Here is the latest installment of Amber's tale. The plot continues to thicken... I love reading your speculations and your feedback! Enjoy!

"Come on," Remus said, taking my hand again. "It's cold up here. Let's go to the Shack. We can build a fire in the hearth and talk."

I hesitated. "Should we invite the others?"

Remus studied my face. "I think it's best if we're alone right now. I just need you."

My whole body went hot, then cold. "Alright."

Remus and I descended the staircases. It couldn't have been later than ten p.m., but the castle was absolutely deserted. The huge clock tower read 9:30.

"You aren't too tired, are you?" Remus asked as we located the portrait of the lake landscape and slipped behind it into the tunnel that would lead onto the grounds.

"Are you kidding? How many midnight meetings have we had? I've lost count." I had pulled my hand free again so that I could see with my wand light. The tunnel disgorged us into a curtain of hanging ivy. Pushing it past, the grounds of Hogwarts sprawled before us. It was very dark. Only the lights from our wands gave us any sense of sight.

"Do you really think Folsom was in the Three Broomsticks?" I asked Remus as we quickly crossed the lawn towards the Whomping Willow.

Remus looked around. "I don't know. It sounds like he was, but I think we're strong enough to take him on."

I appreciated that he wasn't talking about Angelina, but I knew I wasn't completely off the hook. In fact, now that he knew and had accepted it, I felt closer to him. Closer than I'd ever felt. A warm, powerful feeling had spread from my head to my toes, and every time Remus spoke, my heart skipped a beat. My palms were sweaty, and I felt like I was walking on clouds.

What's the matter with me? Why do I feel this way?

Remus levitated a willow twig and immobilized the ferocious tree by pressing the knot at the base where the roots sank into the earth. We crossed into the tunnel and barely acknowledged the mouse that scurried before us, squeaking in fear.

"I hope Peter's alright." I said, thinking of the boy. "I can't believe he was feeling that blue. I always thought that he was just shy. I guess he really was suffering without us knowing."

Remus nodded. "That's something that he shares with the rest of us. Sirius tried to hide his family history. James tries to hide his insecurities by acting cocky. I tried to hide my lycanthropy by pushing you all away. And you…"

"I know. I'm a catastrophe." I said sarcastically as the stairs came into view.

"No," Remus said quietly, his green eyes piercing me, "you're not."

I swallowed hard against the hot rush of heat that flooded through me at his vehemence. I averted my gaze and quickened my pace. We climbed up the stone steps and pushed open the trapdoor that lead into the Shrieking Shack. Remus lit several candles as I made my way into the main room. I had tried to clean up the inside ever since we had decided to use the place as our secret base, but it always seemed to revert back to its filthy state after we left. Maybe it was magicked to be that way.

"There's firewood outside." Remus said. "I'll be back."

He left me alone for a minute while he gathered wood. I took several deep breaths in and out, busying myself by moving around the main room, trying to cool down the heat raging within me. I pointed my wand at several pieces of furniture, including a dirty couch and armchair and said, "Scourgify."

The dust vanished. The old loveseat creaked under my weight when I sat down on it, my pulse racing through my veins. Remus returned, his arms full of firewood. He stacked it neatly in the old hearth and pointed his wand at the logs. "Incendio."

Remus took a seat beside me. My skin tingled at his closeness. A small voice in my head told me I should move to a different piece of furniture and put distance between us, but I ignored it. I wanted so badly to kiss him, but I knew better. He would just tell me we couldn't be together again.

"I can't believe what Madam Cheek said." Remus said at last, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames. "Sapphira Peverell. Do you think she has anything to do with your visions?"

I shrugged. "I think it definitely has something to do with the necklace. I don't know what kind of object it is, but it's not something I want to wear right now. I'm glad Dumbledore's going to take a second look at it. Maybe he'll be able to sort this whole thing out."

Remus was silent, flexing his arm as he leaned back against the loveseat. The firelight danced in angular shadows across his face, illuminating his old scars. I wanted to kiss them, and found myself blushing hotly at the idea. I tried to redirect the disturbing flow of my thoughts.

"Do you think we'll make it out of this alive?" I asked quietly.

Remus raised his brows. One long pink scar cut across one his eyebrows, and the separation was even more noticeable when he drews his brows up like that. There were three scars on his face, along with three other marks that disappeared down into his shirt. Each were the same cruel result of werewolf claws. Remus stared at me until I looked away into the fire. "What makes you say that?" He asked.

I shrugged again. "I don't know. I feel like a storm is coming. A war. Lord… You-Know-Who. He's the real deal, isn't he? Worse than Emeric the Evil, or Herpo the Foul. I think he's even worse than Grindelwald."

"Such a Ravenclaw." Remus said wryly. "I think you're right. But I also think we'll be okay."

But Angelina wasn't. I wanted to say, but I couldn't bring myself to speak her name aloud. Especially now. Especially after what I had done. "I'm afraid, Remus." I admitted quietly.

