Note: I have changed the dates a bit. If I make it more modern, Harry was born July 31st, 1991, Angel December 12, 1992, and since James and Lily had Harry at age 20, then he was born 1971 , Sirius being almost a year older he was born in 1970. Just so you know…I don't want complaints about this.

Updated - 8/26/18

~Of Silver and Gold ~

Chapter 13: Conversations (Part Deux) and Birthdays

Saturday Morning found the Slytherin friends chatting happily as they headed towards the carriages. Five of the six were excited for the weekend plans, and the lone one was trying not to pout. Angel forced herself not to complain at the limitation she was given since she was only a second year. There were moments that she forgot that she was younger, but the Hogsmeade trip such as today brought reality her way.

As they reached the doors she leaned against the door frame. She half smiled as they looked back at her sympathetically. She knew it was all fake; they were trying to be good friends because they knew how unfair it was to her. She rolled her eyes and shrugged.

"I'll see you three later, don't worry I won't die without you all" she said amused.

Draco wrapped his arm around her shoulder and nodded.

"Just want you to behave" he teased.

She elbowed his side and smirked.

"Never" she replied.

She waved them off, somewhat jealous and saw them get into the carriage off to have fun. It would be a lonely Saturday but what could she do? Still, she couldn't help but smirk as Flinch was glaring at each and every student who got into the carriage. She was left alone in the clock tower and the noise had gone along with the excited children. She then was nudged by a person as they passed by without an apology.

She glared in the direction till she saw it was indeed Potter. She wondered why he wasn't off with the Gryffindorks which had left long before her friends had. Her eyes trailed him as he reached Professor McGonagall.

"Remember! These visits to Hogsmeade Village are a privilege. Should your behavior reflect poorly on the school in any way, that privilege shall not be extended again." She called out to the students.

As the Professor noticed Potter, she sighed and her eyes softened.

"No permission form. No visiting the Village. That's the rule, Potter." She said before he could even say anything.

Harry looked at her in a hopeful expression.

"Yes, Professor, but I thought if you said I could go-"he began.

"But I don't say so. A parent or guardian must sign, and since I am neither, it would be inappropriate. I'm sorry, Potter. But that's my final word." She said snippily.

He nodded as he left and he frowned deeply. He looked so forlorn that Angel had a little pity for him. She didn't know what compelled her to even try and talk to him, but her mouth beat her to it.

"No Hogsmeade?" she asked from the tower.

Harry immediately whipped his head her way and once he realized who it was, he felt like a fool. He was embarrassed that she had seen him in a vulnerable position. He thought he had already embarrassed himself enough but he always be in his worst state with her around.

"No…I can't and you?" he asked.

He figured that this was a good opportunity as any to talk to her once more. Afterall she had initiated this conversation and he would take advantage of it. He began to walk towards her direction and stood in front of her as she let out a small smirk.

"Potter..I'm a second year remember?" Amusement was clearly heard from her tone.

He forced himself not to flush, after all girls made him very uncomfortable. He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled sheepishly.

"Right..I forgot." He said.

Silence fell between them once more and both stared ahead as more carriages went off to Hogwarts. Angel had her hands clasped right in front of her, while Harry had one hand rubbing the back of his neck and the other on his side.

"So….I saw you fall off your broom during the Quidditch game" she whispered.

Harry looked surprise at the topic she had brought up. Was she going to make fun of him?

"Yeah…." He respond equally as quiet, unsure what to even say.

"You fainted didn't you" she said not asking the question but stating it.

The tentativeness that he felt immediately disappear once her conclusion was taken in. She was definitely making fun of him.

"Shut up" he said.

She smirked showing that she meant no harm and in turn he found himself smiling shyly. He was admittedly thankful at the fact that she didn't take his snap response as an insult.

"Were…why…" a pause. "Did you care?" he asked stupidly.

She turned to look at him once more. There was no malice in her expression, but rather confusion at what his question even was.

"Are you asking me if I cared?" she asked only to receive a nod. "Well I didn't want to see anyone die"

He nodded and kicked the floor. So much for being special.

They fell into an uncomfortable silence, both looking towards different locations trying to end the silence. Harry turned to face her once more as he heard her sigh. Their eyes met and they both looked away.

"So….what are you going to do without your friends Potter? Going to be lonely?" She teased.

He was surprised she was trying to start a conversation between the two.

"I could ask you the same thing" was what he blurted out.

He thought she was going to blow him off, that is until she laughed. Her laughter was a light one, no malice behind it and he felt himself relax.

"Touché" she replied.

He smiled at her and their postures were more comfortable. The silence was accepted better and they looked at the surroundings.

"Lovely as this is Potter, I have to go" she said after a while.

He nodded and turned once more, trying desperately to not seem so disappointed. But he was, this was one of the first times that they had somewhat of a normal conversation. There was no giant Basilisk to be seen, nothing that brought on danger; instead there were to preteens casually trying to have a conversation.

"Yeah…..this was nice" he said lamely.

She smiled softly and chuckled at his comment.

"Well don't get used to it Potter" she said smiling slightly and walked away.

