Chapter 3

Most of the other Gryffindors had gone to bed already, leaving Ron, Harry, and Hermione alone next to the fireplace. "We really should get to bed," Hermione advised. "You've got Divinations first thing in the morning, and I have my Ancient Runes class."

"I fall asleep through Trelawny's classes anyway," Ron countered. "Though I would like to know why we're still awake."

"I've been thinking about what Amber said earlier, about how she thinks the Sorting Hat messed up. Something just doesn't make sense."

"Harry, you don't know anything about her-"

"That's the point, Hermione. No one knows anything about her. The only people she talks to are her schoolmates. Even Lotus talks to the other Slytherins."

"Yeah, though Draco doesn't seem to like him," Ron pointed out.

"Malfoy only likes himself," Harry replied. "But I was thinking that maybe we should try and do something to make Amber feel at home here. Jason did say she was shy. Maybe it's just her way of showing that."

"Well, I was going to ask her tomorrow if she wanted to study with me. She's good at Transfigurations, so maybe she can teach me something, and I could help her in a class she isn't good in."

"Or she could be like you and good at everything," Ron said with a shrug.

"I'm not good at everything, Ron. It takes a lot of studying, which you two should probably try and do more of this year."

"After all the work Snape gave us last-" Harry stopped in mid-sentence, hearing someone coming down the stairs. A moment later, Amber walked into the common room, still fully dressed. Walking straight to the door that led to the outer halls, she never even glanced in the trio's direction. Quickly opening the door, Amber took a quick look outside, and then left the common room, shutting the door behind her.

"What does she think she's doing?" Hermione cried, trying to keep her voice down. "If anyone catches her, we'll lose points!"

"But if we go after her, we might get caught," Ron reminded her. "It's happened enough times, anyway."

"I'll get my cloak and try and bring her back here," Harry said, racing up the stairs to his room and grabbing his invisibility cloak, quickly noting that the clock by his bed read 11:30. Ron met him halfway down the stairs. "You coming?"

"Hermione said it would be better if you go alone. Besides, that girl still gives me the creeps. I'll cover for you in case McGonagall comes to do a bed check."

"Thanks Ron, I'll be back as quick as I can." Hermione was standing by the door, which she'd pulled open slightly.

"You be careful, Harry. Can't have you getting caught either. And when you bring Amber back, tell her I need to talk to her. I am a prefect after all, and it won't do to have people running around the school at night."

"All right, Hermione. I'll be back in a few minutes, I hope." With that, Harry threw the cloak over his head and vanished. Hermione saw the door close, and sat in a chair by the fire. There was definitely something strange going on.

Harry didn't see Amber in the hall when he looked around. In fact, all he saw was a black cat running towards the courtyard. "Wait a minute. There shouldn't be any cats except Mrs. Norris out here after dark." It was possible that her familiar had escaped, and Amber was looking for it. Well, problem solved, except that he needed to catch the cat and find Amber. "It's never easy," he sighed, running after the cat. It was fast though, and had a head start on him. But just as he thought he could grab it, there was a hiss behind him. Mrs. Norris stood staring at the black cat, the fur along her back standing straight up. The black cat turned and hissed back, and Harry noticed a white patch on its right shoulder, like some sort of misplaced birth mark. Suddenly, Filch's voice could be heard from down the hall, and Harry instinctively froze. The two cats however, continued staring at each other, and Mrs. Norris was making what sounded like a challenge growl.

"Where are you, my pretty?" Filch called out. "Did you find someone sneakin' out?" Filch rounded the corner, and Harry sucked in a breath and flattened himself against the opposite wall. Filch came over with his lantern, peering down at the black cat. He smiled then, showing his rotten teeth. "Well, what 'ave we 'ere? A little lost kitty? Where's your master? Are they around 'ere?" The black cat backed up and hissed at him, swiping at his face with its claws. Filch dropped his lantern and cursed in pain, giving the cat a chance to dart around both the caretaker and Mrs. Norris. Harry knew he'd never get past Mrs. Norris, so he ran down the other way, taking a slightly longer route, and laughing a little bit about the mark Filch would be showing tomorrow. He found himself in the courtyard a few minutes later, and there he saw the cat sitting on its haunches and looking around like it expected something else to be there. A moment later another cat, this one gray with darker stripes, came trotting out of another doorway. The two cats licked each other, and then turned to walk towards the largest tree. Harry followed, trying to understand what was going on. He needed to get back to the tower before McGonagall came to do her midnight bed check, which was probably not far off. Suddenly he felt a presence behind him, and turned slowly, sucking in another breath. And there, lumbering towards the tree, was a brown bear. Harry stepped back into the safety of the building, praying that the animal wouldn't be able to smell him under the cloak.

