I stared at him, my feet frozen to the dusty wooden floor. He looked just as thunderstruck to see me. His green eyes were so huge I could see the whites, leaving perfect circles of emerald.

No, not emerald… his eyes weren't that cold and dark. Not tonight. In the moonlight, they were iridescent and bright. Electric. Animal.

Remus looked terrible. His face was pale and drawn. His eyes had deep shadows under them, and his scars were more pronounced than ever. He was trembling. He looked like he was about to be sick.

"You shouldn't be here." He rasped, and I let out a gusty breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

"Me?" I said incredulously. "What about you? You're not supposed to be here either!"

"I think we've already had this conversation." Remus snapped, his eyes flashing. There was a hint of a snarl in his voice that brought me up short. Something told me to keep quiet, to stay passive. To keep him calm.

Remus dragged a hand through his hair, which I now noticed was wild and tousled, like he'd had a very intense bedhead. He stared out of the window onto the lawn below, his face haggard and haunted.

"You aren't supposed to be here, Amber." Remus repeated, sounding so weary that I knew something was wrong. "This is off limits for a very, very good reason."

"And what reason might that be?" I said carefully, bending down slowly to pick up my dropped wand.

Remus stared out into the distance, seeing something only he could. "A monster lives here once a month. It will kill humans without question. Without the least hesitation." He was growing paler by the second. "This is where it comes to conceal itself from the rest of the world. To keep people safe."

I watched his face. "So… there is a monster."

He shut his eyes tightly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yes."

My heart pounded again, but this time, I felt safer knowing that I wasn't alone here. Remus was here. Two students were better than one. "I thought you were the Dark Lord… coming up the stairs to kill me."

"I might as well have been." Remus said darkly, startling me. That was the last thing I had expected to come out of his mouth.

"What do you mean?" I said uneasily. "What's wrong with you, Remus? You look terrible."

He laughed coldly, without an ounce of humor. He still wouldn't look at me. "It's a wonder you're the top student in our year, Amber. For a smart witch, you sure are oblivious."

Heat rushed to my face. "What the hell does that mean?" I snapped, insulted.

Remus shook his head. "You never pieced together the puzzle. The clues were all there. Me being sick once a month, missing class. Avoiding you. Avoiding everyone. Knowing Madame Pomfrey better than anyone else in our year. The food I eat."

I had no idea what Remus was saying, or trying to say. But a warning prickle picked at my skin. Something was wrong. Very wrong. But what?

"Are you a Death Eater?" I whispered, the only thing I could think of.

Remus's eyes widened, and he actually snorted in laughter. Now, he met my gaze squarely, green into brown. "You really don't get it. You, of all people, with the sick sister and the books! I thought you loved your Care of Magical Creatures book!"

"How did you know about that?" I said quietly, my face heating up. How much did he know about me? How much did I know about him?

"I wanted to be your friend, Amber." Remus went on miserably. "I want friends more than anything. James and Sirius already know… and they don't care. They're working on a solution. They're smart guys. Brilliant. Maybe as much as you and Lily."

Fury melted away my leash on control. "Those arses aren't worth two flobberworms!" I shouted. "I know they told Peter Pettigrew to sneak into Ravenclaw Tower! They pick on Severus and me! They're arrogant and awful!"

"They might be a little much," Remus amended, but added quickly when he saw my outraged expression, "They are a lot, and I've asked them to tone it down, believe me. I don't like their idea of fun anymore than you do."

"Then why are you friends with them?" I demanded, small red sparks erupting from the tip of my phoenix feather wand. "I'm your friend, Remus! Or I'm trying to be! But you'd rather be in their company than mine!"

"It's not like that!" Remus shouted, and I took a step back in alarm. His canines, which always had been unusually pronounced, were now clearly exposed and fang-like. Remus stared at me furiously, an ugly vein pounding in his temple. I stared at him, wide-eyed.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked finally, once several beats of silence had passed and his face wasn't as red. "What do you have?"

Remus sagged into a dusty stool, burying his face into his hands. "James and Sirius understand. They don't care that I have what I have. But you will."

"What?" I pressed. "What is it?"

Remus remained silent.

"I won't tell, Remus. I give you my word." I wasn't sure if I wanted to know. Whatever his secret was, it was torturing him. It was eating him alive. Did I want that kind of burden? Did I want to?

