I can't believe we're at the 50th chapter! Since this is literally halfway through the story, I'm predicting that we will end Amber's story on the 100th chapter. Thank you so much to everyone who reads, comments, and shares this story.. it means the world to me! :)

"Mara Smith?" I echoed. "As in, Chaser for the Montrose Magpies?"

The young woman with dark chestnut-brown hair grinned and shook my hand. I winced in pain. I had never met another person who had a stronger handshake than me.

"That's me. Nice to meet you. You must be Amber."

"I am." I said, uncertain. I stared at Mara, then at Professor Smith, who looked slightly smug. I looked last at Sean, because I knew when I did, I would feel a swoop in my belly.

"Happy Birthday, Amber." Sean said, stepping forward and enveloping me in a hug. I felt my face flame as I inhaled the smell of faint cologne, the hard ridges of muscles pressing against me. Coughing, I pulled back, managing an awkward smile.

"You look like a Chaser too." Mara said thoughtfully. "Mum said you play for Ravenclaw."

"She's Walter Harkstone's eldest." Sean said proudly.

Mara's eyes widened. "Wow! He's your father? Can I meet him later?"

"Uh… sure?" I said blankly.

"It's so good to see you." Lily said brightly. "Professor Smith, will you be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts again this year?"

Professor Smith sighed. "Sadly, no. I've been asked to return to the Ministry of Magic to aid in the effort against Lord Voldemort and his followers."

I raised a brow. "I thought his name wasn't supposed to be spoken aloud."

Professor Smith gave a tiny jerk of her shoulders. "Personally, I don't see the difference in calling him by his name or avoiding it. He's going to try to kill us either way."

"Well said, Mum," Mara said enthusiastically. Her dark green traveled across the lawn to the Quidditch pitch. "Mind if I head over there for a minute and give out some pointers?"

"No problem." I said, watching her go. Sean took a step closer, looking quite pleased. I frowned at him. "What's going on?"

"Well, I'll have you know, I've been signed on by the Falmouth Falcons as their newest Seeker." Sean said lightly.

"Sean!" I said, awed. If he could acheive my dream within a few months of graduating school, I could, too. Someday. Grinning, I hugged him again in congratulations, ignoring the fact that Remus was standing just a few feet away.

"So," Sean said, eyeing meaningfully, "I was wondering if you'd like to get away from your family for a bit. Come to the coast with me for a few hours. I can Disapparate and I'll have you home no later than ten. Head Boy's word."

I smiled even bigger. "If you ask my father first."

Sean bowed slightly. "Of course." For the first time, his gaze traveled over Remus, his gray eyes resting on his new height. Sean lifted a brow. He was only a few inches taller than Remus now.

"Lupin." Sean said coolly.

I saw Remus flex his considerable arm muscles in response. "Locke."

"Good to see you." Sean said, though he sounded frosty and formal. "I hope you remember what I told you on the last day of school?"

A muscle jerked in Remus' cheek. "We can have a little chat again, if you'd like."

Confused, I looked between the two of them, sensing a fight brewing. I quickly moved between them, splaying my hands. "No fighting, come on. This is my birthday party. Remus, go eat another slice of chocolate cake while Sean goes to talk to my father."

Remus regarded Sean with glittering green eyes. I had never seen him look so stony. "I've lost my appetite."

"I thought dogs couldn't eat chocolate anyway." Sean said delicately, and Remus took a step toward him.

"Okay, enough!" I said sharply, glaring at Sean. "Go talk to my dad. I'll see you in a minute."

With a last long look at Remus, Sean turned and marched over to where my father was sitting, a butterbeer held in his hand. I could see him laughing and talking with my mother and his family. Wrenching my gaze away, I glared up into Remus' livid face.

"Can you not hex him?" I demanded. "He's my friend."

"He's not my friend." Remus shot back.

I folded my arms across my chest, fighting to control my rising temper. "Look, I don't get you, Remus. You said you don't want to be more than friends, yet you go out and date Angelina, and now, you're getting jealous that I'm going out with Sean? I can't win with you."

Remus looked like I'd slapped him. He dragged a hand through his messy hair, swearing under his breath. I glared at him, waiting for an answer.

"It's not that simple." He said at last.