'Hagrid probably bought a bear cub over the summer, and took care of it. Why can't he ever say no?' Thankfully the creature seemed too preoccupied by something to notice him, and walked past. But as Harry looked over at the bear, he saw something white sitting on its back. A moment later the rabbit lifted its head and twitched its nose. And sitting on the rabbit's head was a small brown sparrow. "What is going on here?' And then a gray wolf padded out of yet another doorway, making its way towards the tree. Harry crept closer, hoping to see what was going on. And then the animals began changing. As the young wizard watched, each animal stood on its hind legs and changed shape until the six figures standing in the clearing were none other than the Americans.

"Let's get this meeting started, shall we?" Amber asked the others.

Harry knew he should get back to the tower and let Hermione known what he had just witnessed. How could anyone have missed this on their applications? Six animagi were now at Hogwarts attending classes, and even though they weren't like an endangered species, there had to be some sort of explanation for all this. But a small part of him just wanted to eavesdrop and see if he could learn anything. 'Might as well,' he thought.

"So why the rush to meet?" Amelia asked.

"We are taking a big risk kind of early," Jason added.

"I asked for the meeting," Slade said. All eyes centered on him, and the teen rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Something happened in Potions today, and I'm sure Dawn will back me up on this."

"What happened?" Lotus asked as he pulled himself onto a low branch. He would be the lookout for tonight.

"We felt queasy, and I almost passed out."

"What? Dawn, why didn't you say anything?" Amelia demanded, trying to keep her voice down.

"I didn't want to worry you."

"So you don't tell us then, so it could've been resolved?" Jason asked. He knew Dawn meant well, but this was something serious. "Do you know who it is?"

"Oh yeah," Slade replied. "And you're not gonna like it."

"It's him, isn't it?" Lotus said, sighing heavily.

"Yeah, sorry bro', but your head-of-House is more than he seems."

"How did you wind up in Slytherin?"

"That Hat told me where I belonged, just like you, Dawn. And I'm not one to question talking hats."

"I am," Amber spoke up. "That thing has no idea what it's doing."

"You said that at Salem's ceremony too. Besides, the Sorting hat has been a tradition of Hogwarts since the beginning," Amelia reminded her. Maybe Gryffindor is the same as Fire House."

"Then why are all of you in different Houses? Our three Airs are separated, and the Earth and Water are together. It doesn't make sense."

"Different qualities for different Houses. You're a Gryffindor Amber, so stop acting like a damn Slytherin," Jason admonished.

"It's my job to be the heartless bastard," Lotus added.

"All right, regardless of how I feel about this place, we have to do something."

"You mean like tell professor Regan?" Dawn asked hopefully.

"No, like handle it ourselves," Slade told her.

"Oh no, absolutely not," Amelia countered. "We are not aurors, nor part of the Ministry. We are students here on the good graces of Hogwarts, and we will not jeopardize that by assaulting a teacher!"

"Calm down, sweetheart," Jason said as he wrapped strong arms around her. "No one will be assaulting anyone, right?" Lotus and Slade both ignored his stare.

"If you can't stomach the job-"

"Slade, not now," Amber warned.

"Lantern!" Lotus said, standing up and shifting to his cat form.

"Scatter," Amber ordered as everyone raced off in animal form. The blonde became a black cat once more and ran back down the darkened hallways, hoping she could remember the way back to her House. She had a vague sensation of being followed, but it was probably either Lotus or Dawn heading to their own areas. Finally the portrait that everyone called "The Fat Lady" came into sight. Looking quickly around to make sure no one saw her, Amber regained her human form.

