A few days later Amanda passed Harry and Ron talking urgently on the way to the Great Hall.
"I'm telling you, there's no way he gave you that score!" Ron exclaimed. "He's going to poison you or something."
"He wouldn't really kill me," Harry said, sounding unsure. "Not in the school."
"Then how else do you explain that grade?"
"I don't know, maybe he reckons I'll die in the third task."
Amanda chuckled quietly, finally realizing what they were talking about. It seemed as if Severus hadn't changed Potters grade after all. She swept passed them quickly and made her way to the head table, slipping in next to Severus. She leaned over so that only he could hear.
"I heard that Potter got a decent grade in Potions." Severus grunted.
"He seems to think that it means that you are plotting to kill him." Severus looked up at her in surprise, before an evil glint came into his eye.
"That's a bonus I'd never thought of before."
"Well, you know what they say, 'smile at your enemies, it confuses the hell out of them.'" He pushed her away from him.
"They do not say that!"
"Well they should," she said, "it's true." He grunted again and went back to his food. Amanda smiled mischievously.
"If you look now you'll have just enough time to smile at him," she said, "the expression on his face should be wonderful."
Severus looked up and spotted Harry, just as the boy had looked at him. He couldn't manage a smile in the boy's direction so Severus just nodded in polite acknowledgment and cast his gaze away. Amanda had been right; the boy's reactions were beautiful. Mr. Weasley was now on the verge of panic and Potter had this look on his face like he was trying to decide weather to run, wet his pants, pull his wand out and attack, or some strange combination of the three. They rushed over to their table and started an urgent conversation with Miss Granger that involved several frantic glances in his direction.
Beside him Amanda was shaking with silent laughter, hiding her face as best she could behind her bangs. He was trying as best he could not to show his own mirth, the boy was still watching and it wouldn't do for the rest of the students to see him laughing either. There wasn't a thing he could do about his own silent laughter, however, and soon the two had attracted the attention of several of the other teachers.
Flitwick looked rather frightened, where as McGonagall just raised an eyebrow and Dumbledore positively beamed at the two jovial professors. Madame Maxime also looked rather pleased and Karkaroff just looked on disdainfully. Severus and Amanda straightened up immediately and poked at their food, small smiles twitching at their lips.
When no more strange stares were passed their way Amanda allowed a small smile to grace her features and Severus chuckled lightly.
"I can't believe you never thought of doing that," Amanda said, stifling a childish giggle.
"It never really occurred to me that I could freak him out like that just by being somewhat kind," he admitted.
"Oh yeah," she said, "and the best part is that no one can say that you're being unfair."
A small commotion at the Ravenclaw table immediately caught their attention. A Durmstrang boy had his wand out and was confronting a small group of Beauxbatons students. One of the Beauxbaton boys stood up angrily. Amanda was up and on the other side of the table before Severus was finished puzzling this information together. She swept silently up behind the Durmstrang student, the hall eerily quiet.
"I trust," she said, her voice frighteningly cold, "that the two of you have very good explanations as to why you are disgracing your schools in such a way."
The Beauxbatons boy looked abashed, but the Durmstrang boy drew himself up in anger.
"I have disgraced no vone!" he cried.
"I think you're Headmaster feels differently, perhaps you would like to explain it to him?"
Amanda stepped to the side so that the head table could clearly be seen, Karkaroff looked livid. Amanda had spoken quietly, in the tone of one person speaking to another right in front of them, and yet the whole hall had no trouble hearing her, it was so quiet. Karkaroff walked briskly around the table and came to stand before the small group.
"You had better have a good explanation for this, Kosovo!" The boy looked defiant, although he had deflated quite a bit.
"They," he said, pointing to the Beauxbatons students, "are a bunch of cheaters!" Amanda's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I think it would be a good idea to take this conversation elsewhere."
Karkaroff agreed, as did Dumbledore.
"Perhaps," he called from the head table, "my office would be more appropriate?" It was quickly agreed to. Karkaroff marched off, with his student in tow.
"We shall see to this later, Mr. Stephens."
