They'd lost Moony.
The three marauders had been looking for their friend the entire night. The sun is beginning to rise and with their resident werewolf still roaming in the forbidden forest without his wand for protection, Sirius is beginning to worry.
He runs swiftly through the forest, his tongue lolling as he pants and races in the direction of Hogwarts, the arranged meeting place for when the sun rose.
He almost runs into the stag.
Prongs is stand in one of the clearings next to the entrance of the Hogwarts Grounds. Sirius follows his best friend's gaze and his eyes widen, someone had found Moony, someone who isn't Wormtail.
Shit.
He begins to growl and bark, hoping that a ferocious dog was enough to scare away his classmate. He will scare them away, figure out who his classmate is, and then use a memory charm to make them forget the entire morning. The figure jumps to their feet, with their wand drawn. Sirius stops barking. Amelia Malfoy is standing defensively in front of his unconscious friend, Wormtail is tangled in the girl's curls.
He notices that Amelia's fingers are bleeding with blood staining her long sleeved sweatshirt. He can only assume that it was a last ditch effort by the other marauder to protect his friend.
What the hell is she doing out so early? He notices the running shoes on her feet, and his best not to stare at her long legs in a pair of shorts despite the cool October morning.
Beside him, Prongs snorts having noticed his best friend's gaze drifting up the girl's body.
Amelia slowly lowers her wand. "Okay." she says just as slowly as she kneels down next to Remus. Wormtail shimmies down Amelia's arm and skitters up Prongs's shoulder.
Amelia kneels down next to Moony "Can you walk?" she asks softly, brushing Remus's sweaty hair from his brow. Sirius inwardly groans, why couldn't Amelia touch him like that? Since the two had met, it seems like Remus has recieved all of this girl's attention.
His friend releases a moan as Amelia helps him into a sitting position-his friend leaning against her body as she removes her zip up sweatshirt and wraps it around his friend.
Sirius snorts and trots forward, bumping his nose against her arm.
"Hello handsome." she greets as she scratches his head.
Sirius leans against her unashamedly.
She smiles at him before her eyebrows knit together and she looks down at Remus.
She then looks over at Prongs who has moved closer, Sirius swears that he can see the gears turning in the girl's head. Pink eyes flit from each marauder to the other. "Can you help?" she directs her attention to Prongs.
Progs tilts his head to the side for just a second before understanding what Amelia is asking.
Prongs bows his head and steps forward, together they manage to slide Remus across Prong's back. Amelia's jacket falls from his best friend's shoulders and Amelia immediately blushes, quickly grabbing the jacket and draping it over Remus's middle once again.
All three maruaders laugh in their animal forms
"Oh stop it." she says lightly as she rubs the unconscious marauder's back.
Sirius leads the caravan to the doors of Hogwarts, they are met at the gates by Dumbledore. "Professor?" Amelia asks.
"Miss Malfoy, I see that you have had the unfortunate pleasure of discovering four of your classmates deepest secrets."
Amelia looks not only at Remus but her eyes land on each of the other marauders one at a time.
"I will take Mr. Lupin from here," Dumbledore says as he levitates Moony from Prongs's back "Have a good morning" before he disappears through the entrance of the castle.
A slow smile breaks across Amelia's face as she turns to the remaining marauders standing in a gang behind her.
"I think that I am beginning to understand the endearing nicknames that you have for one another."
Sirius can't help but wince-knowing full and well that Amelia is able to see it.
"Well marauders, I'll see the three of you later." she gives both Sirius and Prongs an affectionate scratch behind the ear and Wormtail a wink before disappearing into the castle. She pauses and turns, pink eyes mischievously looking at Wormtail. "No hard feelings on the bite, Pettigrew."
Amelia finds Remus in the hospital wing immediately after classes. The boy is sitting up in bed reading The Tales of Beadle the Bard. As she approaches she sees that the color has returned to his skin, but the dark circles under his eyes scream exhaustion.
"How are you feeling?" she asks as she approaches the bed.
Remus jumps and closes his book, a look of surprise on his face when he realizes that it is Amelia Malfoy standing next to his bed.
"I'm feeling better, thanks." he answers slowly.
She smiles sadly at his response; she can only imagine how lonely and hard his life must have been since he was bitten. She pulls a large bar of chocolate out of her bag and holds it out to him. "Chocolate always makes me feel better. It helps."
Remus looks at her, then at the chocolate held in her pale hand, then back up at the gentle rosé colored eyes. He takes the bar of chocolate from her hesitantly.
