"OMG IS THAT AN UPDATE?!" You know what that means... Spring break is here! Huzzah! I was finally able to finish this chapter after much procrastination after studying for my midterms. Thank you so much for your reviews and your support.. they are amazing sources of reassurance and inspire me to keep this tale going. Y'all are the BEST!

A cold hand clamped over my eyes, and I twisted violently, picturing a vampire with piercing blue eyes and three dead children come to try to take my life once again. I was too startled to scream, but before I could grab my wand a jubilant voice said, "Guess who?"

The ice in my veins melted. Lily. It was Lily.

The hands left my eyes and I could see again. Heart slamming against my ribs, I found myself staring up into the heart-shaped face of my best friend. Her bright green eyes glittered in the sunlight, and her foxy smile widened. "Scared you, didn't I?"

I swallowed hard. "Yeah, sure you did."

"I think you overdid it, Lily," another familiar voice said, and my heart leapt again. It was Remus.

"I hope I didn't scare you too badly." Lily said, frowning. "Are you alright?"

"About as good as you'd expect." I said dryly, trying to shake off the tremors. "Considering I was just attacked by two werewolves and a vampire."

Remus stiffened, but Lily shrugged. "I knew you'd be fine. You were almost a Gryffindor."

"Lily." Remus said plaintively. "Enough."

"Oh, alright." Lily sighed, tossing back her long tail of red hair. "Is Naomi here?"

"She's down there, swimming." I pointed to the duck-like form of my little sister.

Without another word, Lily jumped off of the rocky ledge and hit the water with the force of a bomb. I knew she had used magic because the water shot up as if a nuclear bomb had just detonated underwater. I shielded the old book with my body as the water fell back as a drenching rain. The air was filled with screams of delight and amusement.

"Ancient and priceless family heirloom... just splash some water on it." I said loudly, rolling my eyes.

"That's Lily, always making lemonade out of lemons." Remus said wryly, shaking out his wet hair like a dog. "What's that?"

I held out the old book mutely. Remus took it, frowning. "Wait a minute. Isn't this…?"

"Yeah. Zoey gave it to me in the hospital. I haven't had any luck getting it to tell me anything though."

"Maybe you aren't supposed to know just yet." Remus replied, examining the book with clinical interest. "Is Minnie still alive?"

"Until someone puts her down for rabies." I sighed in vexation. "She's about as sweet as a rotten lemon."

"Sounds like Minnie." Remus said knowingly. "How are you?"
I gave her a droll look. "I'm just great."

Remus raised a scarred brow. "You look white."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not trying to win sympathy points, alright? The cover-up is modest. Doesn't show skin like Lily's does." I nodded to the redhead, who had scooped Naomi up onto her shoulders and was walking around with the child squealing in delight.

"Lily is Lily. We know this. But, really… you know, how's physical therapy and everything?"

I sighed. "Painful. But that's a good sign, I guess. I need my cane less and less."

"Did you finish all of your summer homework?" Remus asked, a gleam in his eyes. It had been a competition between him, Lily, and I for the past four summers to see who could complete their assignments first.

"As a matter of fact, no," I told him drilly. "Only McGonagall gave me anything. She doesn't think I should be given any freebies, even after almost dying. But it's alright. I appreciate the notion."

"So that means I win." Remus said, sliding a pair of black Aviators over his face. I noticed, with a creeping blush, that he had filled out over the summer. Once again, he looked like he had been stretched and filled with muscles. He was taller, too. I could tell even while he lounged beside me.

"I guess." I said evasively. I was trying very hard not to stare at him, or count the number of abdominal muscles on his torso. I was pretty sure there were six, but I looked away before I could double-check.

"Where's Locke?" Remus asked casually.

"Working." I hesitated, then added, "he's a spy, for the Ministry. Or the Order. I don't know, he was very secretive about all of it. Not even Mara will talk to me about it. But I guess between that and Quidditch, he's very busy."

"That's too bad." Remus said lightly, but I wasn't fooled. He was pleased. I rolled my eyes and turned several degrees away from him so I wouldn't be tempted to stare.

"I haven't seen any of the guys over the summer," Remus added. When I didn't say anything, he pressed on. "I mean, I saw them at the hospital but that was it. We've been sending owls."

The guys. Peter. Mouth suddenly dry, I turned back to face him. My palms began to sweat, and I wiped them on my thighs. "Listen… I need to tell you something."

Remus sat up as I told him about my flashback to the forest, and about hearing Peter's voice. To my relief, instead of looking upset, Remus looked in mock disbelief.