The boy sank into his seat and Amanda swept away, following Madame Maxime to Dumbledore's office. It was a large circular room, the walls lined with bookshelves and portraits of previous Headmasters and Headmistresses. Fawkes crooned softly when she entered and she smiled at him, he was considerably smaller then last she'd seen him, he must have burst into flames recently. The portraits on the wall feigned sleep, badly. Karkaroff rounded on his student immediately.
"Would you care to explain yourself, Kosovo?"
"They," he repeated, pointing this time at Amanda and Maxime, "are cheating!" Amanda's eyes flashed once again.
"If we were cheating, don't you think we would do a better job? Last I'd checked Fleur was in last place."
"They attacked Krum, and a Triwizard judge!" he accused. "It happened just outside their carriage, they are trying to sabotage us! It is a conspiracy!" Madame Maxime bristled.
"I 'ave not come 'ere to be insulted, Karkaroff, control your student!"
Karkaroff merely looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Professor McGonagall makes a good point;" he said smoothly, "if they were the ones behind this then surely Miss Delecour would be winning. But perhaps Professor McGonagall is not working to advance Miss Fleur."
"What are you trying to say, Headmaster?" Amanda growled.
"I accuse you, Professor McGonagall of sabotaging your school and mine as well!"
"That is absurd!" Madame Maxime shouted, but Karkaroff cut her off.
"Think about it," he said. "She was in the perfect position to slip Potters name into the Goblet. How much of her past has she hidden from you? She didn't even tell you that this was her school and it is obvious that they are friends, she and Dumbledore have been conspiring together against us!"
"My past is my business and I need not tell everyone about it. I would have thought you of all people, Karkaroff, would understand about that."
"What are you trying to say, my dear?" he asked, walking forward until he was standing right in front of her, his face inches from hers. Amanda curled her lips in disgust.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Karkaroff." He sneered and grabbed her arm in his iron like grip and growled lowly.
"I would not say such things if I were you."
There was a sound of several robes rustling behind him and Karkaroff turned around to see two wands pointing directly into his face. Dumbledore's eyes glowed fiercely and Madame Maxime looked outraged.
"I would not stand so close, if I were you, 'eadmaster," she said lowly.
Karkaroff stepped away immediately, throwing his hands back as if Amanda's flesh had burned him. The portraits were no longer feigning sleep, they were instead glaring angrily at the Durmstrang Headmaster; Amanda had been one of their favorites.
"I do not think," said Dumbledore as he stowed his wand back in his robes, "that any of us here attacked Mr. Krum or Mr. Crouch."
Karkaroff still bristled, and Madame Maxime still glared, as did the portraits.
"Now," he continued calmly, "would anyone like to join me for a calming drink?" Amanda snorted softly, only Dumbledore could offer them all a drink as if they hadn't just been pulling their wands out on each other. Karkaroff marched out the door.
"Come, Kosovo."
Madame Maxime followed them out, informing Amanda that she would deal with Stephen later. Amanda stood for a moment trying not to look into Dumbledore's piercing blue eyes; she had lost control of herself and let him down. Fawkes crooned again, before taking wing and landing gracefully on her shoulder, wrapping his long tail around her neck like a scarf.
"I would like to apologize; I should not have let my temper get the better of me." Dumbledore stepped forward and lifted her head, which had previously been staring at her shoes.
"You were defending yourself and your school, how can I be mad at that?"
"You didn't look particularly happy about it," she mumbled. Dumbledore chuckled and pulled her into a hug, careful not to dislodge Fawkes.
"I'm still rather protective of my godchild, I'm afraid."
The portraits showed their approval with small cheers of "too right!" and "no one messes with our Amy!" Amanda chuckled.
"I think some hot chocolate would be most appropriate, don't you?" Amanda smiled gratefully. A knock was heard at the door and Professor McGonagall stepped in.
"What's this I hear about messing with Amanda?" she asked.
"Igor just became a little over zealous after Amanda made a comment to him. It was quickly fixed." Minerva gave Amanda a stern look.
