Chapter 49

Amanda was quiet as she walked with Christian up to the common room. She didn't say much just mumbled her agreements to the new Quidditch plan that he had come up with to try and beat the Hufflepuff team.

Once they reached the common room she said goodnight to Christian and ran up to her dorm to change and drop her things off. She knew she couldn't wear her uniform since she had tipped gravy on it during dinner. However she didn't want to put anything decent on at this time and quickly slipped into sweat pants and a strapy top knowing she would probably wear them to bed.

Amanda looked into the large mirror that sat just left of the door. She smiled at herself; she didn't look that bad even when dressed scruffy. She laughed as she remembered Lily complain that she could pull off the scruffy look when no one else could.

Before grabbing her History essay Amanda pulled her hair into a ponytail high on her head allowing strands to fall back onto her neck. Then slipping her feet into a pair of slippers moved off down to the common room to write her essay.

After choosing a table in the corner where people would ignore her she pulled out the pile of library books. When she was finished she couldn't see past the books on the table and felt safe sitting there where nobody would find her.

Amanda quickly wrote her essay (Goblins can take care of themselves, evaluate and back up your answer) losing herself in all the books. It was with a shock she heard the voice next to her.

"How do I look?"

"Wow. That is an amazing dress, where'd you get it?"

Saying it was amazing was an understatement. Andi was wearing a spaghetti dress. It was the colour of blood and brought out the blue of her eyes. She had curled her long dark hair so that it sat in ringlets around her face. Amanda couldn't get over how mature she looked even though she was in her sixth year she looked older in this dress.

"Hogsmeade, I ordered a specially made muggle dress just for tonight."

"It suits you Andi, you're going to give Ted a heart attack!"

"Speaking of heart attacks, I heard you gave Malfoy one. Something about you and Sirius uniting the two families."

"Lets not talk about that tonight its Valentine's Day. Let's talk about you and Ted. What did he get you?"

"I don't know he said I get it tonight. I can't wait though."

At that moment there was a cough from behind and Andi turned as Amanda leaned out pass the books. Standing in midnight blue dress robes was Ted smiling happily at Andi. Looking at the pair Amanda could tell they were meant for each other.

"See you tomorrow Mand okay. I'll tell you all about tonight then."

"Yeah have fun, and don't do anything I wouldn't"

The pair giggled as the older moved away to her boyfriend. Amanda watched as Ted took her hand in his, they looked good together fitted together perfectly. With a small sigh Amanda turned back to her books. She had another three inches to write and needed to find one more source to back her statement up.

Minutes passed and she found what she was looking for, dipping her quill into the ink pot she was about to write the next sentence when a shadow covered her parchment. Amanda wanted to yell but quickly held her breath as she looked up to ask the person to move.

"Sorry to disrupt you Mand. Could you go see if Alice is ready for this dance yet? She was suppose to meet me twenty minutes ago."

"Okay Frank I'll go tell her you're waiting."

Quickly Amanda was up the stairs and in the dorm room. Alice was surrounded by Lily and Branwen who were giggling like mad and she guessed Ginny had all ready left with Joe. Amanda saw that they had put a lengthening charm on her hair and it now rested half way down her back in a straight line. Her robes were baby pink and without meeting her eyes Amanda knew they were shining.

Nobody had noticed her yet they were all laughing as Alice tried to find a pair of shoes to go with them.

"I wish Mand was here, her pink shoes would suit these robes. But I can't wear them without asking."

Knowing she'd better say something she spoke up wishing that she was back down in the common room hiding behind her books.

"Wear them if you like, just be quick about it Frank's complaining about how long its taking you to get ready."

Without waiting for a reply Amanda turned and left the room and ran down the stairs. At the bottom Frank was standing with Remus and James talking quietly so nobody else could hear them.

"Frank she'll be a moment she's just putting her shoes on."

Again she didn't wait for a reply, she didn't even look at him as she had spoken she just moved back to her corner and finished her essay quickly. From her seat though she watched Alice come downstairs. She saw the smile on her friends face she was so happy. Frank looked just as pleased as he kissed her hand before leading her out of the common room.

"They go well together don't they"

"Sirius! You scared me half to death."

"Good, now what's going on, something's up I can tell."

"Nothing."

"Come on lets go somewhere quiet to talk."

Before she could say anything Sirius had picked her up and put her on his shoulder walking over to the staircase. He made a quick step to the side to allow a second year down and then was up the stairs heading towards his dorm room. On entering he moved to his bed and Amanda felt her body hit the soft blanket as he sat down. It was empty because all of the boys were sitting at tables in the common room playing games.