"Peter? Peter Pettigrew?" Remus asked me, lifting up his sunglasses so that his green eyes pierced mine.

"I know, it sounds ridiculous." I admitted, unable to dispel the chill inside of me, "but I'm positive it was his voice, Remus."

He didn't look convinced. "Come on, Amber… Peter? He can't even jinx a flobberworm, let alone Stun someone. Let alone you!"

"Maybe he was Imperiused." I thought aloud, knowing how capable Folsom was. Mulciber was too. "I can think of a few candidates."

"Me too." Remus agreed. "But Amber, you just went through a huge ordeal. Don't push yourself too hard. Trust me, I've been there. It's easy to let your mind scare you."

I sighed. "I guess you're right. But I don't know, Remus. I'm almost certain it was Peter who Stunned me."

Remus looked slightly troubled now. "I can talk to him."

"No, no. I'll talk to him when the time is right." I sighed. "You can be with me when I do, if you want."

"I'd like that." Remus said seriously.

"So, anyway… what brings you and Lily to Bellinghall? How did you two know where to find us?"

"My dad saw your dad at the Ministry. Told him you were holed up like a turtle inside its shell all summer. So Dad arranged for a Portkey so me and Lily could come to Bellinghall village and find you. We saw you drive by in the truck and walked here."

I raised a brow. "Holed up?"

"He said you weren't wanting to come outside. Sensitive skin and sunburn." His easy smile made my heart flutter, immediately followed by a wave of guilt. I had a boyfriend. I had no right to feel these things about Remus.

But it was useless, and it was like these new scars: I would carry them with me for the rest of my life. My love for Remus wouldn't fade. It was just something I'd have to live with.

"Did you bring food?" I asked, nodding to the woven basket beside him. It was quite small.

"Oh, yeah. Lily's mum packed us a feast. We have fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, biscuits, iced tea…"

I raised a brow. "In that little thing?"

Remus began pulling the items out of the shoebox-sized basket. My brows lifted up in shock. She had packed enough food to feed a small army.

"Undetectable Extension Charm," Remus explained. "Lily did it. I think she did it in a way that made it impossible for the Trace to tell if it was me or her. So we're off the hook this time."

"James and Sirius have taught us well." I said gravely as I reached for a cup of iced tea. Remus shook his head. "Allow me."

"I'm not a cripple, Remus, I can feed myself." I objected.

"Yes, but I'm a Gryffindor. Let me be chivalrous." Remus smacked my hand away lightly. Bemused, I withdrew, allowing him to fill my plate. I ate with my fingers, not caring about ladylike appearances. With Remus, I didn't have to pretend to be elegant. I could just be myself.

"Did you hear that broadcast earlier?" I asked as I swallowed a bite of fried chicken. It was juicy and hot.

"No, but Dad told me. He has the know-how at the Ministry. Your dad knows too, I'll bet. What do you reckon?"

I shrugged. "Dumbledore was right. He said Lord Voldemort would do this. Professor Smith's doing her best to fight him, and so is Dumbledore."

"I sure hope so." Remus murmured darkly, eating a large chicken breast. "I can't wait until I'm old enough to fight these bastards."

I lifted my brows in surprise. Remus rarely showed such passion for things like fighting. "Remus John Lupin! I'm afraid I can't allow such vulgar talk."

Remus cast me a sardonic look that made me grin back. Remus exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry. I just wish there was more we could do. It's great to be in school and learn, but they need warriors, not students."

"I think we're too young to do anything about this." I said firmly, remembering Professor Smith's words. "Just wait, alright? I don't want my best friend running out and getting Imperiused or tortured or worse."

Remus gave a small nod. "Alright. But I tell you… if any of those Slytherins try anything…"

I ruffled his hair. "Down, boy. Let's focus on graduation first alright?"

Remus smiled wryly. "Alright, what's wrong with this picture? Why am I the one being scolded and not you?"

I stuck my tongue out at him. Remus mirrored the gesture just as Naomi and Lily hiked up to our sunny spot on the rock. "Ooooh, chicken!" Naomi squealed, diving upon the feast with abandon.

"She's getting big." Lily observed as she took a seat beside me, drinking my iced tea. "She'll be at Hogwarts before we know it."

"Two more years!" Naomi said through a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

"Close your mouth so we don't have to see that trainwreck. Thank you." I scolded her.

"Merlin's beard," Lily said in resignation. "I remember when we were first years at Hogwarts."

"That was already five years ago." Remus mused.

"Four." I corrected.