I thought of my sister and how lonely she felt with her mysterious illness. How no one treated her fairly and like she was a person. They only saw her disease and treated her like she was a fragile doll, to be left alone and touched with the utmost care. People treated her differently. People alienated her. They didn't see her as Virginia Harkstone. They saw her illness.

Maybe that was exactly what Remus was afraid of.

"I won't judge you like they do." I promised, easing onto the floor next to him, crossing my legs. Remus blinked, watching me as I settled against the dusty railing and gazed up at him. "I'm your friend, Remus. That won't change. Not for anything."

He was quiet for a long time. I could hear a cricket chirping from somewhere in the house. An owl hooted from one of the giant magnolia trees outside. The wind rustled the leaves. Remus chewed his lower lip, shutting his eyes as if trying to block out something he didn't want to see.

"Are you gay?" I whispered. For some reason, it brought a pang of dismay in my stomach. I felt the blood drain from my face.

Remus chuckled quietly. "No. I definitely like girls."

"Oh." Strange. Another emotion, completely opposite from dismay, warmed the ice of disappointment away. My skin heated. What was it? Relief?

Remus swallowed hard. He passed a shaking hand over his face. More scars lined his body, gouging into his wrist. I wondered how deep they had went. When they had gotten them. From where.

I gasped softly. "Your scars… that has something to do with it, doesn't it?"

Remus let the silence grow until it rang in my ears, deafening. "Yes."

I studied the silver-pink scars on his face, raked down in one violent slash. "You were attacked."

Remus looked like he was going to be sick. "When I was a child. I was five."

"Five?" I repeated weakly, feeling ill myself.

A muscle jerked in his jaw. "It was an act of revenge against my father. He insulted a very dangerous, very unstable man. Fenrir Greyback." He let out a long sigh. "Greyback is a werewolf."

"Remus." I said softly.

"He attacked me during a full moon." Remus went on bitterly. "I was sleeping in my bed. He forced open my window… and… and he attacked me."

Remus lifted up his shirt partially, exposing his scarred chest. My hand went up to my mouth in horror.

"You were five?" I whispered.

Remus bowed his head. "My father did everything he could. He saved my life. But it was too late. Greyback came to infect me, and he succeeded. My parents searched for a cure, for anything, but there was nothing. There is nothing." His fists were clenched so tightly I could see the white knuckles pressing against his skin. "Every full moon, Madam Pomfrey escorts me here in the afternoon. She tries to help me with medicine, but it doesn't help. Nothing does. I transform here, alone. Werewolves need human prey… and I'm locked in from the outside. I bite and scratch myself out of frustration. But it's not me. And yet, it is… It's like this horrible beast, this disease inside of me that takes hold of the real me once a month. Once a month. And there's nothing I can do, or that anyone can do, except imprison me here." His eyes were filling with tears. "I wake up covered in my own wounds and blood. The villagers… they call this place the Shrieking Shack because they think it's the sound of particularly violent spirits. No one knows it's me. Except for Dumbledore. And Madame Pomfrey. James and Sirius. And now you."

I stared at him, trying to grasp what he had just told me. Everything from this year, from his absences in class to his moodiness, to his scars and his odd fluctuations from wanting to be friends to avoiding me for weeks at a time… his sympathy towards my sister…

"Remus… I'm so sorry."

"You don't need to say anything." Remus said dully. "I'm a monster. I'm surprised I even got into this school. That Dumbledore would let me come here. He knew what I was, what I am. But he still told me to come here to learn."

"You can't punish yourself for what Greyback did." I murmured. "It wasn't your fault."

"No." He said heavily. "But I'm still a threat. A danger. He had that tree planted at the front of the tunnel to keep anyone from coming here when I'm… dangerous."

"The Murder Tree?"

Remus peered at me curiously. "The what?"

"The Murder Tree." I repeated. "That's what Hagrid called it."

He frowned. "It's a Whomping Willow. It could kill you, but it won't actually murder anyone. It's just a special type of tree. A guard dog, if anything."

"That's not what Hagrid said." I thought of his warning, his tale. "He said it lays a curse on anyone who gets past it without permission. He said someone in your family will die."

Remus looked faintly amused. "I know Hagrid. He's a good guy, but he's also very… fantastical. He gets caught up in magical creatures. I wouldn't be surprised if he even made that up himself."

I thought of Hagrid, jolly and a little too trusting. Impossibly tall and wide. Happy. Kind. I didn't take him as the lying kind. The daring and oblivious kind, yes, but not a liar.

"You know him well?" I asked, trying to divert Remus' attention, to take the weight off of his mind.