"You let your temper get the better of you again, didn't you?"
"Yes," Amanda said, trying not to bristle at her mothers disapproving gaze.
"Amy and I were just about to have some hot chocolate, would you care to join us, Minerva?"
There was no hope of denying Dumbledore, and so they all retired to his private study. It was warm and spacious, decorated with blues and greens, and in the sunlight, the stained glass windows would cast rich warm colors throughout the room. Minerva and Amanda arranged themselves in two large armchairs and Dumbledore joined them a moment later with three steaming mugs of hot chocolate, each topped with a little marshmallow cream.
It was an interesting evening, to say the least. Amanda and her mother couldn't seem to agree on anything. If they spoke of the tournament, it almost seemed as if Minerva was commenting on Amanda's teaching skills and how they were affecting her student, whilst Dumbledore piled on the praise about how well Fleur had managed with the dragon. In other subjects Amanda would voice an opinion and Minerva would appose it, with Dumbledore pointing out the merits to both sides. After awhile Amanda stopped voicing her opinion, instead listening intently and making non-committal statements, to which her mother would say, "Come on then, we know you have an opinion, you always do."
Even with Fawkes crooning in her ear, after an hour or two Amanda had had enough. She had a head- ache, was tired, and really didn't feel up to defending herself from her own mother, or listening to Dumbledore try to do so on her behalf. She stood up abruptly.
"I'm afraid it is getting late, and with the third task tomorrow I feel I should check on Fleur and insure that she isn't pacing around the carriage." She inclined her head to both of them. "Good night mother, Albus. I shall see you in the morning."
Various versions of 'good night' followed her out the door, with Fawkes leaving her shoulder her only when she had reached the main doors. Amanda stepped out into the cool crisp air and sighed with relief, rubbing her temples. She loved her mother dearly but sometimes she annoyed her far too much. Amanda basked for a few moments in the light of the moon and stars, savoring the peace and quiet. Eventually she turned to the carriage, ready to face Fleur, who was by now probably frantic with nerves.
She was not disappointed; Fleur was pacing wildly around in circles, while Madame Maxime watched on hopelessly from the doorway looking just as nervous as her student. Fleur pounced as soon as Amanda entered the door.
"Madame McGonagall!" she cried in French, "Please, you have to help me train!" Fleur continued to babble on in distressed French but Amanda just slipped past her and disappeared down the hall. She returned a few minutes later with three glasses of tea, one was actually just a glorified glass jug, but that wasn't the point.
Fleur gulped hers gratefully, almost forgetting to say thank you, while Amanda and Madame Maxime sipped theirs more slowly. Amanda watched Fleur closely, waiting.
"Professor McGonagall," said Fleur. "Is something wrong?"
"No," she said. "When you get up in the morning be sure you eat a good breakfast, you'll need your strength."
"Get up in the morning," Fleur exclaimed, "how can I get up if I'm too tense to even fall asleep –" She fell like a rock, her glass shattering on the wood floor. Amanda didn't even miss a beat, calmly catching the girl before she hit the floor and downing the rest of her tea. Madame Maxime gaped.
"You drugged her?" Amanda looked away.
"Drink your tea," she said, walking away with Fleur hanging over her shoulder. "And you're going to want to lie down" she called back.
After getting the finally sleeping Fleur into bed Amanda walked to her own room, fighting off the drowsiness that she had unleashed on them all. Madame Maxime was already climbing into bed when she walked through.
"I can't believe you drugged me," she grumbled.
"Well, when you finally fall asleep maybe you won't feel so doubtful."
Amanda closed the door behind her and changed quickly before stumbling to her bed. She passed out quickly, barley having enough time to pull the blankets over her head. Her last conscious thought was that maybe she'd made the tea too strong.
Breakfast was a very noisy affair the next day. The biggest topic, however, was not the third task, which was going to take place that evening, but the latest edition of the Daily Prophet. Amanda snorted suddenly, struck by an odd thought. She leaned over to Severus.
"Apparently Dumbledore has a fondness for violence," she whispered. Severus raised an eyebrow.