"Something like that." Lily conceded. "You look good, Amber. Getting out in the sunlight will give you more Vitamin D. Helps boost your mood."

I looked between her and Remus with an indignant look. Bronze skin. Firm muscles. Hardly any baby fat left on either of them. And both had the confidence of maturity about them like an aura. "Excuse me."

Remus and Lily paused in the act of chewing. "What?" Lily asked, her voice muffled.

I folded my arms. "Have you two been working out together? Without me?"

Remus and Lily exchanged a guilty look. Both swallowed loudly. "Well, yes," Remus said at last. "Is that a problem?"

I looked between them again. Both were single. Both were very attractive. And both were extremely good friends. The familiar and powerful wave of guilt and jealousy swept through me.

Well, they were close. Wouldn't they be a cute couple?

No, they wouldn't! An inner voice snarled in my mind. They're like brother and sister. They aren't a couple at all. That's gross to even think about!
But did brothers and sisters work out together until they looked like they'd be modeling in the next edition of Witch Weekly?

"Amber, what's wrong?" Lily asked, her smile fading.

I bit my lip as I pleated the hem of the white slipcover. I had lost weight and muscles while being in a coma. The scars covered almost all of my body, including my face. I hadn't been outside much, and I knew I was fishbelly pale. My hair was as crazy as ever, and I had the unpleasant feeling that I looked like a cross between a werewolf and a homeless shut-in.

"Nothing." I said, forcing a small smile. "Just feeling a little left out, that's all." I tried to sound amused to take the accusation out of the words, but I knew Lily and Remus weren't fooled.

"Amber," Remus began, but Naomi interrupted him.

"Hey, did you two know that Amber has tickets to see the Montrose Magpies play against the Falmouth Falcons?" Naomi gushed. "She's got, like, ten."

"I've got, like, six." I corrected her.

"Oh, yeah, six." Naomi agreed. "But the game is next week, and you should both come!"

Lily arched a brow. "Is that okay, Amber?"

I didn't say anything at first. The truth was that at first I hadn't invited Remus or Lily because I was afraid that there was something more than friendship going on between them. But how selfish and childish was I being? Was I not allowed to have friends anymore? Or let them come together, if that was what they wanted?

It's because you still love Remus. The inner voice said accusingly. I shook my head, trying to block it out.

"If you don't want us there, I understand." Lily said coolly.

"No, I want you to come." I said quickly. "I just thought… I didn't think you liked Quidditch."

This answer seemed to satisfy both of them. It was true that neither Remus nor Lily had ever shown an aptitude for the sport. "That's fair." Lily conceded. "Alright. I'd love to go. Who else is going?"

"Me!" Naomi shouted. "And Mum and Dad."

"It'll be one big happy family." I said, cracking a smile.

"Yeah," Lily said, smirking at Remus. "One big happy family, plus the token sour puss. Also known as Amber."

I smacked her arm a little harder than necessary. Lily's eyes flashed, but she didn't say anything. Did she know I was jealous? Did she sense I didn't like feeling this way? But she didn't say anything. Instead she turned back to Naomi and smiled widely. "What are we doing still sitting here? Let's get some more sunscreen on and get back in the water!"

"Only if Remus and Amber come too!" Naomi objected.

"I'm not going in the water." I said firmly. "I already told you."

"Aw, come on, Amber!" Naomi whined. "It's only summer for a few months, and it's almost August!"

"She's right." Lily said wisely. "The snow will be flying before you can say 'Quidditch'."

"Are you even dressed to swim?" Remus asked, eyeing the slipcover.

I blushed. "As a matter of fact, I'm wearing that two-piece Lily gave me."

Lily's face brightened. "You are? Well, come on, let's pop the hood and check out this engine!"

My face immediately flamed with color. "Lily!"

"If you won't do it willingly…" she drew out her wand threateningly.

"You wouldn't." I said flatly, eyeing the wand.

"Try me." She said, a tiger-like glint in her eyes.

I had no choice. Filled with the heat of embarrassment and shame, I slowly removed the slipcover, feeling like I was tying a hangman's noose.

I couldn't look at anyone. I heard Lily whistle. Then Naomi giggled. Remus was silent.

"Let me put it back on." I said at once. "Please."

"Uh, no way." Lily said, wagging her finger. "You're an A-class hottie, my dear. Look at those curves."

I buried my face in my hands. "Oh, please shut up."

"Come on." Lily laughed, helping me to my feet. "You're going in."