Remus half-smiled. "Yeah. Sometimes me and the guys go down to his hut to help out with the animals he helps take care of. Professor Kettleburn likes to enlist his help, especially for the bigger and tougher animals. He's a good guy. Terrible cook, though."

"The guys? Meaning… Potter and Black."

"And Pettigrew." Remus added importantly. "I know you don't like them, Amber. But they're different around me. They know my secret, and they don't care." He barked a laugh. "In fact, Sirius thinks it's the coolest thing he's ever heard. He wants to be a wolf too."

Heat rushed to my face. "That's so rude!"

Remus was smiling now though. "I don't think so. It would be nice to not be alone."

"He can't be a wolf." I said indignantly. "Unless he's a werewolf, too."

"He's not." Remus said. "But he's a bit of a mad scientist. So is James. And Peter is smarter than you think. He might come across as shy and bumbling, but he's really quite brilliant. He just needs the right kind of guidance."

I tried to think of the pudgy, scared little boy as anything but, and I couldn't.

"Maybe." I conceded. "But Remus… Why didn't you tell me all of this earlier? I could have been here for you. Talked to you. My sister has a horrible illness. There's nothing we can do about it. I could have listened. I could have helped you."

Remus sighed. "I know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I just thought… it would be better if less people knew. And James and Sirius said you were a bit of a loose cannon."

I let out a huff of air. "What does that mean?"

Remus actually laughed. "What you just did. You just proved their point."

I rolled my eyes, tugging my hair out of its elastic and letting it fall around my shoulders. My ears were getting cold. They warmed against the thick tangle of blonde hair. "Whatever. Those two are insufferable. I'd rather eat a hamburger than suffer their company."

"Spoken like a true Ravenclaw." Remus laughed. "You don't eat meat, do you?"

"I'm a vegetarian." I responded, thinking of all of my animals I'd helped raise on our farm at home. "I can't eat anything with a face."

Remus smiled. "Then I guess I'm safe."

"I guess." I punched him playfully in the knee. "You never stop eating."

"I'm a growing boy." Remus pulled out his wand, matching it up against mine. "Ash, right?"

"Yeah." I studied his. "Willow?"

"Yes." He waved his wand lightly. "Unicorn tail hair."

"Phoenix tail feather." I grinned, watching the surprise in his face.

"That's rare." Remus said. "Very rare. Can I hold it?"

I handed over my wand, taking his in exchange. Remus jerked slightly, his eyebrows lifting. "It shocked me."

I laughed. "Ollivander said these kinds cling extremely tightly to their original owners. It likes me."

"Not me, apparently." He said darkly, waving it once at the box of old books. "Incendio."

There was silence. And then a tiny, but distinct, farting noise. Remus and I stared at each other in shock.

"Did your wand… just blow a raspberry at me?" He exclaimed.

I was laughing too hard to say anything back. I swapped our wands and felt mine own familiar wand warm against my palm. I giggled as I snapped the tip of the wand at a ratty, moth-eaten cloth on the floor. "Wingardium Leviosa."

My wand thrummed with power as the rag lifted itself up from the ground, suspended perfectly in midair. When Remus tried to take it, it moved away.

"I didn't do that." I said quickly, my hand still.

Remus lifted a brow. "Your wand has a mind of its own, Amber."

I felt a shiver of alarm and awe. Did I really want that kind of power? A wand who could think for itself? A wand with an attitude, a personality?

"You're starting to scare me." I muttered, snatching the rag down and wiping a small circle of grime off of the window at the top of the stairs so that I could see clearly outside. "You're starting to sound just like Ollivander."

"He might be a nut," Remus conceded, "But he means well. He's a harmless old man."

I narrowed my eyes. "Hold on a second." I watched the grounds outside of the old house, eyes adjusting to the moonlight grass and trees. Two shapes were moving in the darkness. Moving towards the house.

"Someone's coming." I warned softly. Remus was at my side instantly, peering through the glass. He sniffed the air heavily, nostrils flaring. I turned and gave him a curious look.

"My senses are sharper right before the full moon." Remus explained. "One of the few perks of my condition. Unless someone farts."

I snorted a laugh. Remus's lips twitched.

"It's James and Sirius." Remus said a moment later. "For sure. I can smell them from here."

"What is it with boys and not taking showers or wearing deodorant?" I said in exasperation as Remus chuckled.

"We like our own odor." He explained as he put his willow wand away into his pocket. "It's manly."