"I didn't poison it, I promise." she teases.
Remus chuckles softly before opening the bar. He politely offers a piece to Amelia, which is accepts, then take a generous bite out of the bar. After savoring the bite for a moment he looks at her gratefully. "You're right, it does help."
She sits with him quietly as their nibble their chocolate.
"How long have you been a werewolf?" she asks breaking the silence
"I was transformed when I was 5- a werewolf called Fenrir Greyback bit me. My father made a derogatory comment about werewolves and Greyback bit me in response."
"That's terrible."
To her surprise, Remus smiles weakly. "It was hard for a long time, then I met Prongs-James, Sirius, and Peter."
"A band of brothers the four of you."
"The best friends a man could ask for. They became animagus for me."
"Unregistered I am sure." the blonde haired girl teases.
Remus chokes on his chocolate bar, and Amelia quickly pours him a glass of water.
"There are only four registered animagi." she answers.
Remus nods slowly after sipping the water. "They are taking a huge risk for me."
"Your secret, and theirs are safe with me." Amelia says as she places a hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Amelia."
For the next hour, Amelia asks Remus every question that she can think of about werewolves and animagus.
All of which Remus was happy to answer.
Meanwhile, back at the Gryffindor tower, James Potter is pacing up and down the Common Room "You don't think she will tell anyone, do you?"
"I doubt it. She will probably pester him with every werewolf question she can think of." Sirius replies as he lounges across one of the plump couches throwing a quaffle up in the air and then catching it again.
"I'm more impressed that she figured out that we are…well…what we are." Peter says, reaching into his bag and removing a sugar quill.
"How did she do that?" James demands.
Sirius stops throwing the ball and sits up. "Malfoy is a smart girl, I'm honestly not very surprised."
"You're just saying that because you are in love." James answers flippantly.
Sirius throws a cushion at his best friend.
"Speaking of, whatever has happened since that moment in the broom closet?" Peter asks.
Sirius runs a hand through his shaggy hair, "Well she avoided me for a bit. Now she is acting as if nothing has ever happened."
"Well at least she isn't avoiding you anymore." James answers.
"Who isn't avoiding you?" Lily asks as she enters the common room from the girl's dorm, obviously headed to the Great Hall for dinner.
"Malfoy." Sirius answers before realizing it's Lily Evans.
"She's smart to. You four are trouble."
"My dearest Lily, you know that we are only trouble when we get caught." James answers.
"Which unfortunately isn't enough." Lily answers as she flips her hair and vanishes out the door.
"She wants me." James says dreamily.
"She wants you like she wants dragon pox." Peter points out.
James throws a glare at the watery eyed boy before turning his attention to Sirius. "Just ask the bird out, the worse she can say is no."
"That's the problem, I don't want her to."
It is an hour past curfew when Amelia Malfoy is gently shaken awake by James Potter.
"Potter?" she asks groggily.
"How's it, Malfoy? Looks like you had a rough day seeing as you fell asleep in the corridors. Then again, if I'd had the shock of seeing Remus's furry little problem and discovering the secret of the marauders, I'd be exhausted too."
Amelia rubs her eyes. They widen slightly and she rubs them again, making sure that she isn't just seeing James Potter's head floating before her. The dark haired boy looks down at himself then back at her and chuckles.
"Looks like you've caught us with another secret. The rate things are going, I'm going to need one of yours to even the playing field."
That's the last secret you want to know. Amelia thinks as she does her best to ignore the tingle in her arm and remember what had happened that caused her to pass out in the corridor.
"I am claustrophobic?" she asks.
"You look like you could use a drink."
Amelia laughs bitterly. "A bottle of wine and a straw."
"Well I don't have wine. I do have a bit of firewhiskey and I am sure that Sirius would love your company.
Amelia can't hide her blush.
James's mischevious smile widens.
"Well come on, I won't take no for an answer." James says as he drags the reluctant girl to her feet.
"Stay close" James says as he leads Amelia in what could only be the direction of the Gryffindor Common Room.
"I don't think-" she begins but as soon as the stair case begins to sway, picks up her pace to keep up with James.
"Well come on." James answers nonchalantly as he weaves his way expertly through the moving staircases, stopping only briefly to change directions. Amelia immediately figures out that the castle is doing its best to keep her away from the Gryffindor Tower.
"Here we are." James says as they finally stop around the corner of a painting of a Fat Lady dressed in a Greek style dress.
The marauder removes the invisibility cloak and drapes it over Amelia. "Now stay quiet and as soon as the door opens run in after me."