I dared to peek at Remus' face. I was expecting to see disgust or revulsion, but there wasn't. Instead, his face was pink. He was looking at my body with embarrassed excitement, as if he was doing something he shouldn't but proceeding anyway.

"Remus?" Lily asked airily, scooping up Naomi. "If you don't mind?"

Before I could react, Remus scooped me up into his arms bridal-style. I could smell the familiar aroma of cinnamon, chocolate, and fresh laundry. But there was more. Sunscreen, aftershave, deodorant, sweat. Masculinity. He was no longer the small and frail first year I met while doodling in Flitwick's class. Like James, he had blossomed and filled out into a young man.

A very attractive young man.

Like Sean. I reminded myself, but for some reason, I couldn't recall his scent or what he looked like. All I could focus on was the heat spreading over my entire body like a fire, and the feel of his safe, strong arms carrying me down the slope and towards the water.

"I feel ridiculous." I mumbled as people watched us. "I must look like a dead thing you're about to send down the river with a eulogy."

"Shut up." Remus said lightly. "You're gorgeous."

A thrill of heat raced from my head to my toes. You're gorgeous. Remus had called me gorgeous.

But we're just friends. Friends.

Friends who called friends 'gorgeous'. Who carried them bridal-style. Who counted abs.

Not just friends, I thought as he carried me into the cool, breathtakingly refreshingly water, best friends.

After a quick owl to Sean, the arrangements were made and the Quidditch game was finalized. The upcoming full moon meant that we would attend the game between the Magpies and the Falcons on August 3rd, which was just three weeks shy of my fifteenth birthday, on August 21st. The game wasn't nearly as popular as the World Cup, which was held every four years. The most recent World Cup had been last summer, between Syria and Madagascar. The next Cup wouldn't be until after I graduated Hogwarts. And, hopefully, I thought as I dressed for the upcoming game in my room, I'll be playing professionally.

Sean had loaned me his second set of Quidditch robes. Even though I wanted to wear my Hogwarts uniform with HARKSTONE, 4 in silver block letters on the back, Sean insisted I wear his for good luck. He had sent it rolled-up and tied with his owl, who had quarreled with Soren over a dead mouse the latter had caught for dinner.

"Stop it, you two," I scolded as Sean's owl screeched angrily at Soren and flew out of the window before I could pen a response. I pulled the tunic-like robe over my head. It was enormous on me. Sean was broad-shouldered and tall, and I was short and waifish thin after the werewolf attack. My stomach had shrunk to the size of a chestnut during my month-long coma, and I still had a difficult time eating the proper amount of food to not only maintain weight, but to gain it back. As I stared at myself in the floor-length mirror, I realized how much I looked like Virginia when she had been battling her lifelong sickness. I lifted up the robe and could clearly count my ribs. Dejected, I let the dark gray robe drop and finished getting dressed. Lily and Remus would be arriving by Portkey in the front yard. Dad had arranged for the lamppost to be activated twice. Once for them to arrive, and again for them to depart much later in the night. We would be traveling to Suffolk (where the game would be played) by Floo Powder.

There was a clear buzz of excitement in the small house as I made my way down the stairs. No matter how much it hurt, I refused to use my cane for this trip. Dad was wearing his own Falmouth Falcons robe, which was faded and light gray with age. HARKSTONE, 13, was still on the back. Mine read LOCKE, 15.

"Amber! Amber!" Naomi yelled as she bounced over to me. "How much do you want to bet on the game?"

I gave her a bemused expression. "Aren't you a little young to be gambling, little duck?"

Naomi gave me a sly look through fluttering lashes. "Not really. I have five Galleons, three Sickles, and ten Knuts."

"That's all your savings." I objected. "I'm not betting."

"Chicken! Well, Daddy already agreed to bet with me. He said that he'd take my odds. I think that the Magpies will win, 350-200."

"That's quite the odds." I laughed. "I'm all set. I'm just going to watch to have fun and support Sean."

"Oooooh, your boyfriend!" Naomi drawled. "Do you two kiss and stuff?"

At my red-faced look, Naomi made a retching noise. "Ewwww that's disgusting! Why would you ever wanna kiss a boy? They've got cooties!"

"Well," I said, ruffling her dark hair, "you might change your mind when you get older."

Naomi ran into the kitchen. "Mummy! Did you know that Amber has kissed a boy?"

"Naomi!" Mum chided. "That is none of your business."

"Actually, I've kissed two!" I retorted. Dad gave me a pained look. I held up my hands, palms up. "Dad, I swear that's all I've ever done."

Dad plugged his ears. "I don't want to know."

"Dad."