His eyes trailed her, and she felt them, she felt them till she crossed the hallway. He remained staring into the clock tower, until a shadow appeared beside him. He turned to see Remus who looked amused at what he had indeed seen. Harry flushed slightly at Remus' smile.

"Why don't we go have a chat?" he asked.

Harry nodded and walked off.

With Angel…

Her afternoon had started out interesting with her conversation with Harry, but soon soured as she arrived to the Common Room. Sitting on the loveseat she tried to look interested with the conversations going around her but she was failing miserably. There was a disadvantage with having older friends; for one thing, she felt lonely when they weren't there. While she did have friends around her when they weren't there, it wasn't the same. For one thing Astoria was always nice to chat with, albeit if a bit boring.

Astoria was a nice enough girl, a bit of a gossip, and hid behind the shadow of her sister and Angel understood how that felt. But while she knew she would never build a deep friendship, the girl was safe enough to talk about things, if not surface level. But at the moment it wasn't happening for right now, Astoria was talking nonsense, and she rubbed her temples in mild annoyance.

"As much as I care Astoria, I think I'm going to go flying" Angel said with a tight smile.

Astoria nodded confused and let Angel rush upstairs. As she entered her bedroom, she opened her trunk and rummaged around through it, she made a noise of content and took out her broom. She rushed downstairs and waved Astoria a goodbye as she walked out of the dorms.

Alone time, no matter how much she stated that she detested, was sometimes needed. She certainly preferred it from the chatter that the common room provided. And so as she headed towards the open fields away from the pitch. If she was perfectly honest, she was actually self conscious about her flying, and she did have a small fear of heights. She mounted the broom and kicked from the ground and began to fly somewhat shakily.

She smiled slightly and began to fly higher and higher till she saw the tops of the trees. Closing her eyes briefly, she let the breeze caress her face. This was nice and what she needed. Pushing her body forward to head north towards Black Lake. The little droplets from the lake hit her legs and she tightened her legs to the broom.

What she hadn't noticed were a pair of silver eyes watching her as she flew over the lake. She had failed to see the black dog hidden in the bushes. The canine simply hid and returned deeper into the Forbidden Forest.

As she saw the surroundings, she decided to let her mind wander, but it seemed to head towards the horrid criminal. Sirius Black, her uncle had escaped. Many thought that he was out to kill Harry Potter. If she was honest with herself it bothered her that he would try and hurt him..or anyone. The memory of her mother's reaction to his escape had stayed with her as well. She worried more than anyone.

"Sirius Black….just who are you?" she asked.

She decided that she had an opportunity today. No one was there to distract her…..including many of the professors who were the strictest. She smiled at the thought and immediately turned her broom flying back to the castle.

Today she was going to do to that library and start on that research she desperately needed to know. She saw the Quidditch fields and she landed, surprisingly graceful. She ignored some stairs of surprise, she was never really seen on a broom.

Angel walked back as fast as she could, trying to look casual. As she reached her house's dorms she muttered the password to enter. She saw that many were doing the work she had done a week earlier and she headed upstairs looking at the others racking their brains. She threw her broom inside the trunk and she grabbed a notebook a quill and two bottles of ink before rushing off again.

Reaching the library, Madam Pince gave her a glare and she walked slower than usual towards her desk. She hated to ask, but she library wasn't a place she was used to coming, she did have her own collection after all.

"Excuse me Madam-"she began.

"Shh!" Madam Pince replied. "Do whisper child"

Angel nodded and repeated her question.

"Do you know where I could possibly find books of the graduating classes here at Hogwarts?" she whispered.

The librarian looked at her weirdly but nodded after a while.

"Come with me" she said and began to speed off towards a random aisle.

Angel followed as quick as she could, without running or making too much noise. She had failed to notice that Madam Pince had stopped, thus she crashed into her. She heard a noise of protest and she blushed slightly.

"Forgive me" she said.

"Yes yes" she was waved off. "Do look and don't make a mess"

She nodded and watched the librarian head back to her desk. She smiled seeing the aisles of books and she began to look around. She began to search for the graduating class that Sirius Black would belong in. She skimmed from shelf to shelf, that is until she found the date. She caressed the spine of the Graduating class of 1988. She caressed the spine and took out the book.

She held it close and looked around for an empty table, luckily there was one in a dark corner where no one would really find her. She sat down with her back against a corner and opened it. As she looked into the book, she caressed the pages of a young Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy holding each other close and posing regally in the shot. She smiled fondly and turned the pages, only to find the pair of James and Lily Potter holding each other close and smiling goofily at the camera, only to be interrupted by Sirius Black and Remus Lupin jumping in to surprise them.

She blinked a few times and turned the page to see Remus Lupin and Sirius Black embracing in a manly hug as balloons fell all around and people celebrating their graduation. She looked at how young and happy Black looked. She shook her head getting too into the big grey eyes that stared back at her.