Amelia does as she is told and remains hidden around the corner while James says what she can only assume is the password, as soon as the door swings open she races around the corner and narrowly slips through the gap before the door slams shut.
James gives her a triumphant smile in her general direction. "Wasn't sure if that was going to work."
"What worked?" a familiar voice asks.
Amelia lowers the hood and looks at James.
"I can't believe it worked." Peter echos standing up watery eyes meeting Amelia's.
"What worked?" Amelia demands
"Malfoy is in dire need of a drink." James immediately changes the topic and pulls a bottle of firewhiskey from his backpack.
"Where is Lily?" Amelia asks.
"Probably asleep, she's an early bird. She just finished working night rounds" Remus answers.
"Besides, Evans is a bit of a party pooper." Peter replies.
"Well it is a Wednesday." Amelia points out.
"Lily will partake one day." James answers opening the bottle.
"I do admire your confidence, James."
"Here. Here." Sirius replies raising a glass of firewhiskey.
A glass is immediately shoved into her hands and Amelia gives James a smile. "Where's Remus?"
"He usually spends the night in the hospital wing after his monthly romp." Peter replies as he pours himself a glass of firewhiskey.
"Come sit with me, love." Sirius says with a charming smile.
Amelia gives him a smile and agrees to the boy's request. She walks across the room to the couch that is closest to the fire and basks in the warmth of the immense fireplace. Luckily, the sofa is big enough for three and she is able to sit on the farthest side away from Sirius.
Sirius is not to be deterred and slides down to the middle cushion, almost touching her but not quite. She risks a look at him and is once again taken aback by how attractive the Black boy is. His has fine chiseled cheek bones and an aristocratic nose. His hair is a bit on the shaggy side, reaching almost to his shoulders. She knows from his kiss and the feel of his body against hers that his body is chiseled like a statue of Adonis.
"Like what you see, love?" he flirts moving a bit closer, his weight causing her to shift and slide into him.
Amelia doesn't answer, instead takes a drink of her firewhiskey.
Sirius barks out a laugh.
It's Peter who realizes the time and Amelia jumps to her feet, albeit a bit wobbily. "I'll walk you back to the kitchens." Sirius says climbing to his feet.
"That's not necessary." Amelia replies quickly.
"Of course it is, afterall how are you going to sneak out of the Common Room without the help of our trusty invisibility cloak?" Sirius teases.
Amelia sighs in defeat. "Wouldn't she just let me out?"
"The Fat Lady is a huge gossip. It would only be a matter of time before one of the professors finds out." says Peter as he also climbs to his feet.
"I'm starting to think that you do not like me, Amelia." Sirius teases grabbing his heart in mock hurt.
She looks around to see James looking at a piece of parchment on the coffee table next to her.
"Good to go." James says tapping the piece of parchment with his wand.
Sirius beams at Amelia and drapes the cloak over the two of them.
James and Peter wave in their general direction before they venture upstairs in what Amelia assumes to be the boy's dorm.
When they reach the entrance to the kitchens, Sirius pulls the invisibility cloak from over their heads and shoves her against the door to the kitchens. He is resting on his forearms, his face mere inches from her own. "Go on a date with me." his voice is barely above a whisper, his breath tickling her face.
"Sirius-" she begins, but is cut off by his lips against hers. She doesn't push him away this time, instead she kisses him back, realizing how much she wanted to. His tongue enters her mouth, his body sinks against hers and her hands snake their way around his neck.
He pulls away slowly. "Is that a yes?" he is breathless.
She struggles to regain control of her own breathing. "To Hogsmade this weekend?"
"Tomorrow night. And I have something different in mind." Sirius smirks.
Amelia tilts her head to the side, but ends up nodding slowly.
Sirius pulls his body away from her and gives her a triumphant grin. "Tomorrow, meet me at the statue of the one eyed witch with the humpback at seven."
"What?"
"Just trust me."
She hesitates for just a few seconds. "Okay. Tomorrow at seven."
Sirius smiles and lightly kisses her on the cheek. "Have a good night."
"Where have you been?" Rholanda asks she is still sitting up in bed reading a book.
Amelia can't help the smile that breaks out across her face.
"So you and Black?" Helena asks with a smile, she is flipping through a magazine.
Amelia's smile grows even bigger. "Tomorrow."
"A Thurday?" Helena asks.
"Sounds sexy. I'll bet he is taking you somewhere outside of the castle." Rholanda smirks.
Amelia blinks to process what the other girl says. "So…what do I wear?"