"Can't hear you."

I walked over and tried to tug his arms so that he would hear again. "DAD! I'm a virgin. Alright? Relax."

"Thank you, Amber, for letting us know," Mum said briskly as she strutted into the living room, wearing her customary robes of sky-blue and her crowned braid. I gave her a hapless look of innocence. Naomi frowned. "What's a virgin?"

"Nothing you need to worry about right now." Mum told her, taking her hand. "Ready to go you two? Your friends will be here any second."

"Right." I said, steering Dad outside. He had finally unplugged his ears and was frowning up at the sky. The sun was sinking low to the horizon, but there was a black cloudbank rising over the western mountains, coming east. Coming towards us. Distantly, I could see flashes of lightning and hear quiet rumbles of thunder.

"What's the matter, Walter?" Mum asked, looking hassled. "We're going to be late."

"No, we're not, Lena." Dad admonished. He squinted in the direction of the clouds. "We weren't supposed to have rain today."

"It's summertime. It's just a summer thunderstorm. Come on." Mum nudged him. Dad moved just as the shapes of Lily and Remus crashed unceremoniously into the ground in front of the lamppost. Like so many other young witches and wizards, we still didn't quite know how to land gracefully when traveling by Portkey.

"I can never stick the landing." Remus grumbled as he rose to his feet, rubbing his backside. He pulled Lily to her feet, who blew strands of fiery hair out of her mouth and quickly tied it up into a ponytail. Lily was wearing a Montrose Magpie bracelet; Remus had a simple black baseball cap that he had written MAGPIES on in white letters. Dad frowned heavily upon seeing them.

"I thought we were supporting the Falcons." He said in a suspicious voice.

"Well, seeing as Locke plays for the Falcons…" Remus said, trailing off at Lily's withering look.

"I'm supporting Mara." Lily said with a look of disgust at Remus. "And I think you should support Amber's dad's team."

Remus lifted his brows. "Why?"

Dad seemed to swell with indignant pride. "Because I used to play Chaser for them, back in my day."

Remus blinked. I could tell he hadn't known this, but I didn't want him to try to impress my father. There was no need. I rolled my eyes and shuffled toward the house. "Honestly… can we please just go? Before we get struck by lightning?"

There was a round of collective grumbling from the group at large, but everyone shuffled in after me into the bungalow. Dad passed around a bronze urn full of glittering emerald dust until everyone clutched a fistful in their hands.

"We'll go first." Mum volunteered, holding hands with Naomi as she stepped into the large hearth. "Suffolk Quidditch Field!"

She flung down the powder into the smoldering coals and a huge bang! erupted from the fireplace. A flash of green flames devoured my mother and sister, and I stepped up next, my left leg already cramping with pain.

"Amber, do you want your crutch?" Dad asked, noticing my grimace.

"No, Dad, I'm fine. Really." I tried to brush off the pain, but nobody looked convinced.

"She's far too stubborn to admit she's in pain." Lily said sardonically. "I'll get it."

"It's upstairs in her bedroom." Dad told her as Lily pounded up the narrow stairs.

"I don't need it. I don't… oh, for heaven's sake." I muttered, resigning myself to being treated like an invalid. I hurled the powder down with more force than necessary and said, "Suffolk Quidditch Field!"

The pleasantly warm flames engulfed me. A moment later I stepped out of the hearth of an old, crumbling brick fireplace. At one point, it had been inside of a house that had long since been demolished or burned down. It stood like a lone red sentry at the copse of a hill overlooking a sprawling field. There was a distinctive roar from a crowd as I looked in the direction of a mass of wizards and witches making their way from various other fireplaces and Portkeys towards checkpoints that would lead to the pitch. I couldn't see a pitch, but knew it was probably magicked so that Muggles couldn't see it.

"Where will they play, Mummy?" Naomi asked as I shuffled to join them by an apple tree. "I don't see a pitch."

"I imagine they're playing underground," Mum guessed. "They usually have the pitches built like bowls into the earth. Sometimes they have them above-ground, though. I suppose we'll see after the checkpoint."

Remus, Lily, and Dad had joined our ranks within a minute. The six of us set off across the grassy field at a slow pace, but even that was too much for me. Gritting my teeth, I stopped to allow my bad leg to relax and to catch my breath. Sweat beaded across my brow, and we hadn't even been walking for five minutes.

"Amber, are you alright?" Dad asked, coming to stand by me. He laid a hand on my forehead. "You're sweating."

"I'm fine." I assured him. "I'm just… a little out of shape. That's all."

