Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Carmen, Kat, or Nina. I couldn't decide which name to use…

Flower Tears and Marauder Fears

Chapter 10:Dog Hunting and Falling Stones

"Amber" Remus said quietly, slowly letting go of her wrists but lightly tapping her for her attention. Slightly frightened by the blind fury he saw in her eyes said again, "Amber, I think you should let James explain before jumping to any conclusions"

James still silently stood in the middle of the hallway, but his face remained filled with emotion it had filled with during his fight with Lily. Remus and Amber were bickering softly and it brought a small grin to his face.

"Finally. Moony's learning to make new friends, or even more than friends" With that thought James was brought forcefully back to the situation with Lily "Sirius…"

Straightening suddenly James caught Amber and Remus' attention.

"James Potter –"Amber started furiously

"Amber" James said forcefully "I did NOT do this to Lily" He looked at her his eyes pleading. Amber searched his face her eyes seeing only sincerity.

"If you didn't turn Lily pick who did?" Amber asked still refusing to totally believe him.

"If I could tell you…" James trailed off "Let's say I keep promises between friends" he finished grimly.

"But-" Amber started

"Amber I'd really like to stay and chat but I have to go Dog hunting" James proclaimed and walked down the hall walked determinedly towards a door to the school grounds.

Amber stood staring after James for awhile her mouth ajar before she turned swiftly towards Remus.

"You know who did this don't you?" She asked suspiciously, anger making her eyes sparkle. Remus quirked his eyebrow slightly although he had never thought of her as a violent person, after her encounter with James Remus decided it may be wise to tread lightly.

"Amber, James was right when he said he keeps his promises" Remus said finally, choosing his words carefully "If you or Lily had a secret that one of you guarded carefully the other wouldn't blatantly tell someone else would they?"

Amber backed slowly away from Remus her face clouded with confusion, surprise, and the emotion that startled him the most: fear. Remus was accustomed to seeing that fear in someone's eyes when they found him as a werewolf. Or the fearful looks of people he had thought were friends. Amber's pure fear stung him deeper than anyone else's ever had.

"Amber?" Remus asked to disguise the hurt in his voice. "What's wrong?" He asked holding on to the hope that she didn't know what he thought she did. He watched as she dropped her head and avoided his gaze.

"I – I – I…." Amber shook her head furiously her body shaking. "I..I … can't t…" She said finally and looked up into Remus' eyes. Hers distorted by pain.

"Amb-" Remus started his voice showing his concern but before he could finish Amber disappeared in a brightly colored cloud and a girl with bright orange hair and dark skin appeared where she had been standing a second ago. The girl stood staring at Remus with dull eyes before she grasped Remus' cloak in her hands.

"He's after me" She whispered hoarsely , her eyes rolled into the back of her head, Remus caught her just before she hit the floor. Looking down at the girl Remus almost dropped her when he noticed something familiar about her face.

"Her eyes are amber" Remus thought.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

James felt the cool September wind whip his face as he ran across Hogwarts grounds and headed towards the lake. He knew Sirius would be hiding somewhere in the forest and he had an idea where that was. James faced openly displayed his fury, and as he passed a group of girls sitting by the lake. Each stopped talking, although this was not unusual, each wore the expression of being stunned into silence. They had never seen James Potter wearing an expression other than an arrogant smirk.

James took no notice of the lack of giggling but strode swiftly past the lake and headed deep into the forbidden forest. Stepping over broken branches and burnt sticks he walked a bit before stepping into an area where the trees had been cleared and a wooden fence had been put up. Going over to the fence he stepped through the opening, and into an opening much like a paddock that the professors used when bringing in new … animals for Care of Magical Creatures.

In the middle of the cleared space a black Labrador lay sleeping soundly. James walked over and knelt by the dog's ear.

"SIRIUS BLACK!" James yelled loudly .

Sirius' dog form jumped about a mile in the air and landed on all fours in front of James before it transformed into a hesitant human Sirius Black.

"You called?" he asked feebly standing slowly in front of James.

"What did you do to Lily?" James asked his voice dangerously quiet.

"I went through with our plan to prank her" Sirius said slowly as if speaking to a small child instead of a raging best friend. His eyes wary but defiant.

"You pranked her" James said furiously his voice growing in both anger and volume "After I asked you not to. You said you understood, ITRUSTED YOU!" James was now boiling mad and he was beginning to yell, something he only did when he was very angry or upset. At the moment he was both.

"YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT LILY. WHY WOULD YOU…" James took to deep breaths to attempt calm and looked at Sirius standing in front of him. "Sirius if there's one thing I thought you would never be childish about it was making a promise. You broke a promise that meant a lot to me." Giving Sirius a last angry glare James turned away in disgust.

"I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO BROKE A PROMISE JAMES!" Sirius retorted angrily "WHEN A MARAUDER PLANS A PRANK THEY GO THROUGH WITH IT. You backed out" Sirius was glaring just as easily back at James now.

"Sirius, when you decide to act your age I'll apologize for breaking that promise. But until then …" James trailed off and gestured towards where the black dog had been lying.

"Enjoy being immature" James stopped one last time before finishing the first real fight they had ever had.

Sirius stood staring at the spot where James had just been. "If he thinks I'm even going to consider apologizing…I'll spend time with Remus… The Flower deserved it anyway…" Sirius thought furiously, then sitting down with a plop! Rested his head in his hands.

"Wonderful idea Padfoot, turn Lily into ice and release an emotional James"

"Just Perfect" Shaking his head sadly Sirius watched the sum set around Hogwarts castle.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

(The only thing I have to say is: I hope you liked it!)

Madusa's Daughter