Remus looked at me, his expression enigmatic. "You don't have to be. You're a strong fighter. We'll be okay. We'll make it through whatever comes."

"And Peter?" I challenged. "And Sirius? James? Lily?" I thought about Virginia and Angelina, how they were already gone. "Who else are we going to lose, Remus? A war hasn't even started yet, and we've already lost people."

"Stop thinking that way." Remus said firmly. "You can't give into despair. You always have to hope. Once you start to think that way, it's pointless. Don't ever lose hope, Amber. If you do, it's not just the battle that's lost. It's the whole war."

I blew out a heavy breath, fighting tears, which seemed so constant nowadays, always just below the surface. I was so tired of crying. The onslaught of emotions swirled inside of me like a tornado, devastating and ruthless. "I wish I knew why I have this visions. I wish I knew who those men were. I see them dead, all the time. I wish I knew why Dad hid so many secrets from us. I wish Virginia was still alive. I wish you and I…" I trailed off. "Wishing won't change things, will it?"

Remus studied my face. He had turned pink at my words. "No, it won't."

"Do you ever wish Greyback had never attacked you?" I asked on an impulse. I felt a flood of guilt when I saw his face harden. His scars were more prevalent than ever.

"I don't know." Remus admitted. "Sometimes, I think that. I wish that I didn't have this curse of the moon. But then again, it's made me who I am. And I wouldn't change that." Remus smiled sadly at me. "I think you're in the same boat."

I tugged on the end of my braid. "I don't know what kind of boat I'm in. Sometimes I feel like I'm drowning."

"I'd jump off my boat and save you." Remus vowed. "You wouldn't drown."

I laughed softly. "Doggy paddling all the way, right?"

Remus chuckled. "That's the only way I swim." His face took on a more serious edge. "Amber, I want you to promise me something."

I sat up straighter, taking a steadying breath. "What?"

Remus leaned forward, the firelight reflecting in his green eyes. "Promise me that no matter how dark things get, no matter what happens, you'll never lose hope. Promise me."

My heart squeezed painfully in my chest. His words sounded so familiar. I realized that it was because his request was so similar to Virginia's last request.

"You'd better not die on me, Remus John Lupin." I said sharply. "I mean it."

Remus smiled faintly. "I know. But if that does happen, promise me."

I drew back, as if he'd slapped me. "I don't want to live without you." I said in a tremulous voice. "I don't think I can."

Remus' expression changed. He leaned forward, so close that I could see the tiny blue veins in his eyelids. My heart pounded so hard I swore he could hear it. "Promise me." He whispered, his green eyes fathomless.

My lips parted. We were so close that our breaths mingled. "You first." I said at last.

The flames reflected in his eyes, and I felt the heat all the way inside of every cell in my body. "I promise." Remus said quietly. "Your turn."

I swallowed hard, fighting the desire to lean forward and kiss him again like I had in June with every ounce of willpower I possessed. "I promise." I said at last.

Remus leaned forward a fraction of an inch. My heart pounded in double time as my eyes drifted shut and leaned closer, a drumbeat filling every space inside of me.

And then the fire blew itself out.

My eyes popped open. I blinked, trying to adjust to the sudden darkness and cold. Remus swore under his breath and drew his wand. "Lumos."

The willow wand tip ignited. Slowly, he rose to his feet. I drew my own wand, my heart pounding again, but this time, because of fear. The house creaked and moaned in the wind. The floorboards groaned.

"Is someone here?" I whispered, unable to hide the panic in my voice.

Remus gave me a hard look. "Quiet. Listen."

I gripped my wand tighter, my hands shaking. Folsom had found the building once before. Would he dare come back, after Willow's warning?

"I feel like we're being watched." I whispered. "Remus?"

"Listen." He repeated in a soft voice.

I did, hard. At first, I only heard the sound of the wind making the house creak and moan. Then I heard the front door open and slam, and the sound of male voices.

"Quick!" Remus hissed, ushering me to the trapdoor. But before we could get down the first three steps, the voices came closer, and I saw the shadows of several figures coming closer.

"This place is so creepy." One voice muttered, sounding annoyed. It was Regulus Black, Sirius' little brother. "Why'd we have to pick this place?"

"Because it's the most haunted building in Britain." Another voice said, and I recognized it as Logan Avery. "And we won't be disturbed here."

"Are you sure she's going to be here?" Regulus asked. "She promised?"

"Shut up." Avery said bitterly. "You sound like a little schoolgirl with a crush. She'll be here. Hurry up."

In the time that we had listened to the talk, Remus and I had silently hurried to one of the bedrooms on the second floor of the Shrieking Shack. Remus drew the door shut noiselessly as we looked around the room. We had explored every inch of this house with the other Marauders, and Remus himself dwelt inside once a month during his transformations. I made for the broken window, but Remus shook his head.

"Wait." He whispered. "Not yet."

I stared at him. "Why not?"

But Remus pointed with his wand to the sound of male voices, filling the room we had just vacated. "I want to know why they're here." Remus whispered.