"Really?" I said sourly. "Enlighten me."

Remus shook his head. "I need to use the bathroom. I'll be back."

Frustrated, I watched him stalk into the house. Someone cleared their throat behind me, and I found myself facing Professor Smith. She looked half-amused, half-concerned. Heat rose into my face.

"Sorry," I muttered, studying the ground, "I didn't know you were there."

"I understand boy troubles, believe me," she mused. "I actually would like to have a private word with you, if that's alright."

Briefly forsaking my vexation with Remus and Sean, I followed Professor Smith to a quiet corner of the property where no other guests inhabited. With a pang, I realized we were standing under the same willow tree that curtained Virginia's grave.

The moment we had privacy, Professor Smith squared her shoulders, her smile disappearing. Her change in mood made me nervous, and I bit my lip, anticipating the worst.

"Forgive me, Amber. I know it's your birthday, but I'm afraid what I have to tell you cannot wait."

"What is it, Professor?" I asked immediately, fear gnawing in my belly. "Is it... Folsom?"

"Yes and no." She replied, cutting straight to the heart of the matter. "I was tracking him for quite awhile this summer but lost him two weeks ago, just south of Surrey. I believe Voldemort's assigned him to some kind of recruitment crusade. You've been keeping up with the news and the Daily Prophet, I presume?"

I nodded. "Of course. Professor, is he still after me?"

Her grave look answered my question. "I'm afraid so. Vincent isn't one to forgive or forget."

Mackenzie was his new name. His original name had been Vincent, before he had changed it, according to Professor Smith, who had attended Hogwarts with him in their youth. I shivered, even though it was a warm summer's day. "Why is he coming after me? I mean, I know I was an outspoken student who defied him, but does that really merit this kind of vengeance? I mean..." I swallowed, touching my throat. "Is he literally out for my blood?"

She searched my face for a moment. "Well, Amber, you are on a need-to-know basis, according to Dumbledore's wishes."

"Professor, I know he wouldn't be after me like this if it was just a case of insubordination and rudeness." I said quietly. "Please tell me the truth."

She sighed, looking out over the peaceful scene of my family, laughing gaily and enjoying themselves, unaware of our private, dire meeting. "Part of the reason I wished to speak to you today is to remind you to be careful. Dumbledore has placed a long-lasting Disillusionment Charm on you that should protect against Folsom until you are of age. Additionally, last spring, he became your Secret-Keeper with the Fidelius Charm, so that he cannot find you unless told by Dumbledore himself the secret of your whereabouts. And remember that only Folsom cannot find you. Others acting under his orders still can. Folsom is in close works with Voldemort, and for whatever reason, Lord Voldemort has decided that you are some kind of threat to him. Which, Dumbledore and I think, is why Folsom is so fixated on you. He wants to eliminate you as a threat to Voldemort's ultimate plan."

I swallowed this new information. After a long pause, I said tentatively, "but why does he think I'm a threat? And what's his ultimate plan?"

Professor Smith withdrew a beautiful but simple pendant from her black robes. It was my opal necklace. She handed it back to me. "I suppose it has something to do with this. And you already know that I can't tell you what that is."

I stared at her. "This necklace was a present from my sister. She gave it to me a few years ago; it's not cursed or anything. Why would Voldemort want this?"

She held up a hand for silence. "What I am about to tell you is classified and to be confidential. Do you understand?"

I sensed the gravity of the situation and nodded. "You have my word."

Professor Smith searched my face briefly, and then said quietly, "This necklace was found to be made of not opals, but harkenine shards. Do you know what that means?"

I shook my head. Despite my voracious appetite for reading and knowing as much as I could, I was at a loss. I had never heard of 'harkenine' shards before. "No."

She moved behind me and fixed the clasp of the necklace around my neck, in a very maternal fashion. "Many years ago, an alchemist named Nicolas Flamel fashioned a legendary stone. Fragments of that stone were made into this necklace, according to Dumbledore. Do you know of what I speak?"

I did, but my mouth suddenly went dry. I touched the necklace in disbelief. "But that means… this is made of the Sorcerer's Stone?"

