Year 3: Chapter 30

Albus looked up in time to see his door open; a very angry woman stepped in, looking as if she was ready to snap. In her wake came a young boy with very scruffy hair. Albus could tell the boy was as mad as the woman. His shoulders were hunched and the scowl on his face could have scared the bravest of people.

The boy didn't look up and just took a seat, Albus smiled as he chose his usual one. In the three and a half years he had been in Hogwarts, he had been in this office at least once a month… if not more.

The woman huffed and Albus knew he must make eye contact. He looked up and smiled slightly. On a closer look she looked flustered. He knew she had had it hard the last few years since the thirds years had arrived and decided she was the best prank material in the school.

"Albus, I'm sick of this. I just had to drag him off Rabastan Lestrange. You must do something about it."

He nodded and the woman stormed off, he guessed she was going to check on Lestrange. She may be stuck up and arrogant at times, but she took her responsibility for the Slytherins seriously.

"Mr. Potter so what was the matter tonight, didn't like the way Mr. Lestrange was walking?"

The boy looked up and Albus was shocked that the usual twinkle from his eye when they shared this joke had gone. He looked sorrowful and filled with emotion and worry.

"Sir, it was Amanda."

The old man raised his eyebrow, here was the problem. Miss Dixon had been fighting and Mr. Potter had taken the blame; this wasn't the first time this had happened this year. It seemed that Mr. Black was here more often than he was himself due to something that Miss Dixon had done.

"So not only has she got Mr. Black taking the blame for her arguments she now has you. Clever young lady she is, able to wrap anybody around her little finger."

"No Professor, Lestrange was spreading some horrible rumours about Amanda so I had to do something to stop him."

"What was he saying that was so bad she couldn't handle him herself?"

"He's been telling people that, you know, that they… um, well you know… you do know, right?"

As Albus surveyed the boy, he remembered walking down a corridor and finding Miss Dixon looking petrified, running faster than he had ever seen her when she was running to a class late. He remembered the fear on her face and the tears in her eyes as she ran right into him as she stared over her shoulder. Remembered the way she screamed and looked at him hurt written all over her face. Before he was able to say anything she had run off and Mr. Lestrange had emerged from around a corner looking very smug.

"Professor, you do know don't you?"

"What? Oh, of course James. If you just sit there a moment, I'll be back."

He left the office in search of the person that he needed. Why hadn't he seen it before all the evidence had been there? He had seen the change in her behaviour, seen the way that Sirius was more protective around her. They had been hiding it from everyone but had forgotten to silence one person.

He looked at the portrait in front of him, for the first time in years he felt his stomach flutter, as if hippogriffs flew around it. How was he going to do this, convince her that she was safe. Well, he had to do it… and soon.

Okay so I'm thinking people might complain about this storyline because it's so similar to the way the year begun and it's the same person but there is another reason behind this one just like the one at the beginning of the year.

The one at the beginning of the year was to show how when you lose control of a situation you take action in anyway possible and it's actually important for the end of this year and for year five and six.

This storyline though is more about later on like think year 7. In fact it becomes very important in year 7 so that's why it's done here. I promise you that this is only a small part of the story and the view point is turning to somebody else very soon.

Okay so now to my lovely reviewers and their lovely long reviews.

Taylin thanks, I know it took a while to post and this one took just as long I can only blame Easter for both the delays because I've been really busy with extra hours in work, and catching up with my friends who are back from University for Easter (I hadn't seen one since September and another since Christmas)

Firewalker32 lovely long review I love the fact that you've now come out of the whole one line review I love the rambling walker even more!

Now I know Lily isn't that big in this year at all she's kinda fallen behind but that's because all the characters are so big and since her mothers death she really hasn't had too big a role. I can assure you that I have taken your review to heart and I've rewritten some chapters to come and there's a lovely valentines one for her, then there's one where she's a bit bitchy but then you see her and Alice make up. And I've started year 4 and its surrounding the characters who's home lives you have yet to see and Lily is important in that one (as well as Petunia) I can assure you from year 4 on Lily will get bigger because I think its time she steps up to the main light.

Jessie yep motorway driving is great, mind I've only driven to Swansea really which is twenty minutes away but my friend has invited me up to Liverpool so that should be fun especially if I decide to drive there, I'm just hoping I don't get lost!

Annie go on lecture me about cannon. You know what when I started this story I had it worked out it was going to be Lily/James and Alice/Frank with a bit of Ginny/Remus thrown in and that would be it no more couples and now its kinda gone out the window and I've got a girl for each of the Marauders and that was so unintended and I'm rather aware that I'm turning Amanda into a Mary-Sue and I've had to go to fourth year and almost completely delete her from the story to make it work.

Anyway that's all I've got to say except that I feel I should tell you all that I have exams starting on May 14th so if there is a period without much post that is the only reason. I have this written as far as year 4, chapter 9 with five other out of place chapters so there is enough and I hope to post at least twice more before exams

Well I want you all to read this chapter and tell me what you think. I'm guessing you will have guessed what has happened and I've got some fun emotional chapters coming up with Sirius, Amanda, James and Dumbledore before we get back to the fun times

Kris