"I thought that paper was about Potter."
"According to it, 'anyone who seeks out the attention of such vicious creatures as werewolves and giants would appear to have a fondness for violence.'" Severus looked stricken.
"In that case he must be planning a massacre this very minute."
They glanced over at Dumbledore and he did indeed look thoughtful. Amanda burst into giggles at the thought of Dumbledore attacking anyone who wasn't a Death Eater and Severus tried to smother a chuckle.
"You are the epitome of childishness," he muttered.
Amanda nudged his arm.
"You laughed too. Well, you made this odd sort of chuckle type noise." Severus raised an eyebrow but she didn't stop. "Maybe if you opened your mouth and sort of relaxed a bit, it can't be good to bottle it all up. I mean come on; I'm down right hilarious, think of what you're doing to my self esteem when you don't laugh at my jokes." Severus smiled and rolled his eyes.
"There," Amanda said, "see? You have a nice smile; you should do it more often."
"Only around you," he said, glaring around at the rest of the room. Amanda froze, positive she hadn't heard right. She smiled softly at him.
"Aw, look at that, you're ruining your reputation on your own now."
"No one heard that," he scowled, "and I'll thank you not to repeat it." Amanda just giggled again.
"I'm going to take a walk for awhile, I'll see you at lunch."
He grunted in acknowledgement and returned to his coffee.
Outside the grounds were alive with sunlight and the dancing of leaves in the wind. Not far away Harry was showing the Weasley's around the grounds. She hadn't seen them yet but it wouldn't be long before they saw her.
Harry was about to show them the Beauxbatons carriage.
"They have these humongous winged horses, with hooves the size of dinner plates! And their Headmistress, Madame Maxime, is almost as tall as Hagrid; she completely dwarfs their Deputy Headmistress. Charlie?"
Charlie had stopped, and was looking at something near the lake.
"Charlie," Bill said, noticing that his brother wasn't responding. "What –" Charlie had started moving, more like running, towards the lake.
"Amy!"
The figure by the lake turned, and froze. Amanda stared in shock; she didn't know what to do. How would he react to her return? She really hoped he wouldn't be angry.
Charlie slowed down when he got closer until he was standing in front of her, not knowing exactly what he wanted to say. In the background, Harry, Bill and Mrs. Weasley were approaching. Amanda suddenly lashed out, her fist connecting with Charlie's jaw and sending him into the ground at her feet. Charlie gaped at her.
"Eleven years later and you still remember that?" Amanda helped him to his feet.
"I did warn you, you know."
There was a moment where they just looked at each other, neither knowing what to do.
"I missed you," she said.
"Yeah? Me too."
"I'm sorry," she whispered. Charlie reached out and pulled her to him.
"Yeah," he whispered, "me too."
Amanda threw her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder. Charlie returned the embrace, placing a hand on the back of her head to hold her to him.
Mrs. Weasley, Bill and Harry had finally caught up.
"Charlie," Bill panted, "what is going on? Who is that – Amy?"
Charlie and Amanda had separated, letting Bill get a good look at her. He hadn't changed much, his hair was longer, he was taller, and he had a fang in one ear, but other than that he was the same Bill.
"It's good to see you, Bill."
He grabbed her out of Charlie's arms and crushed her against his chest, ruffling her hair in the process.
"You little scamp," he said affectionately.
"Bill! Come on, how would you like it if I messed with your hair?"
He laughed and released her. But that wasn't the end of it; Mrs. Weasley scooped her up from behind, nearly crushing the woman in her arms. Amanda gasped in pain, Mrs. Weasley was squeezing her stomach so hard she thought her guts would surly be crushed.
"Air," she gasped, "I must breathe to live." Mrs. Weasley released her and turned her around, looking her over.
"It's so good to see you! You look so grown up, and so pretty! But you look half starved, my dear. You'll have to come over and I'll fix you a nice home made meal. Your welcome any time; Arthur would love to see you!" Amanda laughed.
"Always the doting mother, are six children not enough to worry about?" Mrs. Weasley blushed a bit.