Smith made a noise of assent. "Perhaps. The Sorcerer's Stone is also known as harkenine, one of the precious gems. Like emeralds, sapphires, rubies. However, Dumbledore believes this necklace of yours is a mere replica. Very well-crafted, but not the real thing, most likely goblin-made. The necklace made of harkenine stones may be what Voldemort seeks. He pursues the real one, of course, but if Folsom has informed him that you have it (regardless of whether or not it's a copy), you may be in greater danger than we originally feared."

"But why-" I began to ask, but again, she rose a hand for silence. I gritted my teeth together, frustrated at my own lack of understanding.

"I do not know why Voldemort seeks this. Neither does Dumbledore." She said quietly. "I do not know why he stole Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem, or Slytherin's locket, or Hufflepuff's Cup. Dumbledore and I believe - with strong evidence - that Voldemort seeks to collect fabulous items shrouded in mystery and folklore. We do not know why. Folsom may try to steal this necklace from you. I therefore must warn you to not hold onto this heirloom, if Folsom somehow finds you before I can. I know how much your sister meant to you, and how much this necklace must mean too. But it is not worth your life."

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked at last, feeling like an overflowing cup.

"Because Voldemort is on the rise to power." She said simply. "And you are a target of Folsom, if not Voldemort too, and you must be forewarned of the coming danger."

Nodding blankly, I tried to digest this onslaught of new information. Just because of a childish grudge, I could be dead.

But, hadn't I been the one to try to warn others about the rise of Death Eaters in Hogwarts in the first place? Hadn't I been the one who had resulted in Folsom getting sacked? And now, apparently because I owned something Voldemort wanted, that added yet another reason why he'd want to come after me.

I shook my head. "It's just a necklace, Professor. If it's that much trouble, then take it. I don't want it."

Professor Smith shook her head. "I did not mean to alarm you, Amber. But Dumbledore insists that the necklace remains with you, for the meantime. With the lengthy precautions put into place, you should have no cause to worry."

But it didn't discount what had happened at Hogwarts just a few months prior. Lip curling, I nodded and replaced my hands at my sides. "So you're sure it's safe? It's not a danger at all?"

Professor Smith gave a wry smile, and suddenly I knew that she somehow knew about me becoming an Animagi, knew that I frequently broke the rules and snuck around with the other Marauders at Hogwarts, knew that Remus and I had followed her into Knockturn Alley the September prior. Perhaps her skills in Legilimency had given her the insight, or maybe she and I were more alike than I had thought.

"Well, as safe as you can be, with Dumbledore and I looking after you. It makes a little difficult when our ward insists on breaking Underage magical law at every chance she gets."

Grinning sheepishly, I ducked my head slightly. "Is that why I received an official warning from the Ministry? Because I don't get any more chances?"

Professor Smith tucked a lock of hair behind my ear in a motherly fashion. "You've got to grow up sometime."

We left the shelter of the willow tree. Even though my mind was still swirling with the thoughts of the book that Minnie had given me, it felt even more full with the compounded knowledge of the necklace that Dumbledore had been so interested in. I touched the stones in the necklace, feeling as if a missing part of my body had been reattached. I felt strangely at peace, joyful, at the reunion of Virginia's necklace and I, the same sense of relief I had felt when my wand had reawoken after nearly a year of hibernation.

I could see Lily and Harry sitting near my family, Naomi perched on Lily's lap and enjoying being lavished with sisterly affection. Before we were within earshot of them, I asked Professor Smith, "so… what were you doing last year, in Knockturn Alley? You went into Borgin and Burkes."

A smile flickered on her lips. "You have the makings of a real Auror, you know. Unafraid to investigate anything that seems out of place."

I laughed nervously, slightly abashed. "I didn't mean to spy."

She waved a hand dismissively. "I'm glad you did. But I'm also glad you went with Remus Lupin and not by yourself." A shadow flickered across her scarred face. "Knockturn Alley isn't the sort of place you'd want to be alone."

I opened my mouth to ask her another question, but she answered, "if you must know, I was buying a rare Dark object for my partner at the Auror Office, Alastor Moody. It was a Life Clock. It's a curious little object that shows the owner the number of days left in anyone's life span, but it does not tell them theirs. And, it has a strange little charm on it that makes it impossible for others to speak of what they know from the Clock."

