Exams came and went and the final Quidditch match was played (Gryffindor stuffing Slytherin) leaving the castle with a happy feeling. The students could be found at the lake, swinging in trees or just chasing one another through the grounds.
Although to all it seemed a great time the tide was turning they were quickly loosing these times although to the students this was well hidden.
It was a warm June day with only a week left of term the sun was hot and the group of third years could be found together. Lily and Branwen were safely tucked in a tree, laughing lightly at those below. Remus and James had hold of one of the Quaffles and were enjoying a game of piggy in the middle with Peter jumping to touch the ball.
Frank, Sirius and Ginny were found splashing around in the shallow area of the lake happily throwing water up at Alice who was cooling her feet. However under the large oak tree that Lily and Branwen were sharing sat Joseph. He had his hand in the large basket Branwen had supplied them with chomping on something.
He heard a loud yell and leaned out from behind the tree to see Amanda running towards him. Behind her was a young boy, his hair dark but eyes light; there was something familiar about him.
Amanda reached him and held his shoulder as she swung around next to him; she was panting slowly regaining her breath. Before they could talk the boy was there.
"Deje el Regulus solo" (A/N: Leave Regulus alone)
"Era el hablar justo con él" (A/N: I was just talking to him)
"Él no tiene nada decir a usted" (A/N: He has nothing to say to you)
"Ningún usted no tiene nada decir a mí" (A/N: No you have nothing to say to me)
"Usted es una deshonra" (A/N: You're a disgrace)
"Ése es sí yo. El Oh y no me espera la semana próxima, yo no está viniendo a casa" (A/N: Yes that's me. Oh and don't wait for me next week, I'm not coming home)
Joseph heard the sound they made; he guessed it was a language but if it wasn't English he had no chance. The boy said something and Amanda sat up straight.
"Qué usted significó?" (A/N: What did you mean?)
"Usted verá" (A/N: You'll see)
He walked away and Joseph noticed that the colour had drained from Amanda's face. She was shaking slightly but it was more out of anger than anything else; he had learnt her moods well enough to know that now.
"Mand you okay?"
"Brothers."
It came out in a snarl that surprised him more than anything else, her eyes glazed over and he heard her small comment that slipped from her lips.
"He should be locked up."
She didn't blink, nor move as water droplets landed on the pair. Joseph looked up as Ginny moved to lean against him; Frank and Sirius were opposite hands in the basket grabbing food. Alice though sat next to Amanda and waved her hand in front of her face, there was no movement.
"Was that Adrian?"
Joseph saw Sirius' head snap up to look where the boy was walking away his eyes narrowed and he looked in the other direction towards James, Remus and Peter who had a better view.
"PETE IS THAT ADRAIN OVER THERE?"
The boy looked around before running over to them with James and Remus following close behind. He stopped as he reached them and sat between Joseph and Amanda, Remus and James dropped to the ground next to Sirius as Peter spoke up.
"Yeah it was, what he want?"
Everyone looked at Amanda who was still staring into space and Branwen yelled down from the tree.
"He spoke in Spanish, so it was private whatever it was."
Alice shook Amanda's shoulders and she snapped out of her trance.
"What did Adrian want?"
She smiled slightly looking at Sirius
"I'm banned from speaking to Regulus, and the little guy was just telling me what was going on."
Sirius' eyes narrowed at his brother's name. He and his brother had always gotten on but he knew that things were changing for the worse and that his brother was very much aware of what was happening.
"What he say?"
She shook her head not wanting to say anything. Peter moved closer towards her and she felt his arm slip around her shoulder and felt his mouth go to her ear.
"They're starting the war aren't they?"
Everyone watched as her eyes widened, from above they heard Lily yell down asking what was happening, when there was no reply she jumped from the tree followed by Branwen and they both moved next to Alice.
Amanda just continued to stare before turning to look closely at Peter.
"Regulus said that our dad's have been in secret meetings for the last two months."
Peter looked at Sirius both of them were quickly figuring out what was happening, Peter was the one to speak up.
"One guess what they're talking about."
Amanda grinned at them before speaking
"Reg didn't know but Ad may have just given it away."
"What did he say?"
The three looked at Frank but his question was never answered. An owl swooped down on them landing gracefully on the grass in front of Ginny. Leaning over she tried to take the letter it held but the beak came very close to her finger as it tried to bite her.