I wrinkled my nose. "Trust me. There is nothing manly about body odor. It's disgusting."

His green eyes sparkled in amusement. "I'll take that opinion from a girl. I'll remember that."

I rolled my eyes and headed down the creaky old stairs. This time, I didn't bother trying to be quiet. I made it to the bottom of the stairs just as Potter and Black pushed open the old screen door, the hinges whining and creaking in protest.

"Harkstone!" Black barked. "What the hell are you doing here?" His eyes widened as Remus came down the stairs and stood by my side. "What are you doing here with her?"

"She came here on her own." Remus explained as I opened my mouth to fire off a retort. "I'm actually impressed. She made it past the Willow and all the way in here alone."

Potter narrowed his hazel eyes, balancing his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "Does she know about the knob?"

Remus frowned. "She must have."

I shook my head. "Actually, I used a weightless charm. Leve pondus. I learned it earlier this year, before school. In Diagon Alley." I smiled in surprise. "From Ollivander, actually."

"I don't believe it." Black blurted. "She's lying. That would never work. Plus, charms like that are too advanced for first years."

"She's smart." Potter admitted grudgingly. "She might be able to do it."

I huffed indignantly. "Well, you buffoons, I did. I might be horrible at Divination and Potions, but Charms is my specialty. I could even turn your hair pink."

"She can." Remus said, looking proud and amused. "She's always blurting out answers in our class with Flitwick. Drives everyone mad, even Flitwick. And he's the Head of her House."

Blushing, I lowered my wand. "That's not the point. I'm not stupid, even if you two toerags think I am."

"Why do you keep calling us that?" Potter asked, rolling his eyes. "We aren't that bad."

"Tell that to the crybaby." I spat, remembering their cruelty that first day on the train. "We aren't friends. You two aren't worth two sickles put together. I don't like bullies, and you two are the definition of jerks."

Sirius put a hand to his heart dramatically. "I'm hurt, Harkstone, I really am. It's going to take me all summer to recover from that one."

Potter laughed while Remus cleared his throat. No sparks fizzled from my wand, but it vibrated angrily in my hand. Even my wand knew when I was being insulted.

"Easy, guys." Remus pacified. "Amber is a friend. She knows about me and my condition."

Potter shut up immediately. Sirius's mouth dropped open. "She what?"

"She knows." Remus repeated.

Both boys stared at me, thunderstruck. "You didn't tell her, did you?" Potter stammered.

"I kind of pieced it together." I said, squeezing my wand tightly and relaxing. It was a coping mechanism I used often, especially when I was near the two boys. "And he kind of told me. It was a joint effort."

Sirius gaped at me. "And she's okay with this? She's not going to freak out?"

I shrugged. "I'm quite familiar with illness. It's not right to judge someone by what they have instead of by their actions. It's our choices, not our feelings, that make us who we are."

And you're the kind of girl who promises her younger sister that she'll stay out of trouble… and yet, here you are. Sneaking out of the school again and exploring a forbidden place. With your two sworn rivals and a werewolf, right before the full moon!

Some person I was.

"She's cool." Sirius said, startling us all. He coughed quickly and added, "But we aren't friends."

"Neither are we." Potter agreed. "We're cool with Moony. But not you."

I tossed my hair, rolling my eyes. "Fine with me. I don't associate with people like you anyway."

"Can you three at least agree to a truce?" Remus asked hopefully. "No more fights? You'll have an alliance? But you won't be friends."

"You mean be civil?" Potter asked in dismay.

"That's no fun at all!" Sirius complained.

I let out a long sigh of annoyance. "I wouldn't bother asking them, Remus. They aren't the kinds of guys to keep their word."

"We'll make an Unbreakable Vow." Sirius said suddenly. "Right now." There was no humor in his eyes anymore; his gray eyes were hard as steel. He was dead serious.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You know that kind of magic?"

Sirius barked a doglike laugh. "Let's just say that I'm not as stupid as you think. And my family knows a lot of magic. Dark magic."

I felt a warning tingle in my spine, but I didn't want to lose Remus as a friend. Not after waiting all year for him to finally open up to me. "You know the spell?"

Sirius nodded. "I've seen it done lots of times."

I stared at him, feeling Potter's and Remus's eyes trained on me like sniper guns. Whatever move I made right now would determine how the four of us went on from this moment forward.

I thought of Virginia again, pleading me to be safe and stay out of trouble. I thought of Mum and how much she would disapprove of this. Of Dad, would was so tired from working that he wouldn't even remember this if I told him. He wouldn't notice if I came home covered in tattoos. He was just too tired.