"Wow." I said, stunned. I wasn't sure if I would want to have that kind of power, knowing precisely how many days left a person had left to live.

"He's been searching for one for nearly fifteen years." Professor Smith added. "I was lucky to have found one. Ah, here comes my nephew."

Sure enough, Sean was sauntering back over, looking delighted to see me. I blushed.

"Ready to go?" He said brightly. "Oh, that necklace is beautiful."

I turned redder. "Thank you. I've had it since I was eleven."

Sean nodded appreciatively. "It's very lovely. You all set, Aunt Willow?"

Professor Smith nodded to her nephew. "I am. Mara and I'll be off in a moment. She has something for Amber."

I covered my face with my hands. "Oh, really, Professor, it's not necessary-"

But Mara had returned. She grinned at me as she produced a fan of white paper slips, which I realized were tickets.

"Here you are." She said cheerfully. "Free tickets for you and five others to come see a game anytime. Best seats in the house!"

I gaped at her. "Mara… I can't… there's no way I can accept these…"

"Told you she'd take it well." Sean rumbled, looking amused. I reached out and held the tickets lightly, like they would turn into butterflies and take flight any second.

"Well, we'll be off." Mara said, looking disappointed that she hadn't been able to play Quidditch. "Feel free to stop by for practice too, Amber. I heard you want to be a Quidditch player too, and I'm always game to give lessons to Sean's girlfriends."

"Oh, thank you Mara...what?" I half-shrieked.

Sean cleared his throat. "Thank you, Mara, I'll see you later. Bye, Aunt Willow."

Mara winked at me and walked to the edge of the lawn with her mother. Mara was slightly taller than her mother, and her darker hair rippled in the late afternoon sun. They Disapparated with two sharp cracks near the mailbox.

"Always lovely to see them." Sean said briskly. "Come on, your father's cool with us going out."

"To the beach, you mean?" I managed, feeling as if my face was now a furnace.

"Yeah, that's what I said," Sean said lightly. He frowned. "Are we going alone?"

My mind was spinning like a tornado. "I… guess?"

But just then Lily spotted us. She waved us over. We had no choice but to come over.

"Hey! Amber, are you alright? Your face is really red."

"Thanks, Lily." I said dryly, pressing my cold hands to my cheeks, trying to cool them. "We're going to the coast for awhile." Suddenly terrified of being alone with a boy that I liked, I rushed on and said, "want to come?"

Sean frowned but Lily nodded enthusiastically. "I mean, if that's okay."

"Of course." Sean said, a true gentleman.

"I'll come." Harry offered. "Someone needs to escort this lovely young lady."

Now it was Lily's turn to blush. Just then, Remus came stalking over, looking bad-tempered and upset. I shot a glance at the sky, wondering if it was the full moon tonight.

"Going somewhere?" Remus asked in a carefully measured voice.

"I'm taking Amber to the coast." Sean said coolly. "We'll be out for awhile, so don't bother waiting up."

Remus balled his hands into fists at his sides. "I'd feel better going with her. After all, I'm supposed to keep her safe, remember?"

Sean's eyes flashed. Lily was watching them with her mouth open. Harry looked amused.

"We'll need to scrounge up someone to go with you, then." Sean said, and his voice was colder than I'd ever heard it. "Amber, do you have any cousins who would want to come? We'd need someone of age so that Remus can do Side-Along Disapparition."

The way he said it implied that Remus was an unwanted, intruding inconvenience, and I wasn't surprised when Remus's nose twitched in an-almost snarl.

"We could stay local." Remus suggested. "Go get ice cream or something in town."

"The coast sounds much more fun." Sean threw in.

"It's Amber's birthday." Lily pointed out. "Why not let her decide?"

I wished she hadn't said that, because Sean and Remus fixed their stares on me, making me feel like a bug about to be lasered to death. Squaring my shoulders, I decided to choose the option that would appease the most people. It would be nice to have Remus join us at the coast. I waved over Charlie, who had been on his way to refill his pumpkin juice cup.

"Hey, birthday girl, what's up?" Charlie hesitated as he came closer to Sean and Remus, who looked ready to duel at that moment. "Is there a problem, guys?"

"No." Sean said at the same time that Remus said, "yes."