"I don't think its for you honey."
Ginny turned her head towards Joseph giving him a killer look, the owl however moved closer towards them. Gently he managed to remove the letter from the owl and it hooted at them all before taking off.
Gently he broke the seal on the envelope and pulled the parchment out of it, lifting it up so that it was above Ginny's head he quickly scanned the letter. His hands began to shake and he pulled himself up leaving Ginny sitting there.
"Joe what's wrong?"
His eyes spun to land on Frank before he turned looking around the grounds as if searching for an answer.
"I have to go, umm… see Dumbledore."
He legged it and was at the door before anybody could say anything to him. Ginny picked up the letter that he had dropped and gasped handing it over to Frank. His eyes scanned it and he looked up at everyone.
"His father's dead."
Branwen was quick to answer
"What happened?"
"It says he was found in his office last night, they're looking into it."
Sirius took the letter from Frank and read through it and looked back at him.
"What did his father do?"
"He was head of the Unspeakables why?"
Peter gasped loudly and they looked at him, he was rubbing his arm where Amanda was gripping it hard, her eyes wide as if something had just occurred to her.
"They did it."
Ginny spun around
"Who?"
"Them! Ad said that it was coming, that the war was about to start and I'd better pick my side. They did it, that's what the meetings have all been about, they're killing the heads of the departments."
Lily gasped and looked straight at Peter
"That means your dad is a target."
The youngsters were all ashen faced as they looked around at each other, but to their surprise Peter just laughed at Lily's comment quickly followed by Sirius and Amanda. Alice didn't look happy and neither did the others but she spoke up.
"What's so funny?"
"My dad's one of them, its all because of Tom they've been whispering about it for years planning things, I just never thought it would happen this quick."
"Your dad is one!"
Alice sounded completely stunned but he just nodded.
"Yeah, but he's not in charge is he Mand!"
"Well can I help it if Dixon's are authoritative and capable of leading others."
"Wait so you know who's involved."
The three nodded at Remus' question and Sirius answered.
"It's our families, we're the most powerful ones, so its Peter's father, my father and uncle and of course Amanda's father and uncles."
"We have to tell someone."
"We can't. Look Dumbledore already knows Jamie so can we just drop it and be there for Joe."
With that the group all stood up and made their way to their common room to find their friend.
Okay so another two –oh post- now where was I oh yes another two chapters for you now, and I think I'm going to post another two on Wednesday (there's only 61 chapters to year 3, so if I post two at a time, that means only two more posts until we finish the year)
So like I said two new posts and okay there was the death that I said was coming and it isn't that big a deal, Joe's dad is dead, but it's what it stands for and the next chapter so help you understand that this is one of the most important deaths in the story, like I said next chapter will explain.
Karen look it isn't the 15th yet and I've posted and I had the date wrong it would have been the 14th that I was going to post, but since I'm, not in work until 2 I thought I'd give you something to read, although since you're going away for the weekend I don't think it would have mattered to you!
Taylin A lot is happening at the moment there's a lot of hints that are being put forward at the moment, like I've said Amanda and Sirius not happening, but just because they're not happening right now doesn't mean it won't happen, I'm a strong believer in dating around so I don't think any of the couples that are dating at the moment are going to be the final couples (with one exception)
Britt you're right Amanda wouldn't mind marrying Sirius and more on that in the fourth year, but she doesn't like doing what her family want her to do, so there will be a lot of will they, won't they. They're like the Ross and Rachel of the story.
Jessie I know you're busy no worries hun, that's what happens when you get a full time job, is it hairdressing your doing now or something else? Oh I wanted to ask did you see the Wales England footie game? I was there it was really good and you know even though we lost it was good because we were expected to let in about five goals.
Firewalker don't worry about being busy I'm going to be very soon what with going back to Uni. Yes Sirius and Amanda are cute together, they're a lot alike and I think that they've got strength together and they both know it, but that doesn't mean they have to be together.
Yes the girls are really friendly at the moment but friendships change when they get older and there's a lot of twists to come so maybe you'll be surprised by what's to come. As for Branwen and Peter well you'll have to see, breaking up is never easy but its something that happens.
Okay so more post on Wednesday
Kris