"Password?" the painting asked as it yawned.

"Draconius," Amber replied, hoping she'd remember correctly. The painted woman nodded and opened the door with a click, and the American quickly stepped through. The fire was out in the common room, but there was someone asleep on one of the chairs. It was one of Harry Potter's friends, the prefect, something-Granger. "Well, off to bed." She stretched and yawned, hoping not to wake the sleeping girl.

"Not so fast," a male voice said as Amber's heart leapt into her throat. She turned to see Harry Potter standing at the closed door, an invisibility cloak hanging off one shoulder. "You aren't the only one with secrets," he added with a small smile.

"How much did you hear?" she whispered, hoping his friend stayed asleep.

"Enough to know that something is odd about Snape, even more so than usual."

"Forget what you saw, Harry. And pretend you never heard anything."

"I can't do that, Amber. And you can't sneak out like that. If Filch catches you or your friends, you'll be in big trouble."

"He won't catch us."

"Besides that, Hogwarts isn't the best place to go running all over. This place holds a lot of secrets."

"Wait, are you worried about me?"

"Not just you, but all of you. You seem like a nice lot, if a bit strange. But since I don't want Hermione going batty, could you not-"

"Could you not sneak out in the middle of the night?" the girl in question finished as she stood from her chair by the fire. "You could be sent home."

"That's what you're all upset about?" Amber demanded as she faced the other girl. "Sometime you have to take chances and break a few rules."

"But is it worth getting expelled from Hogwarts?"

"I'm not a regular student here, remember?"

"But your own school might see it as an offense worth expulsion in America as well. You shouldn't chance it."

"Nothing is going to happen."

"Let us help you," Harry offered. "If Snape is-"

"Shut-up!" Amber whirled to face him, eyes narrowed. "I told you to forget that." With that, she dashed up the stairs to her room.

"Harry?"

"Trust me, Hermione, it's too much to explain right now. I'll fill you and Ron in tomorrow." She nodded and went upstairs to her room. Harry sighed and started heading upstairs to his bed. "Just once, I'd like a boring year."

It was break before Harry had a chance to really talk with his friends. They moved away from the others and sat on the grass. "I didn't see Amber after I left the tower last night, or at least not in a normal form."

"Normal form? Harry, what are you talking about?" Hermione asked.

"The Americans are animagi."

"Bloody hell-"

"Ron, shush," Harry warned the other boy, making sure no one else was staring at them. Luckily, everyone else seemed lost in their own conversations.

"How did they manage to all become animagi? That's a hard thing to do."

"Ron's right. Are you sure it wasn't a transfiguration spell?"

"I didn't see any of them use their wands. So unless they can do wandless magic, all of them are definitely animagi."

"But that doesn't make sense," Hermione argued. "It takes years of study to become one, and Professor McGonagall always stresses how dangerous the process is. Not to mention that the Ministry is very strict about registering any animagi. How could six students slip through the ropes? Unless…" She suddenly got a thoughtful look on her face, which meant she remembered reading a book on the subject. "Let's hurry to the library. There's something I need to check." She was up and jogging a moment later, and Harry and Ron followed her in a blur of robes. In the library, Hermione quickly dashed to the international books and selected 'Well-Known Wizarding Families of the Americas'. Thumbing through it quickly, she finally found her page. "Of course! Now I remember why he sounded so familiar.

"Who?" the boys asked.

"The boy in Slytherin. He's a Tremore." Hermione was met with two blank stares. "Really, you two, don't you ever do outside reading? Anyway, the Tremores are an old wizarding family who traveled to the New World when it was first being settled-"

"The short version, Hermione," Ron insisted.

"Very well. The whole family are animagi by tradition. Every wizard or witch born in it usually studies to become one, and those who marry in or are adopted can also become animagi."

"But none of the Americans are related," Harry argued.

"Yes, but they're all good friends. The three of us do mostly everything together, so maybe the other Americans wanted to be like Lotus."

"All right, but that still doesn't explain their feelings about Snape. Dawn and Slade said they felt faint in his class."

"Maybe they're not used to the smell of the dungeons. It can get pretty rank down there," Ron pointed out.