Heart pounding in my throat, I quickly pressed against the wall, listening through one of the cracks in the plaster.

"It looks like someone's been here." A cold voice said, Edward Nott.

"This house is haunted." Avery said dismally. "It was probably a ghost."

"Ghosts can make fire?" Nott asked. "The wood in the hearth was recently burned."

There was a beat of silence. Then Avery gave a small snort. "You sound a paranoid old lady, Nott. Just sit down."

"I really don't understand any of you." A new voice said. I almost gasped in shock as I placed the owner of the voice.

It was Severus.

"And why is that?" Regulus demanded in his arrogant voice. "Considering you're the only half-blood, I would assume you knew."

"Is that a challenge, Black?" Severus asked softly. "You know what my curse did to that Harkstone girl last spring… I wonder what it would do to you. We could find out right now how pure my blood is, if you'd like."

"Enough." Nott said sharply. "Someone help me start this fire back up. It's bloody cold in here."

Remus and I exchanged a look as we listened to the commotion beyond the wall. "Let's go." I mouthed, but Remus shook his head.

"I want to hear this." He murmured. "Just stay quiet."

Frustrated and scared, I had to obey. I wasn't going to leave him alone with those goons. I couldn't stop remembering the last time I had listened in on a conversation of known Dark Lord-supporters, and the terror of being chased through the Forbidden Forest until I reached the outer edges of the castle's protection. I clenched my hands so hard that my fingernails bit into my palm. Remus pressed his ear against the paper-thin wall, listening.

"There." Regulus said triumphantly as the sounds of a crackling fire filled my ears. "It's going. What time was he supposed to be here?"

"Another five minutes." Avery responded. "And she's not here yet."

"I hope she's not angry with us." Regulus said, sounding worried. "I mean, we didn't exactly invite her, did we? She found out about our meeting and she wasn't happy."

"Does it really matter how she found out?" Avery shot back. "She'll be here. Just wait."

"Is Mulciber coming?" Severus asked quietly, and I felt a thrill of fury rush through my veins. I wanted nothing more than a chance at revenge against the slimeball, and Remus looked like he shared my exact feelings.

"No." Avery said. "He's pretty high on the wanted list nowadays. He can't come anywhere near Hogwarts. It's crawling with security. Look!"

A new voice, high-pitched and cold, spoke. The sound made goosebumps creep across my flesh.

"You requested an audience with me?" Folsom's voice said coldly. I stared, wide-eyed, through a crack in the wall.

"We did, sir," Avery said smoothly. "We wanted to check in with you. We haven't heard from you in a few weeks."

"Very well." Folsom said dryly. I couldn't see him, but his voice carried clear through the room as if he was right there with the Slytherin boys. Remus pointed a finger towards the crackling fireplace. Suppressing a gasp, I saw the familiar face embedded in the embers of the crackling flames. Folsom was speaking to them through the fireplace through the Floo Network.

"Get on it with your questions." Folsom spat after several beats of silence. "I haven't got all night."

"Yes, of course, sir," Avery said, his voice dripping with sickly-sweet respect. "You see, there's a problem."

"What problem might that be?" Folsom asked. "Didn't I send Madam Cheek with my blessings to the castle tonight? Didn't I make it easy for you to extract information from her? What's the matter? Were you not able to get to her?"

"Sir, she was escorted by Willow Smith to Professor Slughorn's Halloween party." Regulus said. "We couldn't get to her."

"Such a pity." Folsom said in his cold voice. "I practically deliver that hippo to you on a silver platter, and you can't even finish the job… How disappointing…"

"Sir, we were going to, but Dumbledore's with her now." Avery said. "Besides, what's so important about her anyway? She's just a fat psychic. She can't really tell the future. Not on demand, at least."

"You fool!" Folsom snapped. "It wasn't about triggering a Sight! You were supposed to ask her about The Hall of Prophecy. She works in the Department of Mysteries. The Dark Lord wishes to know if anything was said about himself."

There was a beat of silence. "Sir, why couldn't you ask her?" Regulus asked, his voice lofty. "Why did it have to be one of us?"

"I have already told you, boy: her mind is protected against those with Dark Marks. She cannot be questioned by a true Death Eater. That's why I needed one of you to ask her the questions. You children are even more pathetic than I ever could have thought possible. All of you think you can one day be trusted enough, honored enough, to become Death Eaters yourselves? What a challenge…"

"Sir," Avery pressed on, his voice half-pleading, "what about the Harkstone girl? Does the Dark Lord still wish to obtain her necklace?"

"No, she is of no real consequence, and neither is that necklace of hers. It is a mere copy of the real one he was seeking." Folsom said darkly. "If anything, she is mine. I owe her my 'thanks' for earning me the sack and putting me on the run from the Ministry. However, I believe that The Serpent Princess has personally asked The Dark Lord if she may handle the Harkstone girl until I am able to reunite with the girl myself."

