Amanda walks out, and goes for her morning jog around the lake, running it's perimeter a few times. On her last round, Sirius, in dog form, walks out of the forest, and tackles her to the ground, licking her face and whimpering, wagging his tail happily. Laughing, Amanda pushes him off, and sits up, hugging him tightly, "Oh, Blacky, I was so worried about you!"
"Amanda, are you alright?" Ernie asks, running her way, followed by their friends.
Amanda wipes her eyes, and gets to her feet, "This is Blacky," she sniffles, wiping her eyes. "He is... or was, I guess, Billy's dog."
"Why didn't you ever tell us you had a dog?" Hannah asks, petting the large dog.
"He was more Billy's, and hardly payed me any attention, so I figured it was kinda pointless to mention him," she admits.
"So, your brothers dog comes and finds you, after it's master... passes?" Ernie sniffs derisively.
Sirius snarls, his hackles rising as he crouches low infront of his 'new mistress'. Amanda pats his head, "It's ok, Blacky. Come on, and let's ask the Headmaster if you can stay with me, hey?" Sirius barks happily, getting everyones attention, and he runs ahead of her, then back, and grabs the hem of her skirt, pulling her along. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" she yells, following him as he pulls her along, everyone laughing good naturedly as they watch.
When they reach the castle, Amanda takes the lead, and guides her 'pet' to the headmasters office, meeting Prof. Umbridge along the way. "Good morning, Prof. Umbridge," she greets with a smile, dropping her hand on 'Blacky's' head.
"And what is a dog doing in here?" Umbridge demands.
"He was my younger brothers dog," Amanda says sadly, looking down at him. "I guess, knowing he was gone, Blacky came to find me. I was just on my way to ask the Headmaster if I could keep him here, with me, being school's only got a few weeks left." Amanda adds a little sniffle in her explanation, and wipes her eyes, Sirius nuzzles her hip gently, offering strength.
"Well, it's not policy, but seeing as you've been such a good girl this year, I will allow it, on behalf of the Ministry. There's no need to see Dumbledore now," she smiles, and pats the girl's shoulder lightly. "Why don't you go and enjoy the sun, while it's out," she suggests, still smiling.
Amanda wipes her eyes, and gives the toad a watery smile, "Thank you, Prof. Umbridge. But is it really alright for me to keep him, when there are so many cats around?"
"It's fine," Umbridge soothes. "Now, run along, and enjoy your new friends company."
After the woman has walked away, Amanda is greeted by Dumbledore, who looks oddly at Blacky, but shakes it off, seeing as the dog is quite close to the girl. "Hello, miss Alberona," he greets. "I overheard your conversation with Prof. Umbridge," he says lightly. "You are most welcome to keep Blacky here, so long as he doesn't attack anyone, or the cats," he adds, as McGonagal walks up.
"Thank you, professor," Amanda smiles, still petting the head at her waist. "I think we'll take the chance to enjoy the weather, being it is nice out. What do you say, boy? Wanna play?" she asks.
Sirius barks excitedly, and rushes down the hall, then back to her, and pulls the laughing girl down the hall, wanting to get out before he attacks the old bastard. Once outside, he releases her, and takes off running, chasing a bird, then a butterfly, much to the amusement of the students. Grinning, Amanda summons a ball, and tosses it for the dog, who chases it eagerly, and brings it back, dropping it in her hand.
After a few throws, Sirius decides to play catch with her, and teases her with the ball, wagging his tail, the ball in his mouth, jumping out of her reach as she tries getting the ball. After a few minutes of this, he gets bored, drops the ball, and chases a butterfly, barking wildly as he chases it by a tree.
Laughing, Amanda watches as he circles the tree, trying to find the bug, and decides to take pity on him, so calls him back, and hugs him tightly. "Thanks, Blacky," she murmurs into his neck.
Sirius pulls away, and licks her cheek, while Harry walks up, and pats the dogs head, "Long time no see, Blacky. What's he doing here, Mandy?" he asks, pulling the act.
"I guess that since Billy and the others are gone, he came for me," she murmurs, Sirius still licking the tears off her cheeks. "Hey, Hermione, Ron," she greets as the two come up. "This is my brothers... sorry, my, dog, Blacky. Boy, this is Hermione and Ron," she says, still hugging him.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Blacky," Hermione says, patting his head, and getting her hand licked in return, making her giggle.
"Sorry, he's always been a kisser," Amanda grins, getting to her feet. "Ron, whats wrong?" she asks, looking at him curiously.