Naomi would probably think I was a genius.

I met Sirius' gaze unflinchingly. What kind of girl was I? What kind of witch? Did I talk the talk? Or did I walk the walk?

"What happens if you break an Unbreakable Vow?" I asked quietly. A cricket chirped again, and then went still. Something crunched quietly.

"You die." Sirius said simply.

The cricket didn't make noise again.

I held out my left hand. Sirius rolled his eyes. "Not your left. Your right. Your wand hand."

Blushing, I lowered my hand and stowed my wand. It vibrated slightly with warmth in my pocket.

"Are you sure?" Remus asked quietly.

I glanced at him. "Why do you ask?"

"The three of us have already done it." Potter said. "Me, Sirius, and Remus."

My stomach writhed like a live animal. Sweat broke out on my palms and I wiped my right hand quickly on my pants leg. My knees were weak, and I wanted to sit down. I wanted more time to think. But there wasn't. Not with these boys all watching me and waiting for me to make this decision.

Sirius stared me down. I couldn't believe that out of the three boys, he wasn't the werewolf. His stare was predatory, analyzing, wild. Wolfish.

What kind of girl was I?

I slowly extended my right hand. Sirius's eyes flicked with surprise, and he clasped his right hand into mine. I had never held hands with a guy, even though this didn't really classify as hand holding, and was surprised at the weight and size difference. His hands were already changing into man's hands, getting wider and longer and rougher. Calluses brushed against my tender palm. His hand slid up my arm and held my wrist. I copied him, my heart pounding crazily in my throat. I wondered if this was how people felt when they got their first tattoos.

"Does it hurt?" I asked nervously as Potter drew out his wand.

"Not even a little." Remus promised as Potter lowered his wand tip onto the middle of our joined hands.

"We kneel." Sirius said quietly as he lowered himself into a half-crouching position. I mirrored his movements. The floor was hard and cold, even through the thick denim of my jeans.

"Will you, Amber Harkstone, ally yourself with myself, Remus, and Sirius?" Potter asked in a low, serious tone. I gasped slightly as a thin stream of painless fire slithered from the tip of his wand and wrapped around our linked hands. It glowed white and red.

"I will." I promised softly. Sirius's gaze bored directly into mine. I glanced at Remus. He looked grim.

I felt a strong pulse of wild panic. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe this was a huge mistake after all. But I was like a trapped bird, pounding my wings frantically, trying to escape the cage. I had chosen this, I had chosen this… There was no escape from it…

"Do you promise to keep our secrets and remain loyal, even unto the threat of death?" Potter continued.

"I will." My voice was high and thin. It didn't sound like me at all.

"And will you always be a member of our secret society?" Potter said quietly. "For the rest of your life?"

A sick pounding rang in my ears. I had thought it was for school only… not for the rest of my life…

"James." Remus interrupted. "That's too far."
"We need to make sure she's loyal to us." Sirius argued, never blinking, gaze never wavering from mine. "There's evil in this world, Remus. We need to make sure she's on our side, not theirs."

"She's too powerful." Potter added. I almost laughed because I thought they were making a joke.

They weren't.

"Do you promise?" Potter said after a moment of quiet. The snake of fire was still wrapped around our joint hands. "Will you always be a member of our group?"

I took a deep breath and jumped off of the ledge that I had suddenly found myself at. "I will."

Potter tapped his wand once against our hands. The fire slowly disappeared into our hands. I could feel it now, hot, branding, like a searing iron. I leapt back, clutching my right arm. I yanked up the jacket sleeve, expecting to see burn marks, but my skin was unharmed.

The burn was real. The Vow was made.

There was no going back now.

"You're the real deal." Sirius said softly, watching me curiously, in awe and in new respect. Potter shared the same look.

"I told you." Remus said, almost sounding smug. He helped me to my feet, my legs still trembling with adrenaline. I stared at the three of them, my new group. My new friends… for life.

No, not friends. Not with Potter and Black. Just allies.

"You can't cry wolf." Sirius reminded me. "Ever."

"I know." I said breathlessly, still rubbing my right arm where the Vow sealed itself into my body, into my blood. I was bound now. Irrevocably. For life.

"We need a name for our group." I said, inspiration striking. It was something Virginia had said months ago after Christmas. Something that seemed so perfect. Especially now.

"We're the Marauders." I tested the name out, smiling. "The Marauders."

