The last Saturday of the month was the day of tryouts. Each House had their turn for the field. Even though it was just tryouts and not an actual game, the seats in the arena were filled with students and a few interested teachers. Madame Pomfrey stood waiting on the side of the field, ready for her first inevitable patient.

Hufflepuff, who had won the Quidditch Cup three years running, was first. I sat next to Angelina in the risers, watching Sean Locke jump effortlessly onto his broom and ascend in the sky. Several girls cheered, Angelina included.

"He's the best player Hogwarts has seen in a decade." She gushed. "He's a total dreamboat."

"You think every cute guy is a dreamboat." I teased. I spotted Lily sitting fifty feet away next to Severus. We hadn't spoken in almost a week.

"I don't think Hufflepuff's got much to offer for talent this time around." Angelina said dubiously as a handful of Hufflepuffs competed for the only open position, a Keeper. Only one was able to keep half of the Quaffles away, a third year named Kensley Horn. There was a smattering of applause for Kensley. Most of the applause came from females, who had eyes only for Sean. He waved to me as he descended on the field below.

"I think he likes you." Angelina teased, elbowing me. I shrugged and studied the retreating figures of the Hufflepuff team.

"Likes who?" said Remus, who eased down on the other side of me. Peter was on his heels, a huge foam finger painted red and gold on his right hand.

"Just Sean Locke." Angelina giggled. "The hottest guy in school."

"I do not." I said hotly. "He's a nice boy. That's all."
"Mhm." Angelina didn't look convinced. She winked.

Remus cleared his throat and wriggled in his seat, looking uncomfortable. "I think Slytherin's next."

"Oh, goody." I muttered.

Like Hufflepuff, Slytherin was only looking for one new player. This time, it was a Beater. Avery, Nott, Malfoy, and Mulciber rose into the air on their broomsticks, along with two other Slytherins I didn't know. Unlike the Hufflepuffs, who were fair and even overly-generous, the Slytherins were ruthless and wicked. The team was merciless against their tryouts, even though they were all from the same House. Finally, Madame Hooch rose onto her broom in the melee after a Bludger collided with a fifth-year girl and left her in tears on the ground. "Enough dirty work!" She snarled. "I want a clean screening or you'll be playing with just six members this year, Malfoy!"

Lucius Malfoy tossed his long mane of white-blonde hair and shrugged.

"What a cruel House." Angelina muttered as Malfoy jabbed a finger at a tall, formidable-looking girl, who could compete with Hagrid in height. "You!" Malfoy said in a harsh, clear voice. "Tara Bristol! You're in."

Tara narrowed her eyes in victory. The other Slytherins looked disappointed and mutinous, but too afraid of her to do anything.

"I'm surprised Regulus Black didn't try out." I said as the Gryffindor team filed out next. "He's pretty much sewn together with the team."

"Sirius's little brother?" Angelina echoed. "Is he good?"

"Sirius said he was." Remus added. "Very good. Maybe he'll try out next year. First years aren't allowed to try out."

"I wouldn't past him to try." I said dryly.

"Oh, look!" Peter squealed. "There's Sirius and James!"

Sure enough, the two boys were making their way out onto the field. Potter was dressed in his Quidditch robes, his last name boldly etched in white letters on the back. His shiny new broom was clutched in his right hand. He strode out onto the grass like a rooster among hens. Sirius kept up beside him, wearing ratty exercise clothes and a school broom.

"His parents aren't very happy with him." Remus said. "They don't really support his… extracurricular activities."

"Doesn't surprise me. Didn't he say his family was outraged when he was Sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin?"

"You heard the Howler." Remus reminded me. "The whole school knows."

"I can't wait to see Potter eat the grass." Angelina spat. "He's such a pighead! Look at his uniform!"

"I know." I agreed in disgust. "There's ten other possible students who can make the cut."

"He's really not as bad as you make him seem." Remus defended. "He's coddled, but he's not a bad person."

"He's spoiled rotten. Look at him flaunting himself like he's the Captain. I bet his parents have given him everything and never bothered to teach him discipline or learn the value of belongings and the feelings of others. God, it's disgusting."

"Spoken like someone who was spanked too much as a child." Angelina said carefully, raising a brow.