Sirius quickly laid down stretching out on the bed making himself comfortable. Amanda smiled slyly at him as she crossed her legs sitting just to his left. They sat in silence for seconds and then Sirius broke the ice.

"How long?"

"What?"

"Don't be ignorant Mand you know very well what I'm talking about."

"Forever Si. I'm surprised you haven't realised. It's so obvious look at the way we were raised for starters. With our society we should only have seen each other at dinner parties and not day in day out."

"What you mean?"

"Come on how many people outside of family do most witches and wizards of our class know before starting school. None Si. We should have been raised very differently with you spending time with Bella, Narcissa and Andi. While I should have spent time with Sev and Lucius."

"Our fathers are best friends that's why we grew up together."

"Go on you believe that Si, I wish I could because it's not true and deep down you know it. They threw us together, stopped us socialising with other kids our age and why, so they could make us grow closer, so we wouldn't question one another. They've been preparing us for marriage since we were infants Sirius and you know it too, you see it as well."

"Maybe you're just seeing too much into it."

Amanda could hear in his voice that he was scared by the idea. He wanted to believe what he was saying, Merlin she wanted to believe it. But it wasn't true and she knew it. Looking at him though she couldn't see how she was suppose to spend 'forever' with him.

"I once believed that Si, really I did I spent ages trying to convince myself that it was only friendship driving our families but it isn't true. I heard a conversation between mama and aunty when I had to go home during the summer, there's no denying it anymore Si, we've been chosen."

"What do you mean? What did they say?"

"Well it was all in Spanish but I bet you want the English version. Basically mama was complaining about my behaviour again, she said that you're a bad influence that I act out trying to copy you. She said that I do anything you ask without complaint or question. Well aunty said that that's a good thing, it's a sign that I will be the perfect wife once we marry as I will follow you without question."

After her words silence fell over the pair. Amanda couldn't take looking at Sirius and lying down on the bed turned her back to him looking at the four-poster where James spent every night. She saw his tracksuit bottoms thrown on the quilt and she knew he had worn them the night before.

Before she could take in anymore details of his bed an arm wrapped itself around her waist and she felt a body press against her back. Leaning back her head rested against a strong chest. She could feel the boys breath on her hair as he placed his chin on her head.

"That's it then, they've already decided. I thought I had another two years before they named the person I'd have to marry. Maybe we could refuse to marry each other."

"Yeah and then I get stuck with their second choice, Lestrange. Or maybe it'll be one of the other's on my list you know Joseph Nott, or Avery, maybe Macnair. Or if I'm really lucky I can marry Crabbe or Goyle, and you can marry one of their sisters."

"Okay I get it, we're lucky that we get each other not somebody else, but it's really going to ruin my friendship with James, especially after that kiss earlier."

"What kiss? You haven't been with James again have you?"

"Yes Mand, I'm in love with James Potter! Will you behave yourself and act your age for once Mand. You know what I'm talking about."

"Did James tell you?"

"No, of course not. I saw you. I got out of Muggle Studies minutes after James and I headed down to Potions guessing that's where he'd gone. Well I saw Lestrange had hold of you, I was about to step in when James pulled you away and kissed you."

"It was great Si, he was so gentle, it was just wow!"

"Just what I needed to know! Anyway you weren't the only one who wasn't paying attention in Potions he seemed to be day dreaming as well, and when you said about uniting our families he sort of flipped and now he isn't very happy."

"So what it's not as if he has to marry you, I'm the one who's stuck with you for life."

"Thanks Mand, but come on spill it, you like James don't you?"

"No! Well maybe, okay fine yes I'm crushing on him. But it doesn't matter because its you and me mate for life. Just like a sentence in Azkaban never ending."

"Well that's kinda a good thing that you like him, and I bet I can help you out. There's this third year Hufflepuff named Dawn Winter that I wouldn't mind getting close to, and well you could go out with James if I'm with her."

"Oh and how do you figure that one out then Si?"

She felt the boy move and she couldn't feel his body anymore. She moved to look at him and found him lying on his back with his hands behind his neck and legs bent. Without thinking she moved to rest against his legs, placing hers against his chest.

"Well your mother reckons that you copy me. Well then if I start dating this Hufflepuff you could be trying to make me jealous by going out with my best friend. I'd be doing you both a favour and then I'd get the girl I wanted as well."

"Like you need a reason to get a girl Sirius!"

The pair sat bolt up and stared towards the door. Standing there was…


How evil am I? A cliffy and you have to wait until the 20th April to find out who it is. No complaining, I'd post it sooner if I could but I leave for Egypt in a little under five hours and won't be back until the 20th.

So have a nice Easter everyone

Kris xx