Remus was trembling with rage. I shook as well, but out of fear. Who was the 'Serpent Princess'? Surely, it couldn't be Professor Smith's old alias, from when she herself was a Death Eater? She had long since abandoned the path of the Dark Arts. It couldn't be her.

"What else must we do?" Avery asked. "The Dark Lord has already amassed several giants and now the werewolves. Perhaps we can continue to recruit from inside the very walls of Hogwarts."

"I regret to inform you that you have very little chance of actually converting other students to our cause." Folsom told Avery, his voice full of disdain. "Considering that they've already been attacked three times by our forces. Granted, they were not the intended targets. However, their trust now resides in the Ministry and the school. You would be very lucky to recruit even one student from Hogwarts."

"Sir," Regulus said petulantly. "When we can we get our Dark Marks? We've been loyal to the Dark Lord and the cause. How come Mulciber got his already? It isn't fair."

The fire suddenly blazed, throwing heat even to me and Remus. The boys winced and jumped back.

"I am the Dark Lord's right hand!" Folsom shouted through the blazing flames. "You have no right to question when he deems a follower worthy to become a Death Eater!"

"But…" Regulus whined.

"Silence!" Folsom snarled. The flames dwindled, leaving the acrid tang of smoke in the dusty, dry air. "I will hear no more insubordination from any of you. Your new objective is remain loyal to the Dark Lord and the cause. I will let you know if and when you have your next assignment."

"Can we go now?" I whispered to Remus. "Before they find us?"

Remus gave a curt nod, though he looked like he wanted nothing more than to jump into the next room and fight. Slowly, we inched over to the broken window. "Muffliato." I whispered, pointing my wand in the direction of the Slytherins. We crept quietly to the edge of the rotting windowsill. An old trellis made of iron leaned against the wall, providing an unsteady escape route. But other than jumping two stories, it was our only way down.

"Ladies first?" I asked Remus quietly. He sighed, shaking his head. "I'd prefer to go first, to make sure it's safe."

Nodding, I backed up, allowing him to lean out the window first. His feet found purchase in the trellis and he began the slow climb down.

"What'd I miss?" A loud voice said, carrying right through the paper-thin walls. I froze, my feet rooted to the spot.

"Amber!" Remus hissed, only his head visible through the window. "Come on!"

"Wait!" I said, tiptoeing back to the door. I listened hard, heart hammering at the sound of the female voice that I had just heard. It can't be. I thought desperately. Please, no. Not her, too.

"You're late." Folsom's cold voice snapped.

"A lady is never late." The female voice responded regally. "Everyone else is just early."

"Amber!" Remus hissed again. "Come on!"

But I couldn't move. It was bad enough that Regulus and Severus had become ensnared with the Dark Arts.

Now, she was involved, too.

"I want you to fill me in on what's been going on, Folsom." The female voice instructed. "And explain why you sent Madam Cheek to me."

I was dragged to the window. Remus had climbed back in and retrieved me. His bright green eyes were hot as he picked me up into his arms and jumped out of the window. I didn't even have time to scream. We landed lightly, surprising me. I had expected it to jarring, painful, but it was like he had jumped a single step down a staircase, not two full stories onto tangled weeds and overgrown grass.

"How did you…" I trailed off, my eyes catching sight of the nearly full moon hanging in the sky. Remus' lycanthropy was much stronger this close to the full moon. A muscle jerked in his cheek as he led me away from the house. We could barely make out a glimmer of light behind one shuttered window where the Slytherins were.

All of them were Slytherins…

"Why didn't you come?" Remus asked, his voice rough. "That was stupid, Amber. You should have listened."

I glared at him, furious. "You aren't my boss! Or my father, or my Head of House! I make my own decisions!"

Remus stared down at me coldly. "Maybe you should learn to listen. That was dangerous."

"You were the one who wanted to stay!" I half-shouted. Remus hurried me away from the house, even though my Muffliato spell had clearly worked, since no one came rushing from the house with their wands brandished.

"Why didn't you come?" Remus repeated angrily. "I can't believe this. I thought only the Marauders knew about the Shack. I thought they'd know better than to use that place. It's supposed to be the most haunted building in Britain, because of me." He swore, his face livid.

"Gee, I don't know." I said waspishly. "Maybe they were desperate for a hideout? Or they're not afraid of ghosts?" I buried my face in my hands, drawing in a ragged breath. "Remus, did you hear anyone else in there? Other than the boys?"

Remus studied my face. "No. I was already out the window. Why?"

I let out a shaky breath, fighting with denial. I didn't want to believe it. It couldn't be true. But I had to tell him.

"I did. It was a woman. Mara Smith was in there with them. And she called herself The Serpent Princess? I mean, what's up with that?"

"Do you really think she's Folsom's daughter?" Remus asked as we hurried back to the castle. "It couldn't be someone else? Like… well, maybe Lord Voldemort?"

"Don't say that name." I said automatically. "And maybe we should ask Professor Smith herself. She needs to know what her daughter's doing." I swore loudly. "I can't believe this! She can't really be involved with the Dark Arts. She can't. I mean, she's the professor for the Defense Against the Dark Arts! And I've never sensed anything Dark about her."