"They're looking for two new Chasers." Remus observed, steering the subject away from Potter.

"Why aren't you out there?" I asked, looking at both him and Peter pointedly.

"I don't like heights." Remus answered evasively, while Peter cowered. "I don't like those Bludgers! I'll just cheer from the sides."

"That explains the foam finger." I noted. "Nice touch. Very… festive."

Peter beamed. "Thanks. My mom made it."

I hid a smile but not a small laugh. Remus gave me a warning look.

"Oh, wow…" Angelina breathed. "Amber, look."

"What?" I said irritably. I didn't believe in special treatment for anyone. Not even gentle Peter.

She pointed at the sky. "You're not going to like this."

I followed the direction of her finger. My heart sank.

Potter was tearing up the air. He moved on his broom like it was a part of him. I knew in an instant that the other hopefuls didn't stand a chance. He caught every Quaffle with grace and ease and scored through the hoops without fail. He scooped so close to the ground in a last-ditch catch of the final Quaffle that even I gasped. Peter fainted.

"He got it!" Angelina whispered, sounding strangled. "I don't believe it! He's actually good!"

"Not good." I muttered. "He's a natural."

"He's brilliant." Remus said, looking proud.

"And he knows it." I added, unable to disguise my disgust for his blatant display of showing-off. The girls who had cheered for Sean now screamed for James.

"Ugh. Doesn't he realize how unattractive that is?" I hissed to Angelina. "Angelina?"

But when I turned to look at her, she was transfixed, staring at James like he was a shooting star. "He's amazing."

I slapped my hand to my forehead. "Not you too!"

"What?!" Angelina cried. "Amber, come on! You have to admit it… he's fantastic! He makes Locke look like he's falling!"

"Falling with style!" I snapped. "Anyone can play Quidditch! I bet even Peter could play, if he put his mind to it!"

Peter lay still and unconscious beside Remus, the foam finger still stuck on his hand.

"I'm sorry, Amber!" Angelina exclaimed. "You just have to accept that you're not going to be the best at everything!"

The temperature in the air dropped fifty degrees. The only sound was that of the girls cheering for the Gryffindor team as they wrapped up their tryouts.

"What did you say to me?" I said very quietly.

Angelina's brown eyes were huge. "I didn't… Amber, I just mean that you're very perfectionist. You're ambitious, too. You like to be the best at everything."

"So." I said flatly. "You think I'm a know it all too? You think I'm just a loser? I'm not just a farm girl who lost her favorite sister! I can do anything I put my mind to!"

Angelina's face went white. "Wait, what? You lost your sister?! When?"

But I wasn't listening anymore. Tears stung my eyes, but I stormed down the wooden seats and onto the field. "Amber!" Remus called, but I ignored him. James and Sirius were high-fiving each other, coming towards me, back to the edge of the field with the other Houses to watch the rest of the tryouts.

"Hey, Harkstone!" James said jubilantly, grinning so wide that all of his teeth were showing. "What do you think of the newest Gryffindor Chasers?"

I bumped into James – hard – and put my hands on his chest and shoved as hard as I could. He stumbled back, Sirius swearing. "What the hell, Harkstone? What's your problem?!"

"Go to hell, Harkstone!" James snarled.

"You first." I pushed him again. Sirius dove between us before we could fly at each other.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Sirius yelled as I leapt back, shaking with the power of my anger.

"Sorry for getting a little angry at such a pighead!" I erupted as James fumbled for his wand.

"Enough!" Madame Hooch blew into her whistle. "Gryffindors! Clear the field for the Ravenclaws! Harkstone, Potter! Save it for the real thing!"

"You dirty little rat." James hurled as I hustled over to the Hufflepuffs, who looked completely shocked. "I want what I gave you back!"

"You can take it with my foot up your ass!" I threw over my shoulder. How could Lily think for one second that James and I were friends? He was an arrogant show-off who only wanted personal fame and glory. He was no friend. He was a bully, and someone I was only bound to because of that stupid Vow that I couldn't take back for my life.

"Amber?" Sean Locke said as I marched up to him. He looked positively alarmed. "You okay?"

"Give me your broom." I paused, then added, "please."