"No, it sounded more serious. Like they think Snape's up to no good." Dawn had seemed frightened of the Potions-master, and Slade sounded eager for a fight.

"We suspected that as well when we first met Snape," Hermione reminded him. "But Dumbledore trusts him."

"He also trusted Quirrell, Lockhart, and Moody. That doesn't make me feel so safe," Ron argued.

"Why don't we just ask Amber what's going on?"

"Hermione, you know she barely even looks at other Gryffindors. But why don't we ask Jason, Amelia, or Dawn?" Harry suggested.

"Studying with your girlfriends again, eh Potter?" came a familiar voice. Ron started to stand, but Harry put a hand on the redhead's shoulder.

"Don't you have anyone else to annoy, Malfoy?" he demanded, turning to face the blonde. Crabb and Goyle were at their customary positions behind Draco, arms folded like good little bodyguards.

"No one as sickening as you," the Slytherin shot back.

"Should I take that as a compliment?"

"Take it however you want. But what are you Gryffindors blabbing about Snape? It isn't nice to talk behind people's backs."

"I thought that would be a Slytherin specialty," Ron sneered.

"Only if it gets you ahead, Weasel."

"Why you-"

"Ron, stop," Hermione begged, tugging at his robe.

"Still listening to your pet mudblood?" Harry took a threatening step towards Draco, but Crabb and Goyle stepped in between them.

"There a problem?" a sudden voice asked. Everyone turned to see Lotus and Amber leaning lightly on the opposite bookcases, arms crossed and looking bored.

"This doesn't concern you, Yank," Draco told his Housemate. "Besides, they're only Gryffindors."

"Then more's the pity when they show you up," Amber shot back.

"You'll pay for that insult." Draco made to pull his wand, but only got halfway before Lotus was beside him with a hand locked on his wand arm.

"Don't," he warned, glaring at the other boy. Amber uncrossed her arms and placed one on her friend's shoulder. Crabb and Goyle didn't seem to know who to go after, and everyone was silent for a moment.

"What's going on here?" a deep voice interrupted. All eyes turned to see Snape staring at them, his usual scowl on his lips.

"Nothing Professor," Hermione assured him. "Just a minor disagreement."

"Mr. Tremore, release Mr. Malfoy. And would one of you inform me what you think you're doing?" Lotus let go of Draco and stepped back.

"Just a little misunderstanding," the blonde answered, glaring at the American and straightening out his robes. Snape didn't seem convinced, but nodded, then turned to Amber and Lotus.

"If it was not made clear before, I will tell you now: There is to be no fighting at Hogwarts, or your stay here is over."

"Yes sir," they said as Snape gave them all a glance and then walked away.

"I don't know how your American Houses work, but over here we don't associate with other Houses, especially Gryffindor. Some nasty rumors could be started," Draco said once the Professor was out of earshot. Lotus didn't even blink as he nodded at Amber and began walking away.

"Rumors are only a concern to muggle women and desperate Slytherins. Neither of which I am or care about." Then he looked back at Hermione. "And my family is none of your concern. Good day." After he was gone, Draco's hand curled into a fist.

"Damn that American. He's a Slytherin just like-" He never got to finish his sentence, because Amber was suddenly in his face.

"Lotus is not some two-faced snake-in-the-grass. He is from Air House of Salem, and easily worth ten of you."

"That is very dangerous talk, Gryffindor. My father has cursed people for less." A moment later he doubled over in pain as her knee connected with his groin.

"My name is Amber Johnson of Fire House. And I don't take threats very well." Crabb and Goyle quickly picked Draco up and carried him out of the library.

"So, does this mean you're on our side?" Hermione wondered.

"Against my better judgment, Jason said I should trust you three. So if you're willing, I suppose I'm on your side. But I'll warn you now, I'm not just going to tell you everything right off the bat. It'll take time for me to fully trust you." She extended a hand, which Harry shook in agreement.

"And your little secrets?"

"You'll know all of mine when I know all of yours, Harry Potter." With that, Amber nodded and left the library.

"Now what?" Ron asked.

"Now we wait," Harry told him.