Remus shook his head as we picked up the pace and began to jog. The castle neared, its glittering windows winking in the darkness. "I don't know. She seems pretty fascinated with the Dark Arts. Maybe she is. Maybe she turned and now she's in with that crowd."

"Don't say that." I said stubbornly. "There has to be some kind of mistake."

Remus shook his head again. "What if it's not? What if she's really turned over to the Dark Arts?"

"We have to talk to Professor Smith." I insisted. "Come on. I'll send her an owl. Can I borrow Percival?"

"Of course." Remus said, glancing over his shoulder again. "We'd better hurry. Come on."

By the time we made it up to the Owlery for the second time, we were both out of breath and very tired. The great horned owl swooped down from his perch near the top of the tower and landed lightly on Remus' arm. I scrawled another note out, my breath billowing out in silver clouds of mist in the chilly air.

Dear Professor Smith,

I need to ask you a few questions about Mara. It's urgent. I think she may be in danger.

Amber Harkstone

I rolled the small scroll of parchment and tied it with string. I attached the letter to Percival's outstretched leg and watched as the large brown owl flew out of sight.

"What a strange night." Remus remarked as we left the Owlery for the second time.

"You don't have to tell me twice." I said dryly. I couldn't get Madam Cheek out of my mind, or Folsom, or Mara. What was even truth anymore? My brain seemed unable to absorb any more new information.

"I think we should go to bed." Remus said, scratching at his nose. "There isn't much we can do other than wait for your owls."

"Shouldn't we tell Dumbledore?" I asked. "I mean, he should know, of all people."

"I think you'll find him occupied." Remus responded. "He was having a conversation with Madam Cheek, remember? There isn't much more we can do tonight. Let's just rest on this. Besides, we've got a full load of classes tomorrow."

I sighed in resignation. "You're right. Alright. Walk me back to Ravenclaw Tower?"

Remus escorted me to the tall, black iron staircase that wound up to the Ravenclaw Common Room. He gave a wry smile as I bade him goodnight.

"What's that smile for?" I asked defensively.

Remus shook his head. "I just keep thinking… All of this stuff, it always happens to you, doesn't it? Ever since I met you, you've been a danger magnet."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I shrugged and tugged on my braid.

Remus sighed. "I'm sorry, Amber. I know you don't ask for these things to happen."

I thought of Virginia, of my parents, the visions, Folsom, Mulciber, Angelina, Sean, Lily, the Death Eaters. Lord Voldemort. I pursed my lips. "You're right. I don't."

Remus nodded once, acting as if what we had said on the couch hadn't happened at all. "Sleep well, Amber. I'll see you tomorrow."

I watched him go, unspoken words swirling inside of me. But I had too much going on right now to even broach the thought of reconsidering a relationship with him, or Sean. I knew that war was coming, and there was nothing any of us could do to stop it now. It was only a matter of time before Lord Voldemort and his campaign became invasive to everyone in the wizarding world. I shivered in the chill air of the castle. Something much worse than a few bombs in King's Cross and a dead student in the Forbidden Forest was coming.

It was only a matter of time.

The next day saw more cold weather as fall wound down and winter continued to march forward. The cold gray skies remained overcast and brought a few flurries of snow as the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors made their way down the castle grounds to Professor Kettleburn's 'classroom', located near the Forbidden Forest and a barn-like building that was filled with classroom equipment and a few magical creatures. They included a unicorn with a broken leg, a frostbitten Bowtruckle, and a mother niffler that had just given birth to five babies. There was also a scruffy-looking barn cat with shrewd yellow eyes that stared at students with a rather hungry look in her eyes.

Professor Kettleburn was wearing his bear-skin cape and thick boots. He shuffled along with his wooden leg, a black eyepatch covering half of his scarred face. He spat on the ground as the crowd of students approached, sniffling hard against the cold air.

"Nothing like phlegm to warm you up." He said gruffly as he led the group of students into the warm barn. "All of yer, grab some parchment and quills to write with. Today's lesson will be somewhat of a scavenger hunt."

"Oh, goody." I muttered, already freezing and longing for the warmth of the castle. I still hadn't heard back from either Dad or Professor Smith, and that made me want to hurry into the library and search for answers more than ever. It was getting harder to be patient and wait.

"Quit yer bellyaching, Harkstone, and get to work." Professor Kettleburn snapped as he shuffled out of the barn. A cloud of bats fluttered higher into the rafters, squeaking in fear at the sight and sound of so many students. "I want you all to write down the names of creatures you see around the lake and draw a picture to go with it. Give a three sentence description of the creature. No horsing around, either, Potter."

James gave a shameless laugh as Sirius shoved him playfully.

"You've got one hour to complete the assignment. You should have at least five creatures by the time you're done. You can work of groups. No more than five per group. Get on with it!"