Sean's eyes told me he thought I'd completely lost it, but he slowly handed over his Black Peregrine, his gloved hands brushing mine. I swept over to the stunned Ravenclaws.

"She's crazy." Sirius blurted as he and James watched me from the Gryffindor's bench. "Just watch. She'll crash and burn."

My fingers gripped the broom handle so hard that my knuckles turned white.

"Right." The Ravenclaw Captain, Juliet Smith, said, clearing her throat. "We're looking for a new Chaser and a new Seeker. Give it your best." She swallowed loudly. "Amber Harkstone… why don't you start us off?"

"Glad to." I said shortly. I had only ridden a broom once, when I was at a birthday party for May Walters, a young witch who lived down the road closer to town. For her ninth birthday, we had all been treated to a mock-Quidditch game, complete with prizes. I had flown for five minutes before crashing into a nearby apple tree and knocking half of the fruits down. So far, that was the extent of my flying experience. And now this.

Shaking with a combination of fear and adrenaline, I mounted Sean's broom and felt it rise alarmingly fast into the air. The other Ravenclaws were airborne and already gliding around the sky like great blue birds. I was only twenty feet off the ground and I could feel my vision blur at the edges. Too fast. Too fast! This is too soon. I can't do this.

My hands gripped the handle until they hurt. Then they numbed. The wind blasted my hair to the side, the flyaways stinging my eyes.

"Higher, Harkstone!" James yelled. "Chicken sh-"

"That's enough, Mr. Potter!" Madame Hooch hollered. "Keep it PG-13!"

"Crybaby!" James modified, referencing my old nickname, the one he and Sirius had christened me with the first time we had met.

Dizzy with the sensory overload, I eased up on the broom. It shot like a bullet towards the hoops. Too scared to scream, I cringed and zoomed through the tallest hoop. I tugged on the handle and eeked out a squeak of terror as the broom jerked hard to the side.

"Amber!" Lily cried. I saw her face swim far below. Way too far below. How high was I?

"Down here, Harkstone!" Juliet called. "Land if you need to!"

But I wasn't about to give in. James would never let me live it down. Forcing my sobs to stay inside, I slowly eased down and hovered with the rest of the team. Juliet nodded once and tossed the Quaffle to another hopeful, Anna Noyes. Anna passed it to me. I fumbled and barely managed to hang on to the broom and to the Quaffle.

"Have you ever been on a broom before, Harkstone?" Juliet asked curiously.

I swallowed hard against my dry throat and tried not to look down. "I'm a fast learner."

Juliet looked grim. "You'd better be." She nodded once to the other riders hovering in the air. "I'll be observing everyone while they demonstrate their abilities on their brooms. Give it your best shots. Go for whatever feels natural and right. I will decide on skills later."

Too quickly, the Ravenclaws scattered, and I found myself floundering to catch up. Below me, I could hear the echo of James and Sirius laughing.

I tried to spot the Snitch, the little golden winged ball that the Seeker needed to catch. But the wind was so fierce that it made my eyes stream and my nose run. There was no way I could ever sleuth out something that tiny and fast like this. Not when I already had to worry about my alignment and balance.

I glanced down, my palms slick with nervous sweat. Ice-cold terror washed over me in a wave of panic. If I fell now, I would die.

"Harkstone!" Noyes called. "Catch!"

She threw the Quaffle.

Sucking in my lip, I leaned forward on the broom, plowing forward. The broom shot like a loosed arrow toward the spinning Quaffle. I smacked it with my hand, as useful as a paw, and watched it fall towards the ground. It was quickly snatched up by another hopeful.

"Good effort!" Sean hollered from below.

I was too terrified to blush. Holding onto the broom and not falling to my death seemed to be more of a priority than catching a stupid ball.

"Amber, please!" Lily pleaded. "Just land!"

"Come on down, crybaby!" James taunted. "Mummy's waiting to give you a big hug!"

Tears of shame blinded me. If only that were true. My Mum was about as warm as a glacier. She wouldn't care if I tumbled off of my broom and snapped my neck. She only had enough room in her heart for Virginia. And she was gone.

Oh, Virginia. My heart ached deeply, sawing at the raw edges of grief that had been healing during my time at Hogwarts, but were now ripped open like stitches. I had avoided thinking of her for almost a month, and now, I couldn't get away from it. I was so close to joining her, so close to ending all of my embarrassment and pain and anger…

"Amber!" Angelina shrieked. "Watch out!"

