Padfoot's Puppy
Chapter Five
'Lochwood'
In just a few seconds, the cliffs disappeared and Amber and the sandy-haired man were in front of an old, run-down cabin. It was Amber's first time apparating, and she was feeling quite dizzy and lightheaded. She wasn't sure if that was normal, but she had a feeling that now wouldn't be the best time to ask.
The man's arms fell to his side as he stepped back, away from Amber, his eyes not even on her. Instead, he was staring at the cabin, as though memorizing it. Amber grew hopeful that she could escape, until she noticed that his right hand was gripping his wand tightly. If she tried to get away, he could stun her in a second.
"Welcome to Lochwood." The man said, a faint smile on his lips. Amber didn't say anything, she just stared up at the cabin, if you could call it that.
The wood was rotting and falling apart while great patches of moss grew here and there. It was so unwanted looking, that Amber thought that it didn't even deserve to have a name.
Just like you. Amber thought gloomily. It was true, she and the cabin had something in common. No one really wanted them. Sure, someone took care of them, but only because they had to. Amber and the cabin were both just burdens to the people who were stuck with them. And by the looks of it, both of them had been neglected. The cabin looked like even the gentlest of breezes would knock it over, while Amber knew that she was a little bit malnourished. Lucius and Narcissa had never really been concerned about her health. Amber was sure that the only reason she wasn't sick was because Draco ordered some of the maids to feed Amber in secret, though they could only feed her so much before Narcissa or Lucius started to suspect something.
"Come on, let's go inside." The sandy-haired man said, beckoning to Amber. Grudgingly, Amber walked forward into Lochwood, followed by the man.
The inside didn't look any better than the outside did. In one corner there was a little makeshift kitchen, while another corner seemed to be a tiny study. There was an old stone fireplace with a deep violet chesterfield in front of it. There was a tiny hallway that split off into three different rooms. From where she was standing, Amber couldn't see into the rooms. She wondered if the two other people she'd seen were somewhere in the cabin, assuming of course, that the sandy-haired man had been one of the four.
"It's not much, but we're only staying here temporarily." The sandy-haired man was saying. Amber looked at him in alarm. He was talking as though they were going to be keeping Amber with them! She didn't know what would be worse, them killing her or her having to live with them.
"When Sirius gets here, then we'll have proper introductions." The sandy-haired man said. Amber didn't say anything, she just stared at him. She didn't know what to say, the man wasn't supposed to treat her as though she were his new friend! That's just not how it worked!
"You can sit down." The man said, nodding towards the chesterfield. Amber glanced towards the chesterfield and then back at the man. He sighed and shook his head, but he didn't say anything. Something told Amber that he was feeling just as uncomfortable as she was.
CRACK! Both Amber and the sandy-haired man jumped as the Animagus appeared. Sirius was that what the sandy-haired man had called him? Yes it was, and Sirius had called the sandy-haired man by his name as well. But try as she might, Amber could not remember what the name was.
"Sirius, finally!" The sandy-haired man said, sounding relieved. Sirius grinned, and for a second, it was as though they had forgotten that Amber was standing in the room with them. They started talking as though she wasn't there.
"I checked out the Malfoy's cabin. They haven't even noticed that she's gone." Sirius was saying. The sandy-haired man shook his head and looked at Amber. Sirius followed his gaze, while Amber just fidgeted nervously.
"She can't be their kid then, they'd notice right away. Besides, she doesn't look like any of them, have you ever seen a Malfoy with black hair?" The sandy-haired man said. Sirius shook his head, not taking his eyes off of Amber. Nervous and a little bit annoyed, Amber stared out a dusty, cracked window.
"No never, I can't think of who's kid she is." Sirius said. Amber was starting to feel very annoyed by now, she wasn't just some animal that couldn't talk for herself, they didn't have to talk about her right in front of her! The sandy-haired man didn't say anything for the longest time until he finally sighed.
"Well, I guess we should introduce ourselves." He said, sounding as though it were the last thing he wanted to do. Sirius nodded and stared at the sandy-haired man expectantly. Rolling his eyes, the man turned to Amber.
"I'm Remus Lupin, and this, well this is Sirius Black." He said, glancing at Sirius, who was grinning. They were apparently expecting Amber to say something. Well they were in for a disappointment. She knew who he was alright, Sirius Black, the murderer. Lucius talked about him all the time, mostly going on about how he was a no-good, useless rotten muggle-loving mutt. Now Amber finally understood why Lucius had added in the mutt. Before, she thought that he was just insane.
"What's your name?" Sirius asked a few minutes later, clearly disappointed that she didn't say anything. Amber hesitated, should she tell them? They were after all, the enemy.
Well, not my enemy. Amber thought. She'd didn't want to have anything to do with the Death Eaters and Voldemort, but living with Lucius, she hadn't had a choice. Finally, she decided she'd answer Sirius and Remus' questions, well most of them.
"Amber." She said slowly. Sirius glanced at Remus before he looked back at Amber.
"What's your last name?" He asked. Amber had to think hard. She defiantly wasn't a Malfoy, even though she'd lived with them, she hadn't taken on their last name. She couldn't remember her mother's last name, and she didn't know her father's.
"Don't have one." She said. Both Sirius and Remus looked confused, but they didn't say anything about it.
"Where are your parents?" Remus asked. Amber didn't see what that had to do with anything, they obviously weren't here, but she answered anyway.
"My mom's dead, and my father, well, I don't know…" She said. She was going to lie, but for some reason, she didn't.
"Your father is?" Sirius asked, encouraging her to go on. Amber shrugged, but Sirius still didn't seem to get it.
"I don't know where he is, I've never met him." She said angrily. As if they suddenly thought of something, both Sirius and Remus looked at each other and each started to say something. But then they stopped, leaving Amber feeling very confused.
"You're name is Amber, your mother is dead, and you don't know your father?" Remus asked. Amber nodded.
"What was your mother's name?" Sirius asked. Amber hesitated, but again, she decided to answer.
"Amber." Again, Sirius and Remus looked at each other, and then back at Amber.
"A-amber? Her name was Amber?" Sirius asked, his voice wavering slightly. Confused, Amber nodded.
"Yes, Amber, I'm named after her." She said. Sirius looked horrified, and Amber couldn't figure out why.
Author's Note: Well another chapter, hope you like it.