A tense, awkward silence followed this. Lily broke the tension by saying loudly, "So! Charlie, why don't you Disapparate with Remus so we can all go to the beach?"

Charlie blinked, surprised. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, let's just go." I said fervently. Harry looped his arm through Lily's as Remus placed his hand on Charlie's forearm. To my huge embarrassment and delight, Sean took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. The last thing I saw was Remus's shocked and hurt face and then I felt as if I had been sucked into a pitch-black, tight tube. My eardrums pressed inwards, my eyeballs were going to pop out, my bones would surely crack and splinter as I was crushed to death…

And then we were breathing in the heavy tang of salt in the air. The tall, jagged skyline of mountains were gone, replaced by the flat, endless blue of the ocean stretching in front of us. I gasped, bending over, hands on my knees, trying to get my bearings back.

"Not a frequent flier, huh?" Sean said grimly. "It's not something you'll forget. It takes some getting used to."

"I… can see… that." I panted, trying very hard not to vomit. Flying on brooms was much more pleasant.

A second later, Harry and Lily joined us, followed by Remus and Charlie. I noticed with a twist of guilt that Remus was looking anywhere but at me and Sean.

"Right," Sean said merrily, "shall we split up? Or stay together?"

"Let's just get going." I muttered, not wanting to look at Remus any longer because of the pain it caused me. I knew that he was feeling exactly the way I had felt when he and Angelina had gone public with their relationship, but I was surprised to find that in spite of my anger then, I did not want Remus to feel the same aching hurt I had now.

The beach that Sean had taken us to was foreign to me. It reminded me of the Hufflepuff Games in the way that it was set up like a carnival, except on the seaside. Several Muggles were playing Frisbee and volleyball on the sand, while others played games or rode on the many rides in the park.

"This is Wolf's Neck Beach," Sean told me as we walked toward the bright tents and twinkle lights, "I used to come here a lot as a kid, but haven't had time to come in awhile. None of my mates think it's cool enough to come anymore."

I realized then that he was gauging my reaction. Smirking and deciding not to spare his feelings, I said, "So, you're secretly a huge nerd. Is that what you're trying to tell me?"

Sean laughed. "I am. My friends think arcades and carnivals are childish, but some of the best times of my life were spent right here."

I smiled at him in spite of how he had treated Remus. "Thank you for sharing your favorite place with me."

Sean smiled back. His hand twitched toward mine, but I quickly tangled my hands together, not wanting Remus to see.

Sean cleared his throat, leading me to a booth that sold fluffy pink webs. With a start, I realized people were eating it.

"What is this?" I said in amazement as Sean purchased a tall beehive-shaped mass of the bubblegum pink stuff.

"This is cotton candy," Sean told me, tearing off a bit and eating it. "It's Muggle food."

Amazed, I copied him and popped a piece into my mouth. To my great shock, it vanished the moment it touched my tongue.

"It's Muggle food?" I said, stunned. "But it's just Vanished!"

"Not Vanished." Sean told me. "Just dissolved. It's spun sugar."

"It's amazing!" I said, tearing off several more hunks. Sean soon introduced me to corn dogs, deep-fried Oreos, and bright ice called snow cones. He treated me to several games, winning me a small stuffed dog at a balloon-dart game.

"Thanks, Sean," I said, enjoying the rush of sugar and deep-fried carnival food. "But mind if I have a shot?"

"Sure thing." Sean said, handing over Muggle money to the attendant. Sean took the stuffed dog as I was handed five darts.

"What do I win if I get all five balloons?" I asked the attendant, who was busily smoking two cigarettes.

"Everyone's a winner." He grunted, his thick Coke-bottle glasses grimy from the cigarette smoke.

"I know," I said, trying to be patient, "but if I win every round?"

He barked a laugh. "I'd like to see that, missy. Win every round… ha!"

Frowning slightly, I narrowed my eyes and took a breath, trying not to choke on the noxious fumes of the cigarette smoke. With skills I'd learned from Sean and polished as a Chaser, I threw each dart with rapid and quick procession.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Five balloons exploded upon impact. Their bright remains fluttered to the ground. I grinned at the attendant, whose cigarette had fallen out of his open mouth.

"So," I asked gleefully, "what do I get?"