Potter and Black looked pleased. Remus grinned. "Well, Harkstone. Let's see what kinds of charms you're made of." He pulled out his wand. "Demonstrate."

I grinned back, flicking my wand at him. "Gladly."

Hours later, the moon was hanging near the tops of the trees. The wind had long since died down. My eyes were beginning to feel heavy, and my arms were sore from so much casting. Even my wand felt fatigued.

"You'd be a good duelist." Sirius panted.

"Or an Auror." Potter suggested. "My dad is an Auror. Dark wizard catcher."

"Maybe." I said, tying my hair back. "We've got years to think about what we want to be when we're grown."

"We should get going, before someone misses us." Remus said, eyeing the moon. "McGonagall does her first rounds at five a.m."

"It's got to be close to four, at least." I observed. "Come on. We don't need to run, but we shouldn't dawdle."

"Who talks like you?" Sirius teased as we all plunged into the tunnel in the first story kitchen. Four wands lit the way, blue-white light obliterating the darkness. I felt giddy, alive with energy. If the Vow was serious, then I would never really be alone again.

I had a friend. And three allies.

"So old-fashioned." Potter added as we trotted down into the earth.

"Shush." Remus silenced us. "We don't want anyone to hear us talking."

"Yes, Mum." Sirius drawled as he fell silent. It felt like just minutes later when we emerged near the Willow. Potter pressed a tiny knob near the base of the tree that I hadn't noticed before. The writhing tree stilled instantly as if it had been frozen. The four of us walked quickly back to the tunnel leading into the castle and through the painting.

"See you at breakfast." Sirius said, nodding to me once as he and Potter and Remus split paths with me and headed back to the Gryffindor Common Room. I hurried away the opposite direction, throwing a last glance over my shoulder. Remus tossed a look back, smiling when his eyes found mine.

Then they were gone.

Now that I was alone, I knew I would be in serious trouble if someone found me. Someone like Peeves or McGonagall. Trying to keep my footsteps light, I darted down the long, winding hallways of the castle and threw myself up the Ravenclaw stairs. I took a minute to catch my breath and pushed open the door, which I had left open and unlocked with a marble in the door jamb to keep it from locking. I pulled it out and slipped it into my pocket.

No one was awake.

I clambered back upstairs and silently slipped off my boots. They were caked with mud and dust. I stowed them under my bed and eased myself under the covers. None of the girls stirred.

A huge grin split across my face. I got away with it.

I turned on my side and stared out of the huge window, watching the moon disappear below the tree line. On the other end of the sky, a faint pale line spread milky fingers upwards. The sun was rising soon.

I'd join the other Marauders at breakfast in a few hours.

I was too excited by the events that had taken place that night to sleep. When the first girl rose from her bed, Amanda Strange, I quickly followed suit. I had forgotten I'd slept in my Muggle clothes. Amanda gave me an odd look as I rummaged for my school clothes.

In the bathroom, I held my right arm up to the light to try and see any scarring or burn marks from the Unbreakable Vow. Nothing was visible, but I knew that like an invisible tattoo, I would carry this with me for the rest of my life. Excitement blended with fear, making a heady combination that made my heart gallop in my chest.

I had done something wrong. Something illegal. And it felt good.

Angelina padded into the bathroom, yawning, her dark hair frizzed up in every direction. "You look like the cat who ate the canary."
"Do I?" I asked devilishly, not even trying to hide my huge grin.

Angelina stared at me through her puffy eyes. "What did you do, Amber?"

"Nothing." I said airily, fluffing my hair and pulling out a dead leaf from the tresses. "I'm completely innocent."

Angelina rolled her eyes. "As long as it doesn't lose our House points."

I giggled and skipped out of the bathroom and made my way down into the Common Room. Other Ravenclaws were still sluggish with sleep. Some weren't even going to bother with breakfast. Finals were just around the corner, and most had their noses deep inside of their textbooks. Those students were third years and older. A few glanced up at me, probably expecting me to follow suit.

Instead, I left the Common Room and let the door swing shut behind me.

I felt on top of the world. I felt untouchable. I knew about secret tunnels and passages in the school. And only three others knew. We were all bound by our secrets, and it felt so good to be a part of something bigger. Something forbidden and secret from the rest of the world.

I felt dangerous. And I liked it.

I entered the Great Hall, my eyes immediately zeroing in on the Gryffindor table. Remus, Sirius, and Potter were all looking at me. I gave them a smile and sat down next to Lily. She stared at me as if I had grown a second head.