"You're still hurt." Remus said, a muscle jerking in his cheek. Before he could say anything else, Lily handed me my crutch. Her meaningful look was enough to tell me that she wouldn't tolerate any stubborn pride. Biting my tongue, I accepted the crutch and began the slow hobbling gait over the field. I knew others were watching me, but I pretended that I didn't care.

"We'll go on ahead and save our seats." Mum said. Naomi was bouncing impatiently. It wasn't her fault she was young and had energy to spare.

"We'll meet you inside." Dad said, giving her a quick peck. I blushed with hot embarrassment as we ambled sluggishly towards the half-dozen colorful tents, the checkpoints. We joined the crowd at the bottleneck after a painfully long trek and submitted our wands for examination by the security wizards. Then we had a red stamp marked on the backs of our hands, and we had our tickets torn.

"Top box seats," the portly wizard said, looking at my ticket half. "34 A. Go straight ahead and ask the security witch for assistance. I think we can arrange some kind of lift or ride for you, if you need it."

I was so embarrassed that I couldn't even say thank-you. Without saying a word, I shuffled off with the crutch underneath my arm, pretending I couldn't feel the stares and curious glances as we made our way toward the underground stadium.

"People are so stupid," Lily muttered as she walked beside me, keeping my slow pace evenly. I could feel my cheeks burning as a group of chattering children pointed and giggled at me.

"I'm never having kids." I vowed darkly as Remus placed his baseball cap on my head. I tried to pull it off, but Remus pulled my hand away.

"Remus!" I protested. "I can't go into my boyfriend's game supporting a different team."

"So you don't get sunburnt." Remus reasoned, a lopsided smile on his scarred face. "And you don't have to look at those pesky onlookers."

Grumbling, I made my way into the stadium. Remus and Lily acted as human shields so that I wasn't jostled, while Dad led us at the front. I was grateful to all three of them, but I didn't how to say thank-you without crying. Lately, tears of frustration were always just beneath the surface of my control.

"Top box seats." Dad announced as we walked down a narrow cat-walk, a rickety guardrail providing a breathtaking and alarming view into the giant bowl of the stadium. "Should be an easy walk. No stairs except for a few steps at the end."

I tried not to think about what would happen if I stumbled and crashed through that rickety gate. Palms sweating, I gripped the crutch tighter and fought the rising panic. The slow, lurching gait of my pace made the walk feel twice as long, and by the time I managed to climb the five steps leading into the top box, my legs were trembling from a mixture of exhaustion, pain, and fear. I shut my eyes to try and block out the image of falling down into the canyon of the stadium.

"You look pretty pale." Lily noticed, sounding distressed. "Should I get you some water?"

"Yes, please," I said, without opening my eyes.

Remus squeezed my hand briefly. I clung to it like a lifeline. In addition to the awful image of falling, I was remembering the attack again. The warm summer air did little to chase away the sour stench of werewolf breath, nor did it matter that Remus's hand that held mine was once one of the monstrous paws that had chased me nearly to death. I shook harder.

"Amber?" Dad said, kneeling down before me. "Look at me sweetheart."

I shook my head, jaws clenched tight. My heart was pounding too fast, my head spinning.

"Maybe this was too much too soon." Dad said quietly. "We should go home."

"No."

"Amber, you're not ready for this."

"NO!" I opened my eyes, the trembling subsiding slightly. "I'm not going to let this get in my way. I'm fine, Dad."

Dad glanced down at my hand clenched around Remus', but he didn't say anything. He stood up and paced. "Your mother and sister should have been here."

"They probably went for concessions." I guessed, daring to rise to my unsteady feet and walk to the edge of the window. Remus supported me as I walked while Dad watched, looking distressed.

I looked down again into the stadium, really looked, and reminded myself that this was no different than riding a broom during a Quidditch game. The only thing missing was the actual broom itself. We were relatively safe in this wooden box perched atop the stadium. Even though this match wasn't a World Cup, the amount of witches and wizards packed into the stadium was astounding. Lights flashed from wands as people talked and cheered in a cacophony of vast sound that was deafening, even though the muffled soundproofing of the walls. I watched the marquee lining the middle of the stadium flash with words like "BERTIE BOTTS EVERY FLAVOUR BEANS… A RISK WITH EVERY BITE!" and "WORLD-FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN… THE THREE BROOMSTICKS! VISIT US IN HOGSMEADE!"

"Pretty amazing, isn't it?" Remus observed as he surveyed the lights and movement. "I can see you playing one of these matches in a few years."