I snapped my head to the left just in time to see a black blur careening towards me at an alarming speed. I pulled away sharply on the broom, my stomach dropping at the angle, just barely avoiding the Bludger.

"That was close!" I said nervously, in time to hear another scream, this time from Lily.

"Amber! BEHIND YOU!"

No time to react. I felt the crack at the back of my head and the explosion of pain. It was so bad that my vision went black, spotted by tiny yellow lights. When I could see again, I was falling through the air, the ground racing up to meet me at an horrifying velocity. I couldn't move; I had been knocked senseless. I tensed, bracing myself for the inevitable impact.

"Arresto momentum!"

Six inches from the ground, I halt as if frozen. Close enough to see the little spine in each blade of grass. I was still, dangling above the earth like a ragdoll on strings. My head lolled back uselessly, but I caught sight of Remus standing on the side of the field, his wand held high, his face as white as a sheet. Vaguely, I wondered how he'd gotten down to the ground level so quickly. Had I really been in the air that long?

Arms caught me and then lowered me gently to the ground. Sean Locke's face swam above me. "Amber? Amber, say something. Talk. Say anything."

His face doubled, hazy. "Do you have a twin brother?" I mumbled, my tongue thick in my mouth.

"She's got a concussion for sure." Sean assessed. Several faces crowded around, Remus and Lily the most familiar. She was crying, her hands covering her mouth.

"Move aside!" Madame Pomfrey cried. She looked spooked. "Oh, dear. Locke, if you would please follow me to the infirmary immediately."

"Yes, ma'am." Sean said, rising to his feet. My limbs hung slack, my neck bent at a strange angle. It hurt. I tried to move my head, but the effort hurt so much that I managed to inch it to the side before giving up.

"Is she going to be okay?!" Lily's voice was high and thin. "It hit her so hard!"

"She'll be fine, once I get to take a better look." Madame Pomfrey assured her. "Remus, Lily, is it really necessary for you to come with us?"

"I want them here…" I said groggily before slipping back into the darkness where the pounding in my head was just a warm pulse of heat behind my eyes.

It was raining when my eyes opened again. I was in a stiff white cot inside of a room that could only be the infirmary. Beside me, Remus and Lily were reading books. I blinked several times to clear the blurriness in my vision, but it didn't soothe the dull ache in my head.

"She's awake." Lily breathed, looking immensely relieved. Remus carefully closed his book and set it on the nightstand table.

"What happened?" I mumbled, my voice sounding like I'd gargled gravel.

"You fell off your broom." Lily informed me. "After you got hit by a Bludger."

I gingerly touched the back of my head. A large, swollen lump confirmed her story. "How'd that happen?"

"Mulciber thought he would test your reflexes, so he sent a rogue Bludger at you from the ground." Remus reported. His green eyes flashed with fury. "Unfortunately for him, I know a good deal of hexes. His arse will be so sore for the next week that he won't be able to sit."

A smile pulled at my lips. "You stopped me from falling."
"Madame Hooch said she was about to." Remus said. "But I beat her to it, I guess. My 'natural' reflexes." He smiled knowingly, referencing his werewolf tendencies. I smiled back weakly.

"I thought you were going to die." Lily blubbered, suddenly in tears. "Angelina told me what you said before you went down to the field. Are you really still that upset about your sister, Amber? Do you really want to die?"

Shame burned through me, overpowering the headache drumming in my ears. I closed my eyes, wishing I could have taken back the words. "I'm fine."

"You don't have to lie to us." Remus said quietly. "You don't have to be brave."

A tear slid through my closed eyes, and then another. I tried to bite my quivering lip to hold back a sob. "I guess… I don't know. For awhile, I'll be fine, and then… some days, it's just so hard. I can't believe she's actually gone. And it's my fault."

"It's not your fault." Lily soothed, crying herself. "It's not, Amber. She was sick. There was just nothing anyone could do."

The ugly truth, the reality of her death and my involvement, surged up my throat, threatening to burst forth like a demon from Hell. Instead, I grabbed a basin and vomited.