"Did you just… smile at James Potter and Sirius Black?"

"Well… Remus was there." I half-lied. "He's my friend. I'm happy to see him. Not them."

Lily studied my face curiously. I sat on my hands so I wouldn't fidget and give myself away. "Are you sure you're alright, Amber? You're acting a little weird."

I couldn't stop thinking about the shack. I met Remus' gaze again and had to bite down a smile.

"Did you and Remus kiss or something?" Lily whispered urgently.

Heat flooded my cheeks. "No!" I shrieked. "Of course not!"

Several people turned and gave me quizzical looks. Lily looked extremely confused.

"You did something." She accused. "What was it?"

"I can't tell you." I said, realizing that if I did, I would die. That sucked the joy and excitement out of me instantly.

She frowned. "You okay? You look a little pale."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. I washed it down with a glass of water. "I'm fine. I just remembered something serious, that's all."

Lily was quiet. "Well… if you ever need to talk, I'm here."

I hugged her arm. "Thanks, Lily. You're a good friend. It's just something private."

She looked amused. "I understand. Just know I'm here."

Grateful, I hugged her again and tucked into my breakfast. Being up and about for most of the night had triggered my appetite. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until the smell of fresh baked bread and eggs drew me in. I buttered my toast and dunked it into a ripe yellow yolk, releasing the succulent juices. I ate a full plate before reaching for another. Lily inhaled sharply. "Amber, look."

I raised my head, scanning the room. "What?"

She nodded towards staff table. Professor Flitwick was reading a piece of paper. Then he raised his head and stared right at me.

He looked as grim as the overcast sky, threatening rain. Professor Flitwick said something to Professor McGonagall beside him. Her eyes widened and then focused in on me. They said words I couldn't hope to hear from my distance.

"They're staring right at you." Lily murmured. "Amber?"

I felt paralyzed with fear. Did they know? The boys couldn't have snitched. The Vow was real. I knew it was. The invisible burn from the thread-like fire was enough to convince me.

Had someone spied on us, someone else?

"Oh no." I whispered in dread. Professor McGonagall swept towards me, her face chiseled out of stone. She halted in front of me. Half of the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables had fallen silent, watching her.

"Miss Harkstone."

I could feel the eyes of several students boring holes in my head. Swallowing against the parching dryness in my throat, I managed a faint, "Yes?"

She let out a small sigh. "Come with me, please."

But I was rooted to the bench. I couldn't make myself move. "Why?"

Professor McGonagall frowned slightly. "I'd rather not discuss this with you in front of the other students, Miss Harkstone."

Oh, my God. This was bad. This was really, really bad. I felt my breakfast rising in my throat. I clenched my jaw tight, forcing my food back down.

"You'll need to pack your belongings, Miss Harkstone. You have been dismissed for the remainder of the school year."

A cold stone dropped into the pit of my stomach. My ears pounded with the roar of my blood. I could feel my face draining of color; my hands began to shake.

I was being expelled.

"Come on, dear," Professor McGonagall said gently. "I'll escort you Professor Dumbledore."

I couldn't say anything. I knew if I opened my mouth, I would vomit all over her.

"Please, Professor McGonagall." Lily interrupted. "Let me come with you to help."

Professor McGonagall looked down at her sadly. "I'm afraid not, Miss Evans. The Headmaster requested Miss Harkstone meet with him privately first. Without company."

"Oh." Lily's face fell. She hugged me, her breath falling into my ear. "It's going to be okay, Amber. I promise. I'll come find you before…"

I drew back, staring at her. The dryness had formed into a hard, hot lump. Tears stung my eyes.

Before.

Before I would expelled.

"Come on, dear," Professor McGonagall said again, more urgently, "It's time to go. Come along."

Did all expelled students get treated this nicely?

Slowly, woodenly, I rose to my feet. Now, half of the entire Great Hall was staring at me. I fought the urge to vomit with every ounce of my being. Sick with guilt, sick with fear, I shut my eyes tightly to press back the tears. I followed Professor McGonagall out of the Great Hall. I glanced back over my shoulder once, for the last time. Almost everyone was watching me go. I saw Remus half-rise, looking deeply concerned. Lily said something to him that kept him at bay.

The trembling intensified as I followed Professor McGonagall through the empty halls of Hogwarts. Paintings moved and interacted amongst themselves. I wondered if any of them had ever seen a student get expelled before. Probably. Had they ever seen a Ravenclaw expelled? Definitely a Slytherin.