"I swear I've seen this dog before," he says. "But it's not possible," he adds, shaking his head.
"Sometimes Blacky has that effect on people, being he's such a big boy," Amanda smiles, scratching between his ears. "Wanna throw the ball?" she offers the orb to the red head.
Ron holds up his hands in defense, and backs away, "No, I'll pass."
"What, scared of a little dog, Weasel?" Draco laughs as he walks up with some of his cronies. "Wow, that's real pathetic, Weasel," he laughs. He holds out his hand, "I'll play with him, if you don't mind, Alberona."
"Sure," she smiles, and tosses him the ball, the blonde catching it easily.
With a smile, Draco tosses the ball with all of his strength, and the ball lands in the lake, Sirius chasing after it, and splashing happily into the water. Amanda slaps her brow, "Does anyone know a good spell to dry hair?"
"Yeah," Hermione smiles, and teaches it to her as Sirius gets the ball, and swims back. He comes running back at them, and shakes himself out, everyone holding their arms up over their faces, while everyone watching laughs.
"Well, we all smell like wet dog now," Amanda grins, ruffling Sirius' fur, and accepting the ball. "Wanna throw it again, Malfoy?" she asks innocently. Draco grins, and accepts the ball, and tosses it away from the lake, not really wanting to get shook on again.
Amanda walks out of the bathroom in a towel, Sirius trotting out behind her, having just underwent another bath, and is smelling quite good. With a blush, she turns away from the dog, and pulls on her panties and bra, then drops the towel, and pulls on some shorts and a tank top, then turns to the dog. "It's time for you to be dried off, Blacky," she grins, pouncing on him with the towel. The pair wind up rolling around, Sirius trying to get away as she dries him off, the racket making the other girls laugh at the show.
When he's as dry as possible from the towel, she releases him, and sits back, grinning at him, "Was that fun?" He snorts at her, and the girls laugh.
"Mandy, he's such a sweet dog," Hannah compliments as said girl sits on her bed. "I can't beleive he was on his own for so many weeks," she cooes at him, patting her knee. She smiles as he goes to her, and she scratches his head.
"Are you really allowed to have him here, though?" Lina asks worriedly.
"Yeah," Amanda smiles. "Both Umbridge and Dumbledore gave me permission, so long as he doesn't chase any cats," she grins, and the girls laugh with her, knowing McGonagall is a cat animagus.
Amanda strips off her shorts, and pulls on some sweat pants and a sweater, and slips on a pair of black flip flops, and tosses her hair into a messy bun, a quill stuck through it. A black collar with silver spikes is around Sirious' neck, Amanda holding the chain link leash as the group of friends head off to the Great Hall for dinner, Sirious right at her side, the leash beyond slack as she holds it gently, knowing he wont run away.
After taking their seats, Sirius lays under the table, the handle for the leash under her foot. As dinner continues, a bowl of meat on the floor for Sirius, the dog catches a whiff of his lover, and takes off, galloping at him, and tackling the man to the ground, and licking his face mercilessly.
"Sorry, Prof. Snape," Amanda cries, pulling the dog off the potions master. "Blacky, don't do that," she scolds, flicking his nose.
"It's alright," Snape says, surprising the silent Hall as he's smiling gently. "I'm rather fond of dogs," he admits, scratching his animagus lover between the ears.
Amanda smiles, "Glad to hear it. Being he likes you, would you mind holding him, sir?" she asks, offering the leash to the man.
Snape smiles, and most of the students have a heart attack at this never before seen side of the man. Amanda reclaims her seat, ignoring the fact, as usual, that she's being stared at for bringing out the good side of someone.
After dinner, Amanda takes back her dog, much to his chagrin, and brings him back to the dorms, knowing the group is planning on meeting up again tonight. A bit after the girls are asleep, the pair sneak out, and down to the ROR, and are the first ones their. Smiling, Amanda turns into her wolf, and the two roll around, playing and barking, as the pair bite at each other.
Draco is the first their, but decides to let the dogs play, and waits by the door, grinning as the two bark and growl at each other, snarling once or twice, but all in play. By the time the rest of the group is there, Sirius has Amanda pinned on her back, his teeth at her throat. He jumps off of her, and she rolls to her paws, the two turning into humans again, and are grinning happily.
"I haven't had a scuffle like that for a few years," Sirius says. "Thanks, Mandy," he grins.
"Not a problem," she smiles, and plops down on the floor infront of the fire, her legs crossed infront of her. "So, what's the plan so far 'Mione?"