We all set off. Remus and Lily flanked me on either side, but for some reason, I wanted to be alone today. After what I had seen last night in the Shack and after what Madam Cheek had said, I felt contaminated. Dirty. Alone. I didn't want to spread that contamination to my two closest friends.

"Are you alright?" Lily asked not long after we'd left behind the majority of the class for the lake shore, which was rocky and full of pebbles. There was hardly any sand.

"I'm fine." I lied, scanning the water for signs of life. I remembered nearly dying here when a mermaid had attempted to drown me back in my first year. Remus had saved my life.

"I can go work with the guys," Remus offered, picking up on my melancholy mood.

"Well, who am I supposed to work with?" Lily protested.

"You could work with Peter." Remus suggested. "I'm sure he'd be over the moon to work with someone like you."

Lily straightened up, shaking out her hair. "I suppose you're right." She gave me a reassuring smile and departed. Remus lingered for a moment, shifting from one foot to the other.

"Are you sure you want to be alone?" He asked. I didn't have to answer. One look told him my feelings. I watched him assimilate with James and Sirius, who were already poking at a bowtruckle. The bowtruckle was holding onto the bark of a beech tree while brandishing needle-sharp claws at them. "Engorgio." I heard James say, and the bowtruckle doubled in size.

Rolling my eyes, I wandered farther from the noise of the class and breathed in the biting cold of November air. Closer to the fringe of the Forbidden Forest, I scanned the dark trees for any sign of movement. A fat black crow cawed raucously at me from a nearby tree. I cawed back, imitating the bird. Dad had taken me hunting with him since I was a child, and had taught me how to copy many animal noises. The list included crow, squirrel, fox, coyote, and moose.

The startled crow took flight and disappeared over the canopy of pine trees. I hastily scrawled a picture of it before noticing a dead bluejay on the ground. Its legs were curled up, its eyes frosty and white. The blue feathers were still vibrant and deep; it must have only recently died.

Grimly, I began to sketch the dead bird. Not long after, I felt the peculiar sensation of being watched. Skin prickling, I looked around, but saw only my classmates, a few hundred feet away closer to the lake. No one was paying any attention to me.

A particularly cold gust of wind made me cringe, trying to conserve my warmth. And then I saw him: the pale, shimmering silhouette of Julian Gray, hovering less than ten feet away near a pine tree.

I would have screamed if not for the fact that I was so cold I could hardly make any noise at all. I dropped my parchment and quill. I rubbed my hands together fiercely, trying to warm them. Julian was studying me with that same creepy stare that Folsom had. I swore softly.

"You scared me." I told the ghost irritably. "What do you want?"

Julian blinked. "You haven't been to visit me."

"Well, I don't normally associate with ghosts." I said dryly. "You know, the living usually associate with the living. And the dead, likewise."

Julian's expression didn't change. I shivered, unnerved. "What do you want?" I repeated. "No offense, but I kind of want to be left alone right now. I'm waiting on two important letters."

Folsom's son regarded me with translucent eyes. They were pale and must have been piercing blue during his life. I didn't want to think about that, since Folsom already haunted me. I didn't need his son following in his father's footsteps.

"I've come to warn you." Julian said, his voice faint and wispy. "Beware the boy who is haunted by the moon."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, thank you. Because the last thing I need is more drama and problems. Don't you think I have enough on my plate? And why do you say that? Who told you that?" I let out a groan of frustration. "Why me?"

Julian floated above the ground, stationery. "Why are you so melancholy?"

I stared at him. "I beg your pardon?"

Julian's gaze remained fixed upon me. "You are quite gloomy, you know. Not at all like the redheaded girl." There was a ghost of a smile on his face.

"Thanks, I'm glad you shared that with me." I said sarcastically. "Can you please go away now? I'd like to be alone, if you don't mind."

Julian picked at a spot on his chin. "The answers you seek can be found in the Chamber of Secrets. Only two may open it."

I had had enough. First Madam Cheek, now Julian. "Good-bye." I said coldly, turning my back on the ghost. When I turned around a minute later, he was mercifully gone.

"I didn't ask for this." I muttered furiously as I spotted an owl glaring down at me from a tree, its amber eyes glowing in the deep shade of the Forbidden Forest. "I didn't ask for ghosts or visions or drama. I'm just a normal girl who likes reading and Quidditch. That's all. Just reading and Quidditch. None of this weird stuff."

I continued to mutter and swear under my breath when I heard a gruff voice behind me. "If your mother heard you talking like that, I'd bet she'd ground you for a month."

I whirled around, face flaming. Professor Kettleburn was staring beadily at me, scratching at his grizzled beard.

"Sorry, Professor," I said lamely. "I didn't know anyone else was here."

"You make a habit of talking to yourself?" He asked, peering at me closely.

"No." I said defensively. "Sometimes voicing my thoughts helps me sort them out better, that's all. That doesn't make me crazy, does it?"

"I suppose not." Professor Kettleburn said in his deep, rasping voice. His shrewd eyes held me in place. "Why're you so interested in Quidditch, anyway?"

