixon's stepped up and said they'd take in Talon and each of the rest of the kids once they were born too. After Alicia died they thought about switching Talon's but they eventually decided against it." Cathy explained.

"So Talon, Timmy, and Ash will go home with Parker over the break?" I asked. Cathy nodded.

"Is there anything else?" Ashley asked.

"Well a little more good news. Dumbledore knows about it and has forbidden me from telling anyone but you four and Parker the specifics about what happened, and as you know and as they told you several times they went down fighting and that's the way they wanted it if they had to go at all. They wanted to go down fighting and making sure they took whoever they were fighting down with them and that's what happened. They each went down fighting taking at least 2 Death Eaters with them. Oh and to top it off I'm completely out of bad news." I said.

"What happens to the kids when I graduate?" Cathy asked. I knew she wanted to know if she could have custody of all five of them.

"You have to come to a decision. You can take in all five of them or you could take in the three older ones and leave the two younger ones with their godparents while you take on a job." McGonagall explained. "No one will blame you if you take the second one. Raising children is a hard job to do, even harder when you're trying to raise 5 by yourself. Think about it, I don't need a decision right now. You have all year to figure out what you want to do. And don't forget you have these four and Parker to talk it over with just let it all sink in." Cathy nodded and I handed her both pieces of parchment from my parents.

"Tell your parents thanks for the condolences. We greatly appreciate it." Cathy whispered. I knew she was going to start crying again so I nodded and then turned my back picking up the Daffy, Bugs, and Carebear and putting them back in the box.

"Mandy?" I heard a small voice behind me ask. I turned around and saw Timmy standing there. I couldn't hold back the tears anymore and I finally broke down ending up on my butt on the floor. "Oh Mandy," he said sitting next to me and embracing me. I in turn embraced him and we sat there oblivious to everything else until Parker came in later that day.

So how's you like the chapter? And tune in next time.