"Head striaght for the airport, and get to Forks from their. I haven't been able to see what they have for houses, or even hotels," she sighs.
"I can help out on that end. I have an estate in Forks, Washington," Sirius offers. "It's not nearly as well protected as Grimmauld, so we won't have to do all that much to get in."
"Will we have to clean it like we did over the summer?" Hermione asks.
"Yeah, but it shouldn't have near as many dark stuff in it, being we only ever went their a few times in my entire childhood. Mommy dearest didn't like it much," Sirius smiles. "It was pretty nice though."
"Well, that's good. Mandy, have you been able to get hold of your uncle?" Draco asks, having joined her on the floor by the fire.
"No, not yet. I'm gonna have to see the Polkiss' first anyways, so we won't be able to head for the airport straight away. Sorry," she sighs.
"There's another reason, isn't there?" Harry asks knowingly.
Amanda smiles, and scratches the back of her neck, "Well, the guy's got hold of some evidence, from home."
"Well, that's decided then," Harry says. "You've gotta tye up all the loose ends."
"Wait, fill us in, please?" Draco requests.
"I'm a member of a gang, and the one other member who knows about magic has been keeping me posted on everything. They've done so much for me," she murmurs.
"What have they done for you, Amanda?" Snape asks.
"They looked into the fire, recently, and found some stuff out."
"Mandy, tell us what they found," Sirius orders.
"Peirs started smoking, so's the rest of the gang. The guys, they found a cigarette butt in the ashes. We have connections in the PD, and they got the butt's DNA tested."
"Piers," Harry growls.
"They found more then one butt, Harry," Amanda growls, pacing infront of the fire in agitation. "It was Dudley's whole gang, that they found. They even found Jonah and Billy's DNA on the butt's!" she yells, the palms of her hands pressed against her eyelids as she stands facing the fire, her shoulders shaking. "I don't know what to think anymore," she whimpers.
"Hey, we're you're family as well, Mandy," Sirius states softly, his hands on her shoulders, having walked over a few moments ago. "We'll help you get throught this, sweet heart," he promises, hugging her lightly, his chin on her head.
Amanda nods, not able to talk past the lump in her throat.
The group changes the subject, leaving the pair in the hug, and planning around the possible court dates.
When Amanda pushes lightly out of the hug, the man sits down next to his lover, and all of them are surprised when she sits on his lap, snuggling into his chest like a small child needing the comfort of their parent. Sirius smiles lightly, and drapes his arm around her waist lightly, holding her closer, as he snuggles closer to Snape.
"You guys look like a cozy little family," Hermione says lightly.
"That's the plan, isn't it?" Draco asks her.
"Well, yeah, it's the plan, but to think they'd look like a family in reality, it's just, kinda surprising."
"Yeah," Harry agrees. He grins, and joins the group, sitting on the floor against Sirius' shins. "Family," he murmurs, content. Hermione smiles, and sits on Snapes lap, Draco sitting against his shins. "I think we're missing someone, though," Harry murmurs, his head slightly in Amanda's lap, Draco in the same position, only with Hermione.
"Yeah, we're missing Remus," Sirius sighs. "But that'll change when school lets out. By the way, Severus, has anything been said about Blacky's resemblance to Snuffles?"
"A few things, yes, and everyone in the Order is confused as to why we know longer know the address for HQ. Dumbledore's terrified, to say the least. What happened anyways?"
"I took the S.K. position from Dumbledore, and gave it to Amanda," Draco says lightly.
"Well done, Draco," Snape compliments. "Fifty points to Slytherin. Fifty for Hufflepuff. One hundred for Gryffindor. One each for the two," he adds for Draco's benefit.
"I know," Draco sighs. "So, not to ruin the happy family moment, or anything, but Mandy, when we go into Hogsmeade, maybe you should get in contact with your uncle, and set things up. Maybe even get the tickets for the plane."
"I can do that easily," Amanda nods. "This coming weekend, right?"
"Yeah," Hermione breaths, falling asleep against Snape.
"Alright, that's enough cuddling for one night," Snape says. "Bed, all of you. And you, go back with your mistress," he orders Sirius.
"Fine," he sighs dramatically. "But you do realize I'm sleeping with her, in her bed, right?"
"What?!" Snape demands, but Sirius is already out of the room, Amanda in his arms. He stops a few floors down, and puts her down, turning back into a dog, and they sneak back into the dorms, and Amanda crawls into bed, Blacky curling up against her, over the covers.