I shrugged. "Because I'm good at it. I don't know. I just enjoy it."

Professor Kettleburn made a grunt of assent. "I've seen how you are with the creatures. You're not afraid of them, and they like you."

"I grew up on a small farm." I told him, spotting a tiny mouse sniffling through the dead leaves at the base of the owl's tree and sketching it quickly. "I've always liked animals."

"Ah." Professor Kettleburn said. "Pity you enjoy flying around in the air on a broomstick playing with balls. I think you'd be better suited as a dragonologist or a magizoologist. Someone who works with magical creatures, you know. Seems more of your calling to me, especially since you hate people so much. I hate people too. Creatures don't talk back. Much better company."

"I don't hate people." I said crossly. "I just find creatures better company."

"I suppose." said Professor Kettleburn again, as the owl swooped down upon the mouse. "Well, if you're ever looking for some extra credit, Harkstone, you know where to find me. Watch out for that billwig. It's hovering by your head."

I snapped my head to the side. A small bright blue insect buzzed in midair and let out a whistle-like shriek before zooming away into the sky. Frowning, I looked at Professor Kettleburn, but he was already shuffling away to yell at Sirius and James, who had made their bowtruckle the size of a toddler and were now taking turns playing chicken with it.

The rest of the hour passed in peace and quiet. I finished six sketches and found time to practice braiding my hair before Professor Kettleburn blew his whistle and called us back to the barn. Just before I turned to return to the class, I felt the odd sensation of being watched. I half-turned, frowning into the direction of the Forbidden Forest. Even though it was daylight, the trees were black and gloomy, impervious to the sunshine. I had the distinct feeling that someone or something inside the safety of the trees was keeping their gaze trained on me. I felt like the mouse being watched by the owl, just before it attacked.

"It's nothing." I told myself firmly. "It's nothing." But all the same, I ran back to the class instead of walking.

After classes had ended for the day, I retreated to the library with Lily and decided to lose myself in my studies for our two-hour free period before dinner. After all, I told myself, I'm only fourteen. All of these problems aren't for me to solve. I'm only a student. The adults will handle them.

I tried to focus on reading the assigned chapters for our homework, but it was challenging when theories kept swimming into my mind. The Serpent Princess. Why would Mara call herself that? Why had she and the Slytherin students been meeting in the Shack of all places, with Folsom? Was Julian really trying to warn me, or was he just lonely and bored after being dead for decades on end? And Madam Cheek had told me I wasn't a Seer. But why did I have the visions that plagued me more than they had before? Could it possibly have to do entirely with the necklace instead of with me? And the book Minnie had given me for my birthday. I still hadn't brought it to any of my teachers who could help me decipher it. Plus, Dad owed me an explanation about the Department of Mysteries. And why he'd hidden his life as a Quidditch star from us. Finally, Professor Smith needed to know exactly what her daughter was into, if she didn't already.

"Amber, are you reading?" Lily asked, breaking me out of my reverie. I blinked. I realized that I hadn't turned a page in my Standard Book of Spells: Grade Four in over fifteen minutes.

"Sorry, I was thinking." I mumbled, rubbing my eyes. Dinner was in less than half an hour. My stomach rumbled, making it even harder to focus on my homework.

Lily rolled her eyes. "You aren't thinking about Sean or Remus, are you? They're just boys. They aren't worth making yourself sick over."

"No, it's not that." I said quickly. I scrubbed my hands into my hair, aware of how much I needed to brush it. I hastily twisted it into what I hoped was a braid. "I've just got a lot on my mind."

Lily looked concerned. "Anything I need to know?"

Lily already know most, if not all, of what was troubling me. I gave her a small forced smile. "I'm trying not to fix the world. I can't solve adult problems when I'm just a kid."

Lily nodded sagely. "You're only fourteen. Give yourself a break. Your job is to be a good student, not to fight Lord Vol… You-Know-Who."

Even Lily had started to fear the name of the Dark wizard as tensions escalated between him and the rest of the Wizarding World. I wanted to reassure Lily, to let know I was trying to be a better person, but it was very hard to lie to my best friend, when she had the uncanny ability to see right into the heart and truths of people.

"You look tired." She said. "You should head to bed early after dinner. Get some rest. Do you want some mandragora? I think I have some leftover from Potions today. Professor Slughorn gave me a little extra to take home."

I smiled at her shameless smirk. She had the old Potions master wrapped around her finger. "I might take you up on that. Hey, do you mind if we call it quits a little early on studying? I can't focus when I'm this hungry."

"I guess you're right." Lily said, packing up her stack of books. We carried our loads out of the library. Madam Pince watched us with a mixture of approval and suspicion. We made our way into the Great Hall, which was still mostly empty since dinner wasn't due for another twenty minutes.

"I wish we could just send these books back to our dorms." Lily complained, rubbing her back. "They're getting heavier each year."

"I know what you mean." I sympathized, my arms aching. "Hey, Lily. I've been meaning to ask you something for awhile."