"Oh, Amber." Lily whispered. "I'm so sorry."

When it was over, I put the basin down. Remus took it from my shaking hands and set it down away from us. Then he handed me a tall glass of cold water.

"Thanks." I said hoarsely. "I keep throwing up around you."

"It happens." Remus assuaged. "Don't even worry about it."

"We'll always be here for you." Lily said fiercely. "Don't ever think otherwise."

"What about our fight?" I said, lowering my glass onto the nightstand.

Lily shook her head. "It was just a dumb little fight. Friends have them. Just because we have spats doesn't mean we throw out our whole bond."

"She's got a point." Remus added.

I leaned back against the pillows, wishing I could expel the headache as easily as I had been able to throw up. "I just miss her."

They didn't say anything. They each held one of my hands and didn't let go.

Madame Pomfrey tittered. "Have some more medicine, dear, and sleep."

"My head hurts too much." I mumbled, soothed by the warmth and security of Remus and Lily's hands over mine.

Madame Pomfrey gently pressed a goblet to my lips. I opened my mouth and drank obediently. It was purple and tasted like lavender.

"What is this?" I murmured sleepily as the pounding lessened and the darkness began to advance again.

"Sleeping Draught." Madame Pomfrey informed me.

"Did Slughorn make it?" I asked feebly, moments from unconsciousness.

"Actually, I did." Lily piped up, sounding thrilled. "And Madame Pomfrey said it was better than Slughorns. Just don't tell him."

"I won't..." I vowed, before slipping back into the soothing blackness.

Madame Pomfrey discharged me the next day after icing the back of my head for half an hour, bringing the swelling down. After a good dose of Chinese skullcap and plenty of water, she allowed me to leave, under instructions to be more careful and not push myself. The names of the newest Quidditch team members were posted outside of the Great Hall.

1971-1972 ROSTER

HUFFLEPUFF

Captain/Seeker: Sean Locke
Chasers: Sophie Daniels, Ryan Levine, Robert Wachowski
Beaters: Vlad Shavel, Jake Springhole
Keeper: Kensley Horn

SLYTHERIN

Captain/Keeper: Lucius Malfoy
Chasers: Edward Nott, Logan Avery, Camden Underwood

Beaters: Tara Bristol, William Mulciber

Seeker: John Vane

GRYFFINDOR

Captain/Beater: Myron Beamish
Beater: Belarius Marchbanks
Chasers: Fay Ogden, Sirius Black, James Potter

Keeper: Lance Woodcroft

Seeker: Chloe Bragge

RAVENCLAW

Captain/Chaser: Juliet Smith
Beaters: Secundus Jewkes, Kirkley Switch

Chasers: Nemo Stevens, Anna Noyes, Jericho Fleet
Keeper: Sebastian Smethley

Seeker: Ceres Amorin

I scanned the list a second time, just to make sure I had read it correctly. The dull pang of disappointment and failure twisted in my gut, but I knew it was completely fair. Juliet Smith had chosen wisely for her new team. Of course she wouldn't have picked me. I was a total bumblebee out there. Clumsy, slow, and dangerous.

Still. I had wanted to prove James Potter wrong. Prove Mum wrong. Prove myself wrong. And I had failed.

I walked into the Great Hall and immediately saw Potter and Sirius in the throes of celebration. They were eating far too much food and draining too many glasses of pumpkin juice. Remus and Peter flanked them. Remus shook his head disapproving while Peter mimicked his idols adoringly.

Cheeks burning with humiliation, I plucked a single scone from the table and turned to leave the Great Hall, hoping not be noticed.

I was out of luck, again.

"Harkstone!"

I shut my eyes tightly, striving for patience. "Yes, Potter?"
"Remember what I said yesterday. I want it back."

I looked over my shoulder, making eye contact. His glasses were askew, and I realized that he wasn't drinking pumpkin juice. He reeked of the sweet tang of butterbeer.

"Come and get it." I said breezily, turning hard on my heel and making for a quick exit from the Hall. I heard him begin to tail me. Sirius was following; I could tell by the sound of two sets of footfalls.

"Harkstone, stop." James slurred, but I was quickening my pace. The moment I was outside in the vacant corridor, I grabbed the cloak from my bag and threw it over myself.