Five minutes later, I was walking with a gigantic stuffed brown teddy bear under one arm toward the Ferris wheel. Sean had tried to hold my hand again, but once again I had busied myself, needing both appendages. Sean looked amused and slightly annoyed as I kept both of my hands locked around the neck of the giant bear, the same size of my younger sister.

"Fancy a Ferris wheel ride?" Sean asked, gesturing to the tall red-and-white wheel, rising high into the sky. It was fully dark out now, the stars shrouded by light pollution from the carnival.

I chewed my lip. I remembered the Hufflepuff Games, when Remus had wanted to ride with me. It's our thing. I thought sadly, about to turn Sean down, when I remembered Angelina kissing him full on the mouth right in front of me. My grip tightened on the bear's fluffy throat.

"Sure." I said, forcing a smile. Sean handed two tickets to the attendant, a tired-looking twenty-something girl, who allowed us into a seat. It was big enough for four people, in the shape of horse carriages, with eye-popping colors on the roofs. Sean sat beside me as we settled in the Ferris wheel compartment. Just before the attendant could start the ride, however, Harry, Lily, and Remus came walking over right up to the wheel, since there was no line.

"Hi, guys!" Lily said breathlessly, still wearing the BIRTHDAY GIRL banner around her waist. "We got so much free stuff because everyone thought it was my birthday. Harry, want to ride with me?"

Harry looked only too happy to climb into another compartment with her. Remus looked oddly small without anyone beside him.

"Must have at least two to a compartment," the attendant sighed. "Sorry."

Remus shook his head. "Come on, can't I ride with them?" He pointed to Lily and Harry.

The attendant shook her head. "Sorry, every seat's full on the wheel. Too much weight. Stand back please, sir."

But Remus looked indignant. Pursing his lips, he backed up a few steps, shoving his hands into his pockets. His eyes traveled up to the Ferris wheel until they reached out compartment. Sean shifted closer to me. I gave a tiny wave, trying to smile in spite of my odd mixture of sadness and excitement.

The attendant cranked a knob, and the Ferris Wheel groaned to life. Slowly, our compartment rose higher and higher into the air, so that the spread of Wolf's Neck Beach and the surrounding landscape and ocean was laid before us. Sean slipped his hand into mine now, and I looked at him, pleading.

"I meant to give you something for your birthday," he said quietly, and I could feel my heart race in response, "but not until we were alone."

My mouth parted as I guessed what he was saying. Confused, I stared at him as thoughts of both himself and Remus flashed across my mind. How was it possible for me to feel so strongly about both boys?

Mired in confusion and guilt, I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "I thought you said I was too young. That you were too old."

Sean laughed softly. "I guess I don't care anymore." He started to lean forward, close enough so that I could smell his aftershave and see the thin blue veins in his eyelids, when Lily let out a blood-curdling scream from below.

Instantly thinking that Folsom was flying towards me on the night air, I whipped out my ash wand, heart pounding with adrenaline that preceded battle, but there was nothing in the skies. Then Sean shouted a swear and pointed below us. I followed his index finger and nearly fainted.

Scaling the rungs of the moving Ferris wheel was Remus.

"What are you doing?" Lily cried as Remus clambered higher and higher. "Remus, get down, you idiot!"

To my horror, Remus wasn't slowing down or going back to Earth. Rather, he was making a beeline for our compartment.

"Hey!" The attendant screamed, terrified. To my horror, I realized she had pulled the crank at the highest point of the Wheel. We were nearly seventy feet off the ground, and Remus was still climbing, like a spider moving across its web. Several Muggles were pointing and yelling down below on the ground; I hadn't realized I had clapped my hands over my mouth until Remus hauled himself in and I slapped him hard in the chest.

"What was that for?!" I raged, anger obliterating my initial fear. "You could have fallen and died, you complete moron!" I swore loudly, shaking.

Remus had taken the seat across from us, his green eyes electrically iridescent. I realized the moon was indeed nearly full, enhancing him with more wolf-like qualities. That was probably how he had been able to ascend the rungs of the Ferris wheel so deftly.

"I'm just riding the Ferris wheel with you." Remus said calmly, though sweat dripped from his brow. "I owed you a ride, remember?"