Lily's face immediately turned shifty. "What?" She asked, half-grinning. "Do you want me to stop dating Harry? Because that's a definite 'no'."

I laughed. "No, definitely not that. I just wondered… do you think I'm normal? Be honest. I don't want you to sugarcoat or anything. I mean, I want to be normal. But I feel… I don't know. I don't know how to describe it. But I feel different. Not special, you know. Just, different. Like a black unicorn or something."

Lily sighed, shaking her head. "Amber."

"I'm not asking for anything like sympathy." I added. "I just want your honest opinion. Please."

Lily studied me intently. I felt like a bug under a microscope and forced myself to meet her gaze squarely. Like Dumbledore, she made me feel like I had no secrets, that she could see right into my soul.

"You're not bad different." Lily said at last. "But you're not normal, I guess. You're not like anyone I've ever met. It's not a bad thing, Amber. Don't look at me that way. Listen, no, listen." She said sharply, grabbing my arm as I looked away, feeling dejected and worse than before. "You're a special person, Amber. You're like my sister. No, you are my sister. I'm closer to you than I've ever been to Tuny. And you're not afraid to speak your mind. Yes, I wish you'd choose to embrace your feminine side more. And I wish you'd be more honest with yourself and not try and be a martyr. You can be blunt and cold. Hey, don't cry. Please."

I sniffled, overcome by emotions. "I'm sorry." I whispered, dashing them away. "I cry all the time now. Ever since I started coming to school here."

"It's called 'puberty', love, and you'll be fine in a few years." Lily said encouragingly. "You don't have to feel bad about yourself just because your mum refuses to be impressed by you. Or because your dad keeps secrets. You're perfect just the way you are. God made you this way, and that's good enough for me. Even when I want to fix your hair or change your outfit."

I laughed tearfully, embracing her. "I'm sorry, Lily. I don't mean to be such a weepy mess."

"We're fourteen. Life is tough." Lily said solemnly.

"Tell you what." I said hesitantly. "You can give me a full make-over Friday night after classes are done. We can have a girl's night. Does that sound fair?"

Lily sighed. "Amber, don't feel like you need to change. I love you just as you are, alright? Don't listen to me."

"You are a walking contradiction, you." I teased her as we made our way into the Great Hall. We spent the rest of the evening discussing classes, boys, and plans for our future careers.

"...I'm thinking about playing for the Holyhead Harpies." I confided in Lily as we walked upstairs to the Owlery. Neither Soren nor Percival had yet returned a letter, and I wanted to make sure they hadn't already returned to the castle.

"You should!" Lily exclaimed. "You'd be perfect! Are you sure you don't want to try for the Falmouth Falcons? I think Sean would be happy to put a good word in for you. Oh, don't make that face. I was only joking." Lily added as I rolled my eyes.

"I wonder what Hogwarts will look like when you take over Slughorn's position." I mused as we made it to the Owlery. "I'm sure he's got good connections with Dumbledore. You'd be the youngest teacher ever."

"If only." Lily said dreamily as we scanned the hundreds of owls for our two quarries. But they were absent among the sea of owls.

"I wonder why they're taking so long to respond." I muttered. "That's so odd. Dad should have responded right away, and Professor Smith should-"

Just then there was the sound of running feet pounding up the stone steps. A moment later, Miriam Tring, a fellow Ravenclaw, appeared. She was breathless and red-faced.

"Are you alright?" Lily asked, startled.

Miriam gasped for breath. "Amber! Amber, I don't know who did it, but you'd better come quickly!"

I exchanged a look with Lily, who looked equally afraid. "What's the matter?" I asked sharply.

"Follow me." Miriam instructed. Lily followed us down the steps, but I stopped her as we reached the bottom of Ravenclaw Tower.

"Wait here." I told her. "I'll be right back."

Lily nodded, planting her feet, and I rushed up the spiral stairs after Miriam. She was at the knocker, which opened its beak and asked, "You will always find me in the past. I can be created in the present, But the future can never taint me. What am I?"

"Uh…" I said dumbly, as Miriam snapped, "History!"

The door swung open. I plunged in after before I could lament my own slowness. The Common Room was full of people who stared at us as we pelted up another spiral staircase into the fourth year girls' dormitory.

My jaw dropped. One bed was in complete disarray. My bed.

The damage extended beyond my bed, which was nestled in the sill of a large window, like the other girls'. My chest was open, the contents flung pell-mell across the floor. Even my clothes had been thrown out and strewn on the floor, along with several textbooks, quills, rolls of parchment, a scrapbook of my memories at Hogwarts, and a now-cracked Sneak-o-scope. I searched through the wreckage, numb.

"Lucy Dunstan told me." Miriam said in a half-scared, half-shocked voice. "I've already told Flitwick. He should be here any second. Is anything missing?"

I pawed through my scattered possessions, my heart sinking into my stomach. "Yeah. Just one thing."

The old book Minnie had given me for my birthday was gone.