I stood very still at the pillar of one arch. Sirius and Potter were standing still, eyes scanning the room for any sign of me. Sirius wrinkled his nose. "Damn. She must have run."
"No. She's got the cloak."

Sirius swore. "You gave it to her? You were supposed to loan it to her for a day! How come you didn't get it back already?"

"I was busy practicing for tryouts!" James retorted hotly. He stumbled on one foot. "I lost track of time. Great. Now she's spooked. We'll meet her Friday and talk then."

"What about the cloak?" Black persisted. "What if she 'loses' it?"

"She won't." Potter said firmly. "She's from a family of Hufflepuffs. They're good 'finders'. Plus, they have soft hearts. She won't keep it. Or steal it."

"I hope you're right." Sirius muttered as they retreated back into the Hall.

I waited until they had gone, before heading for the Potions classroom, deep into the dungeons. Only Mrs. Norris noticed me. Her large red eyes bored into mine, her bushy tail lifted high in curiosity. She emitted a loud meow. I was sure she knew no classes were held on Sundays.

Shhh. I willed. Don't give me away.

I waited, staring down at the cat. Mrs. Norris meowed again. Then, she pushed against my invisible leg, nuzzling her nose into the fabric. Her purr was rusty and quiet, as if she hadn't used the sound in a long time.

Thankful that I had baited her with turkey for the past weeks, clearly befriending her, I continued unseen to the Potions room. In the five days I had before the scheduled meeting with Potter and the boys, I would come up with an alternative to the cloak. I'd struggle, but I would brew my own form of invisibility. With or without help.

It was late on Friday when I arrived first at the designated meeting place, the same One-Eyed Witch statue. Remus followed soon after, looking pale. The next full moon was not far away.

Remus sighed. "I can smell you, Amber. You may as well take off Potter's cloak."

"I hate that you can do that." I muttered as I pulled the cloak off of my shoulders and stowed it in my bag. "Not fair."

Remus smiled wistfully. "One of the few perks of my worsening condition."

"Believe me," I said dryly, "I know what it's like to have an unpleasant experience once a month."

Remus shook his head, a moment before James, Sirius, and Peter morphed out of the shadows. I already had my wand out and ready, and braced myself for a fight when I saw the look on James' face.

"Harkstone." He said evenly. I had the words of a protective spell on my lips, my right arm shaking with anticipation, ready for anything.

But nothing could have prepared for what happened next.

James grinned widely and clapped. "Great work."

Stunned, I looked between the four boys frantically. "What?" I managed.

"You know, I think she could win a Jolie Award." Sirius commented, smiling as well. "She's a terrific actress. I completely bought it."

"I think everyone did." James agreed.

"What… what are you talking about?" I burst out. "Am I on crack, or is it my concussion?"

Remus sighed. "I didn't agree with the idea, Amber, but I was out-voted. You know Peter supports anything these two do, so…" He raised his hands, palms up. "There was nothing I could do."

"What the hell is going on?" I demanded, wand still raised defensively.

"Relax, Harkstone." James chortled, slapping Sirius on the back. "We had to… trick you, a bit."

"What do you mean?" I snapped. "Either I'm missing something, or you two have completely lost it."

"We've decided people have been noticing that the five of us are rather 'close'." Sirius said. "We didn't want anyone sniffing around, especially not Folsom. He was getting suspicious."

"Suspicious about what? That five second years are in some kind of secret organization?"
"Exactly." James said. "And Remus has something to share. Don't you, Remus?"
I turned and faced him, confused. "You've been neglecting to tell me something?"

Color crept into Remus' pale face. "It was need-to-know, Amber. I'm sorry. But you made several points about Folsom that just didn't add up. I had my dad check him out, and he found out some interesting information about Folsom."

"He's a vampire." I said immediately. "I knew it."

"I didn't say that." Remus held up a hand for silence. "There wasn't enough clearance to access all of his file. But he is in the Watch List binder."

"Wait, wait. Back up. Files?"

Remus looked uncomfortable. "I don't know all of it. But the Ministry's apparently got files on every witch or wizard in the country."

"Kind of creepy, isn't it?" James said gleefully. "Would be unfortunate if the wrong eyes saw the right folder."

I swallowed hard. "Does Dumbledore know?"