I smiled wryly. "Maybe. I'm not sure how competent I am on a broomstick now."

"You're in recovery." Remus reminded me. "You're going to beat this."

Despite the fact that Remus didn't enjoy Quidditch, his sincere encouragement helped smother the last vestiges of anxiety and fear. Relaxing, I spread my hand against the glass, allowing a small smile. "Professional Quidditch, huh?"

"I'd be proud." Dad said, and I blushed. I had forgotten Remus and I weren't alone.

"There you are!" Mum burst as she entered the box, Naomi in tow. "Amber, really, I was worried. Next time send an owl."

"Mum." I groaned. "I survived a werewolf attack. I'm a little slow at the moment."

Mum blinked. "Oh, right."

I gazed at her in astonishment. Surely she hadn't forgotten.

"We got tons of food!" Naomi trilled as she handed Remus a thick bar of dark chocolate. "Amber says that's your favorite."

"It is." Remus said, sliding a wry smile at me. "Nobody knows me like Amber does."

And nobody knows me like you do. I thought privately, ignoring the flutters in my stomach at his intense gaze. I accepted a small box of Bertie Bott's Beans and popped one into my mouth. Gauze flavor. Of course.

"When does the match start?" Naomi asked impatiently.

"Soon, love." Dad said, ruffling her dark hair. Lily reappeared, carrying a flask of gillywater, which she promptly passed to me. I drank it gratefully.

"How long is this going to take?" Naomi whined, stamping her foot in frustration. "I don't want to be waiting all day for this!"

"It's almost sunset, and if you can't control yourself, we'll be going straight home little lady." Dad warned her. Naomi pouted and sat down hard next to me, arms folded. Lily offered her a basket of buttery popcorn, which she began to shovel down.

"Look!" Dad said suddenly. "Here they come!"

Naomi jumped up again and hurried to the edge of the window as a flash of black-and-white riders on broomsticks shot out like bullets from a tunnel on one end of the stadium. A loud male voice boomed over the stadium, and I spotted a thin balding man directly across the stadium from us in an identical open-air box holding his wand to his throat.

"And here are the Montrose Magpies! Samson Harris, Zadoc Parker, Paris Jenkins, Tiberius Whitney, Chavelle Hunt, Livia Fenwick, and Captain Mara Smith!"

We cheered in unison as the players flashed by, circling the stadium twice. Over the din, I could hear the massive crowd shouting, "SMITH! SMITH! SMITH!"

I watched as my former teacher zoomed to the center of the stadium, punching a fist in the air. A moment later, seven more Quidditch players dressed in dark gray and white streamed out of a second tunnel, and the stadium cheered even louder.

"And here comes the Falmouth Falcons! Duncan Crowley, Sean Locke, Myrtle Grimm, Veronica Cram, Anna Noyes, Andrew Knight, and Captain Eduardus Rufford!"

Dad cheered and whooped. While my family clapped, I exchanged a shocked glance with Lily and Remus. "Did he say Anna Noyes?" I asked in amazement.

"Yeah." Remus said, blinking. "She played for Ravenclaw, didn't she?"

"Yeah. She was my Captain." I replied, watching her luxuriant black hair streaming behind her as she flew in tandem with Sean.

"Didn't she get signed on with the Holyhead Harpies?" Lily asked in confusion.

"I guess she was traded to the Falcons." I said dryly. There was an unpleasant throbbing sensation in my blood. Bitter jealousy. Why hadn't Sean told me?

"Wait a second. Didn't Sean and Anna used to date?" Lily realized aloud.

"Yeah, they did." I said darkly. Remus gave a lopsided smile at my flat expression.

"Are you alright?" He asked cajolingly. "Or do I need to have a word with Locke after the game?"

"Don't interfere. I'll have words with him." I vowed, gripping my seat arms tightly.

A woman in black entered our box, smiling. "Looks like we'll all be sitting together. How remarkable."

The jealousy vanished as I recognized Willow Smith. "Professor!" I rose unsteadily to greet her. Remus caught my arm as I nearly fell.

"Sorry," I muttered, embarrassed. "Still getting used to coordination with a bad leg."

"It'll heal." Willow promised, her eyes alight with amused care. "I heard you'll be having words with my nephew?"

I blushed. "It's nothing serious. Sean likes to keep things from me, that's all."

"Ah. Unfortunately, that habit tends to run in my family." Willow said lightly, smiling at my parents and sister. "Do you mind if I join you?"

"Not at all." Dad said graciously, gesturing to the two empty seats. "Please, sit down."