"Sorry dear, a habit, I suppose. But it's seven children, actually."
"Congratulations! Ron seems nice enough, and Fred and George are quiet the pair." Harry looked between the two women and the grinning Charlie and Bill.
"You know each other?" Charlie and Bill laughed.
"Of course," Charlie said, "Amy and I went to school together, and we were best friends."
"They were inseparable," agreed Bill, "Amy was a cross between Fred, George and Hermione; always getting up to something and never getting caught." He looked at Amanda sternly and she scowled.
"Don't look at me like that; you are not a prefect anymore." Charlie nudged her arm.
"He might not be, but you're still short."
Harry invited Amanda to walk with them, and she gladly accepted, basking in the warm glow of seeing her old friends again. They returned to the castle for lunch.
"Mum – Charlie – Bill!" said Ron, looking stunned, as he joined the Gryffindor table. "What're you doing here?"
"We've come to watch Harry in the last task!" said Mrs. Weasley brightly. "I must say, it makes a lovely change, not having to cook. How was your exam?"
"Oh… okay," said Ron. "Couldn't remember all the goblin rebels' names, so I invented a few. It's all right," he said, helping himself to a Cornish Pastry, while Mrs. Weasley looked stern, "they're all called stuff like Bodrod the Bearded and Urg the unclean; it wasn't hard."
Amanda tried not to laugh.
"What about you, why're you down here?"
Charlie rounded on Ron.
"Why didn't you tell us Amy was here?" he asked fiercely.
"You know her?" he said, causing Charlie and Bill to look pointedly at him. "Wait? You mean this is The Amy?"
"The Amy?" Amanda said, looking at them incredulously. "I'm some sort of celebrity now?"
"Oh, Charlie and Bill told the boys all about you and the mischief you used to get into. I rather think you inspired Fred and George." Charlie blushed and Bill tried to look dignified.
"Who's supposed to have inspired us now?" Fred plopped down on the other side of the table, George and Ginny joining him.
"Guys!" exclaimed Ron, gesturing wildly at Amanda and upsetting his goblet of juice. "It's her! The one they're always going on about, from school!"
"What? You mean the master prankster?" said Fred.
"Who got all her Owls and all her Newts?" George continued, it sounded almost like they were rehearsing a list.
"Who was friends with people from every house and rarely sat at her own table?"
"Who had a centaur rescue her from a lake?"
"Who constantly broke the rules under the ever watchful gaze of Professor McGonagall without getting caught?"
"Who started a snowball fight in the Great Hall?"
"Who befriended Peeves and together terrorized both the underclassmen and professors alike?"
"Who –"
"Enough!" cried Charlie, now a shade of purple that would probably make a doctor have a heart attack. Bill was about the color of his hair and was trying to look the other way inconspicuously. Amanda gaped. Ron was nodding frantically.
"Yes, yes, her!" He pointed at Amanda. Now it was Fred and Georges turn to gape.
"You're kidding!"
"No! It's her!"
Fred leapt to his feet and reached over the table, taking Amanda's hand and shaking it profusely.
"My hero," he said. George raised his glass.
"Cheers!" Amanda buried her face in her hands, having swiped one back from Fred.
"Charlie," she growled, "I am going to kill you."
"Ron," Charlie growled, "I am going to kill you."
"There will be no killing of anyone, this is a joyous occasion," said Mrs. Weasley, "and I expect you all to behave."
"Yes mum," they all chorused. Bill looked at her oddly
"I don't remember her having you."
"Sorry, habit. I think I spent way too much time at you're house."
"Nonsense, you were and still are always welcome. Now," said Mrs. Weasley, piling some mashed potatoes onto Amanda's plate, "eat your potatoes, you've lost weight since I saw you last and you were a growing girl at the time."
The Weasley's all snickered at Amanda's meek expression as she tasted her mashed potatoes. In the end she had made a masterpiece potato mountain, complete with little carrot people and a river of molten gravy. Charlie's corn people attacked the little carrot people while the other Weasley's rooted for the battling vegetables. It was just like old times.