"Like I said, Folsom's file isn't completely accessible. Not to my Dad. But the only reason he is on the Watch List is because he was apparently quite close to You-Know-Who."

"The Dark Lord." I said solemnly, earning a terrified squeak from Peter. "Define 'close'."

"They were friends in Hogwarts." Remus said. "Thirty-five years ago."

My eyes widened. "But that would make them both in their fifties, at least."

"And Folsom doesn't look a day over twenty-five." Sirius finished. "See, I think you're right about him being a vampire. Or definitely using some magical surgery to keep his looks youthful."

"Or Slughorn might be slinging him the elixir of life on the side." James joked.

"This isn't funny." Remus said seriously. "Folsom could be dangerous. The problem is, Dumbledore doesn't know."

"How could he not know?" I argued. "It's Dumbledore. He's one of the most brilliant wizards to ever exist."

"That's true," Remus allowed, "but think about it. How many times have you seen him on the school grounds this year?"

I paused. "Actually… not much."
"Exactly." Remus' eyes darkened, so animal-like this close to the full moon. "From what I'm overhearing from my Dad… it sounds like the Dark Lord is active. He's gathering followers. Maybe trying to overthrow the Ministry."

"You mean, like, start a war?" I ventured, remembering Vincent Backe, the editor who had disappeared not long after publishing his outrageous opinions on the Dark Lord. "That's a bit far."

Remus shrugged. "It explains a lot, if you ask me. I've already told the guys some of this, but as James said…"

"We need your brains." James interrupted. "And you're a Ravenclaw."

"Plus the top of my class." I retorted hotly.

"Lily's actually the top." Sirius reminded me. "Folsom docks your grades."

I rolled my eyes. "So, what exactly do you need my brains for?"

"I have a plan." James announced. "I've told you some of it, boys, but now that the key ingredient is here, I can tell you all of it."

"Oh, goody." I muttered.

James withdrew a piece of parchment from his pocket and spread it open on the ground before us. He tapped the blank piece of paper and muttered, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Faint black lines appeared on the paper. It covered such a small section of the map that I laughed.

James rounded on me. "What's so funny, Quidditch All-Star?"

The laughter died. "I almost died, thanks."

"Guys…" Remus warned.

"What am I supposed to be looking at?" I said waspishly. "Your doodles? I'd rather not."

"It's not doodling." James defended. "It's a map."

"A map?" I picked it up carefully. Sirius craned his neck to look at it better.

"Yeah. Sirius and I came up with the idea a year ago, but we weren't really serious about it until this year. After the information Remus told us."

I glared at Remus. "Thanks for keeping me in the loop."

Remus shrugged.

"Anyway," James continued, "here's my plan: We finish this map. I want to map out the entire school. The grounds, the castle. I want to flesh out the tunnels, rooms, the whole shebang."

"Isn't that a little risky?" I pointed out. "Anyone can read this."

James winked. "Not everyone, our little brainy female."

I groaned.

Sirius drew his wand and tapped the map. "Mischief managed."

The beginnings of the map disappeared.

"Only the five of us can ever know about this map." James said, suddenly serious. "It's part of the Vow."
"Oh, not that again." I rolled my eyes. "I have to carry this to my grave?"

"Yup." Sirius said cheerfully. "Aren't you glad you're friends with us?"

I stowed my wand into my pocket, handing the map to Remus. "Let's get this straight: I'm not friends with you. Not you, Sirius. Not you, Peter." At the hurt look on his face, I added, "because I don't know you well."

I fixed James with the frostiest look I could manage, something I had learned from my mother. "And especially not with you."

James looked indifferent, but the slight narrowing of his eyes told me he wasn't giving away how he really felt. "That's completely mutual, Harkstone. We aren't friends."

"We're allies." I clarified.

"What about Remus?" Sirius interjected. "How do you feel about him?"

Remus was silent, but I could feel him staring intensely at me. My hands were suddenly clammy. I wiped them casually on my pants, but my stomach felt funny and like it was a moving bag of worms. "He's my friend."

"Just a friend?" Sirius hedged, and laughed as I swung at him.

"It's not very ladylike to hit." James chided as I chased Sirius, wand out.