Professor McGonagall halted outside of a stone gargoyle. "Peach melts."

The statue leapt aside.

"Come along." The Head of Gryffindor instructed, giving me another sad look. Swallowing against the constant threat of tears, I followed her up the spiral stone steps.

My last day here, and I was finally going to see what the Headmaster's office looked like.

The stairs opened up into a cathedral-like room, with high stone pillars and arches. Shelves of books were crammed into the walls, along with mysterious objects of worth to Professor Dumbledore. A bag of opened peach melts sat forgotten on an end table next to an overstuffed armchair.

There was a quiet trill. I turned toward the sound, startled to see a beautiful red bird perched on a brass handle. It was large, the size of Romulus, and looked very intelligent. It was staring right at me with an expression of curiosity and very human-looking eyes.

"Fawkes knows you have a wand made from one of his tail feathers." A deep voice rumbled.

Professor Dumbledore sat into his high-backed chair at a grand oak desk. The seat creaked with age and over-use. He adjusted his half-moon spectacles, offering me a small smile. "Would you care for some dark chocolates, my dear?"

I shook my head, my stomach lurching. "No thank you, sir."

"Please," he said, gesturing to two large chairs before his desk, "Have a seat."

"I don't want to sit." I muttered. "Not if I'm just going to leave."

"Miss Harkstone." Professor McGonagall chided.

Professor Dumbledore held up a hand. "It's quite alright, Professor. Thank you for escorting her here. Would you mind waiting outside for a moment?"

Professor McGonagall's lips were pressed into a thin line. "Of course." She turned on her heel and swept out of the room.

Sweat dripped down my back. "I know why I'm here."

Professor Dumbledore tugged on the end of his long beard. "I believe you are under the wrong pretense, Miss Harkstone. You seem to be under the impression that you are expelled."

I could feel my heart miss a beat. "Impression?"

He nodded, but he wasn't smiling. "Yes. You aren't under any academic parole or suspension, my dear. I called you here to tell you that you will be dismissed from Hogwarts for the remainder of the year, at your parent's request."

None of this made any sense. My head throbbed with the conflicting information and feelings. "So… I'm not expelled, but I still have to leave?"

"I wouldn't be too concerned about your grades. You are the top student right now, and your assignments and final tests have been waived. You've put in more than necessary effort into your schooling. Your teachers and I feel this is fair."

I took a deep breath, the stress already melting away. "Okay… but I'm going home early. Why? What did I do wrong?"

"Nothing that I know of, my dear." Professor Dumbledore assured me. "Unless, there's something you wish to tell me."

I thought of sneaking out to the Shack with the Marauders. Of the Unbreakable Vow. Even if I wanted to tell him, I couldn't. I would die.

"No, sir." I answered quietly.

He nodded a few times. "I see."

I couldn't look at him.

"Your father has arrived to bring you home." Professor Dumbledore said. "Professor McGonagall will escort him in."

"Are we going to have a parent teacher conference?" I asked, still confused. "Why does he need to be here?"

At that moment, the door burst open. I flipped around in my chair, staring at Professor McGonagall, who had her wand drawn and pointing straight at my father.

He stuffed his wand into his jacket pocket clumsily. He looked awful. His face was drawn and pale with pallor. His eyes were puffy and he looked like he hadn't slept in a hundred years. A prickle of warning crept along my spine. He looked like a dead man walking.

"Dad?" I said uneasily. "What's wrong?"

Dad was panting slightly. He looked at me strangely, as if noticing me for the first time. Professor Dumbledore was watching him carefully.

"Amber," Dad mumbled. His voice was raw and thin. The hair on the back of my neck rose.

"What's wrong?" I said immediately, alarmed. "What's happened? Is Mom gone? Did she… did she leave?"

Dad shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck with his left hand. "No, honey. Your mom isn't gone."

A wave of relief washed over me. "Oh, good. You scared me." I frowned, the relief evaporating like morning mist when I noticed his red eyes, his fresh tears. "What's wrong, Dad? Why do I have to leave Hogwarts?"

Dad bit his lower lip, swallowing hard. "It's your sister, Amber. She's gone."

The only sound in the room was Fawkes, cooing softly, mournfully. I stared at my father, sure I heard him wrong. "Naomi got lost? She ran away?"

Dad passed a shaking hand over his face, choking on a sob. "No, Amber. Virginia is dead."