I gaped at him, dumbfounded. Sean looked livid.

"Lupin, for God's sake! What if I'd had to use magic to save your sorry arse? We could have exposed our world to the Muggles! We could have-"

But I shouted over Sean. "Remus, if you ever do something that stupid again… our… our friendship is over!"

Remus, to my disbelief and renewed anger, merely smiled. "You can't get rid of me that easily, Amber. Nice try, though."

"Nice try?" I shrieked, trying to stand up and hitting my head against the hard roof, making me wince with pain. "Are you serious, Remus?! Don't ever… I can't… you...!" I was so angry that words failed me.

Sean took over, shouting at him, but for all the good it did, Remus merely smiled. He looked strangely victorious as the Ferris Wheel reached the bottom of the arc and the attendant demanded he leave immediately.

"I'd rather stay with Amber, if that's alright," Remus said calmly.

"No, it is not alright!" I screamed. "Fine, I'm leaving!" I grabbed the teddy bear in a chokehold and stormed out, nearly tripping over the step in my haste. Remus and Sean followed me, but I ignored them, not stopping until I reached the seashore.

"Amber, I didn't mean to scare you." Remus said, sounding apologetic. "But-"

"Shove off, Lupin." Sean said harshly. "Don't make me get the newspaper out."

Before Remus could fire off a retort, I whirled around and dropped the teddy bear. I shoved Sean and then Remus in the chest, forcing them to take a step back. I had never felt so angry in my life.

"Leave. Me. Alone!" I snarled. "I am not a prize. I am not playing this stupid game! You told me our age difference was too much!" I shouted at Sean, who looked utterly astonished. "And you said you weren't safe." I yelled at Remus, who looked unhappily guilty. My chest was heaving; I fought hard to control the wildlife of emotions blazing through me.

"Amber," Sean started to say, but I rounded on him, drawing my wand, red sparks issuing from the tip.

"I'm talking!" I snapped. "Both of you need to stop this. I don't choose either of you. I choose myself. I like both of you, but I'm not going to turn this into some kind of sick game. I'm friends with both of you. Just friends. Understood?"

Remus opened his mouth to argue, but I jabbed my wand at him threateningly, and he quickly closed it. Sean gave a single curt nod. I glared at both of them, and then said, "now shake on it."

Both boys looked outraged. Before they could speak, I folded my arms across my chest, firm.

"Either you shake hands, or my friendship with both of you is finished."

Remus and Sean looked mutinous. But then, at last, Sean took a huge breath and extended his hand. Remus glared at it like it was something he'd found stuck to the bottom of his shoe. But at my furious look, he conceded and shook his hand. It looked like both boys were trying to crush the other's bones into powder before they broke apart.

"Good." I said coldly. "Now, I'm going to finish the rest of my night with Lily and Harry. I'm not sure where Charlie went, but I want both of you to leave. No arguing." I said sharply as they both opened their mouths.

"But I haven't given you your present." Sean said sadly.

"Me either." Remus added gruffly.

I threw my hands up in the air, exasperated. "I didn't ask for anything. I just wanted a quiet day with my friends. Not some ridiculous male fight-to-the-death-for-the-girl crap." I picked up the giant teddy bear that I had dropped and stormed away, kicking up sand in my wake. "Good night."

I left them standing on the beach, no longer caring enough to babysit them. Lily and Harry came rushing forth to meet me, looking alarmed.

"Is Remus completely mental?" Lily demanded, looking shaken. Harry shook his head.

"Personally, Lily, I don't really care." I looked over at a large swing carousel, bright and spinning innocently in the dark. "Let's have a go on that ride over there."

"You sure you're alright?" Lily asked nervously.

I shut my eyes, summoning the last vestiges of my patience and control. "Promise me one thing."

"Anything." Lily said immediately.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Don't ever let me crush on a boy again."

Lily giggled into her palm. At my furious look, she immediately took on the expression of one at the bedside of their very sick friend. Harry adopted the same somber look.

"Look on the bright side," Lily hedged as we made our way to the swing carousel, "you'll probably marry one of them. You've got to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince."

"Lily." I said darkly.

"Which frog would you choose?" She pressed, and let out a shriek of delighted fear as I drew my wand and chased her and Harry the rest of the way.