"Someone's got to teach him to be polite!" I shouted as I cast a color-changing hex at his hair, missing by inches.

"Amber, stop." Remus said, sounding like an exasperated babysitter. "Remember what Madame Pomfrey said. No roughness. You need to rest and take it easy until your head heals."

Grudgingly, I stopped and stowed my wand. Sirius giggled like a hyena and plodded back to James.

"So, after we finish the map, we need to invade the Ministry of Magic and get that file on Folsom. We'll use the Invisibility Cloak and Amber's brains to do it."

My jaw dropped open. "Are you crazy, Potter?! That will never work! AND we'll get expelled!"

"And probably go visit my Uncle Boris in Azkaban." Sirius said drolly. "Yeah, we know the risks. And I've told James, it's not going to work. Even with the Portable Library over here."

I chucked a pebble at Sirius, who yelped in pain.

"Alright, so what's your idea, then?" James said. "We need to get that file."

"I've thought about it." Remus said. "Maybe we can get the file out of the Ministry. Somewhere easier to access it. I'll see if I can get my Dad to bring it home."

"You can hex him." I suggested.

"The Imperious Curse should do the trick." Sirius put in. "They'll do anything you want."

I could feel my eyes bugging out of my head. "What is wrong with you, Sirius?! You can't just use an Unforgivable Curse! Especially not on your parent!"

"Who happens to work in the Ministry." Remus added.

"You two are no fun." Sirius said glumly.

"What kind of family are you from, exactly?" I asked incredulously. "You know the Unbreakable Vow and the Imperious Curse!"

Sirius shrugged and itched his arm. "The Blacks have always been sympathizers to the darker arts. That's why they appreciate The Dark Lord so much." His playful demeanor dimmed. "I've seen spells that aren't even in the Restricted Section. My house isn't exactly the Scottish dream like yours, James."

"Mine isn't either." I said softly, thinking of my family, torn apart by grief and delicately stitched back together by the attempt of moving on.

Sirius shrugged. "All I'm saying is that if we need to, we can use these spells. I know them."

"Let's try to avoid getting sentenced to Azkaban." Remus said hastily. "So, the plan?"

"Finish the map." James said. "Try to get your old man to bring the file home. Bring it to the Shrieking Shack. Use the Invisibility Cloak to spy on Folsom."

"Even if he does get fired, what then?" I mused. "What if a war really is coming?"

"That'll never happen." James said derisively. "Too many checks and balances in our government."

"I wouldn't be so sure." Remus said dryly. "Any society can be taken apart, if the enemy knows how to do it."

James didn't look too swayed. "So, we're good for now. Sorry we had to trick you, Amber, but this way, less people know. It's not typical for a Ravenclaw girl to hang with four Gryffindor boys. We had dispel the suspicion."

"Fair enough." I allowed. "But next time, keep me in the know, alright?" I gave Remus a pointed look. He didn't look away, but a muscle jerked in his cheek.

"Anything else?" Sirius piped. "Or can we go? I want to sneak into the kitchen again and get some more butterbeer."

I rolled my eyes. "Before we all go, let me give you four these." I dispensed four small vials full of clear liquid.

"What are these, Muggle tears?" Sirius said.

"It's a basic Invisibility Potion. It's for emergencies only. And we can probably save them for James' 'operation'."

"Brilliant, Harkstone." James praised. "I always knew you'd be a good addition to our group."

"I believe that was my idea." Remus corrected.

"Right. Well, the night is young. I'm craving jam tarts and butterbeer." He pulled out his wand and approached me. "My cloak, please."

I handed it over without protesting. "I still think you're crazy."

James winked. "I believe you're the one who told me that we're more capable than we think we are."

"It doesn't apply to everyone."

"Harsh." Sirius laughed. "McGonagall Junior."

"Come on." Remus said. "There's nothing quite like raiding the kitchen the night before the full moon."

"I'll take your word for it." I said, following after the boys. I didn't even catch a whiff of heavy perfume until we reached the kitchen. I dropped a full basket of garlic in front of the entrance – a portrait of a bowl of fruit – and kept walking.

If Folsom wanted to spy, fine. But I wasn't going to make it easy for him.

Potter's Plan would work. And in the end, Folsom was going to lose this war he had declared on me.