Professor Smith took a seat beside Remus, since Lily and Remus flanked me. As usual, she was dressed in all-black. I had never seen her in a different color, but I knew she would look stunning in emerald or burgundy, like her daughter.

"My daughter was made Captain." Willow told us proudly as she watched the two teams line up for the Quaffle toss. "I was once Captain for the same team, before I gave it up for a career as an Auror."

I knew she had done more than that. At one point in her life, Willow Smith had been a Death Eater. Now, she was one of Dumbledore's closest confidantes, and at some point, had mothered a child. It wasn't my place to ask, but I was desperately curious to know who the identity of her father was. I had a few guesses, each just as likely as the next.

But it wasn't the time or place to ask such a personal question. I still remembered the heated argument between Mara and Willow the day I had learned the truth about Sapphira Peverell, the mysterious young woman who haunted my visions and nightmares so frequently. Mara had been so angry with Willow for keeping her father's identity a secret that she had crossed some kind of invisible line with her mother. I glanced over at my parents and shuddered, wondering how I would feel, growing up and never knowing my father's name or his presence. It was unthinkable. Poor Mara, I thought sadly as I turned back to watch the game.

The announcer was very good, and clearly had been commentating on games for most of his life. He had a clear gift for orations and had the crowd on their feet cheering or booing.

"And blast it! Mara's just too good! She's scored yet again for the Magpies! The score is now 110-20, with the Magpies leaving the Falcons in the dust! If they don't get their act together, they're going to be swept!"

"Who is he?" Lily asked curiously.

"That's Bob Jordan," Willow told Lily. "He was a Gryffindor a few years behind me. He always commentated on our matches at school. He was very good. I'm glad to see he's made a nice career out of it."

It was quite the performance. I watched Sean and Anna work together seamlessly as a team. Anna guarded him from the Beaters while he Seeked for the Snitch. On the other team, Mara was the outstanding player, scoring again and again. Soon, I realized the only way the Falcons could ever hope to catch up was for Sean to find the Snitch, and soon.

Privately, I wanted them to lose.

"Look at that!" Lily shouted, jumping to her feet. "Sean's seen something!"

"Oh, goodness," Mum muttered. "He's diving!"

"That's the Wronski Feint!" Dad shouted excitedly. "Look at Harris dive after him! Locke's got him fooled! He's a marvelous tactician, isn't he?"

But I wasn't so sure Sean was feinting. Hadn't I seen a golden glint flash by? Wasn't Sean chasing it?

But Dad was right. In a matter of seconds, the golden Snitch hovered just outside of our box. Naomi gasped in awe as it beat its tiny wings furiously so fast they were seemingly still, like a plucked guitar string. Even though it didn't have eyes, I felt as if it was staring into our box. Staring right at me. A peculiar creeping sensation swept over me, and I felt the familiar blackness at the edges of my vision.

Oh, not now. I thought in half-irritation, half-fear. I didn't want to miss the excitement of the game, but I couldn't stop my visions from coming just as I couldn't stop vomiting after the warning tingle of nausea that always preceded it.

I felt the swooping in my belly, like I'd missed a step going down the stairs. Just then, Sean pulled hard out of his dive, but Harris couldn't stop in time. He slammed into the ground with a dull thud, while the audience groaned.

The Snitch fluttered its wings, buzzing like a hummingbird, and the blackness overtook my eyesight.

I was no longer sitting in the Quidditch stadium. I was standing in a snowy cemetery, a full moon rising behind a cloudbank. I felt myself contorting and convulsing, and I threw back my head and let out a fearsome howl. I loped through the black iron gates of the graveyard, coming to halt by a holly tree sheltering a collection of headstones like a many-leaved umbrella. Four graves sat close together, like they marked four closely related kin or siblings. I reached out and touched the grave at the far end of the four, touching the engraved letters covered in lichen and moss.

SAPPHIRA PEVERELL of GODRIC'S HOLLOW

WHO DIED SEPTEMBER 9TH, 1244

AGED 24 YEARS

LOVE IS NEVER WRONG, LOVE NEVER DIES

And over the words was a pair of soft wings. Identical to the wings of the Snitch hovering outside of the box.

Just like that, the vision was over. The Snitch was gone. The others in the box were talking loudly and gesturing to the pitch. Distantly, I registered the fact that Harris had just Ploughed himself, and wasn't moving on the ground. Second, barely a few seconds had passed since I had seen the graveyard. Clearly, it had been a very short vision. Nobody had noticed it.

Except for Willow, who was watching me with a penetrative green stare. She knew.