She flipped the page once more, only to be entranced by the image. There in front of her was the most gorgeous woman she had ever seen. Her hair was curly and blonde, some of the loveliest hue that she had seen, a warmer tone than the one in her family. Her eyes were brown, one shade she could have sworn that she had seen before. She saw how the lovely woman kissed Sirius right in the mouth and they laughed while the picture was taken. Angel had noticed how the woman had the Slytherin crest on her cape. Her eyes trailed down to read the caption, it being: Amorette Holmes and Sirius Black class of 1988.

She froze for a second as the name was clearly heard before. She had seen the name in one of the tombstones, every year, she remembered her mother weeping over that tombstone once a year around her own birthday. If she ever tried to ask for any information, they would sidetrack it completely and her mother became a mess.

Pausing briefly, her fingers lingered on the photograph of the young woman. She looked so free and just so beautiful. Turning the page once more, she found more images that tied up the theory. In the center of one particular picture was her mother, hugging Amorette Holmes; both women smiling brightly at the photograph. On the sides of the pair were Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy both smirking at one another. Under the picture, the caption read: Severus Snape, Amorette Holmes, Narcissa Black, and Lucius Malfoy.

She bit her lip and opened the notebook, placing it on the table. She uncapped the ink bottle and wrote down the names of the couple in front of her. She began to write:

Lily Potter and James Potter

Sirius Black and Amorette Holmes

Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy

Severus Snape

Remus Lupin

She wondered if she mother would ever really allow her to ask, but she had her doubts. She wouldn't waste an owl on that. Frowning, she knew that it would be risky to go to the next person: Remus Lupin. He was the obvious choice seeing as her godfather would ask more questions than necessary, or worse: tell her parents. She shook her head; she could simply just get in trouble and get detention with him once more. She decided that she could get the perspective of a Gryffindor. Gathering her things, she picked up the yearbook and threw it in her satchel before returning the other books to their rightful place.

Walking through the empty halls, she continued to reword her question that would lead her to the proper conversation. Would he be offended? She doubted it. But she never knew what to expect from the DADA professor. As she reached his office, she ignored questionable looks and entered curiously. She noticed that he was lying against his chair looking absolutely tired.

"Professor?" she asked softly.

He lifted his head looking at her with his tired eyes. He looked very worn out, but he didn't fail to smile at her.

"Hello Miss Malfoy, may I be of any service?" he asked.

She entered fully and closed the door behind her. Looking around his office she took in the piles of books, with topics ranging from classic literature to educational books. He didn't have much personal items, but she did note that he had a particular fondness for darker quills than anything more flamboyant, and that his office smelled of lavender, as if to calm himself down.

Once he signaled her to take a seat, she delicately did in the very comfortable chairs. It was clear he made it so people would take comfort in talking to him. Looking around, she noticed him staring at her curiously with his bright green eyes. He knew something was in her mind but he wasn't going to rush her.

"Professor…I was wondering if I could ask you something personal?" she finally asked.

"Depends on how personal of course, but do go on" He said.

Pausing slightly, she bent to get items from her satchel. Finding the yearbook she carefully opened the book and turned it to face him.

"I was wondering…..did you know Amorette Holmes?" she asked.

He looked surprised by her question, but his green eyes brightened that maybe his hypothesis was correct. He smiled fondly at her and nodded.

"I did…I knew both Amorette and Sirius Black" he said answering the second part of her unasked question.

She looked at him surprised at how he admitted it. She opened her notebook and lifted her quill dipped in ink to begin writing. That was until Remus enchanted them so they wrote on their own everything that was said in the room.

"How….how were they?" she asked.

"They were lovely people" he said "Before….before everything"

She looked at him with hopeful eyes pleading for him to continue. He had seen those eyes before, exactly the same, both hardened by the background they grew up in. He felt saddened thinking of Amorette and Sirius and how his betrayal had ruined her and made her disappear.

"They were the biggest rivals you know….just like Lily and James, if you must know" he said smiling fondly at the memory. "Sirius Black was a tail chaser, a person who set his eyes on a person he wanted and he got her. This time, his eyes caught the frame of the transfer student Amorette Holmes from Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It took him a year of celibacy to get her to just throw him a bone, a real dog he was." He said.

He noticed how a smile was tugging her lips, as if she was entranced by the story. Maybe this girl knew her origins.

"How was Miss Holmes related to my father and mother?" she asked. "I saw this picture"

She shuffled through the pages till she found the picture and showed him, who raised his eyebrow at the level of research she had done, and the length of her question. Sadly he was wrong; she was oblivious to the wording of her question.

"They were the best of friends, causing a conflict between Sirius and the group. There was a minor….rift set between all of us, but it was accepted after all she had changed him for the better."

"They stayed together?" she asked curiously.

He nodded.

"Most definitely, they married even right after Lily and James did. You know….Harry and you were going to be close, as the group was themselves" he said amused.

She looked insulted causing him to chuckle at her expression. She was so young, he had to remind himself that this girl knew very little.

"How would someone like my father want to socialize with Gryffindors?" she asked.

He thanked Merlin for her obliviousness and continued to respond.

"Amorette was your mother's best friend…..so they had promised to stay close. That is….until

Sirius killed the Potters under He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Amorette disappeared and as much as I searched for her, I never did find her." He said looking down at his lap after remembering the darkest moments of his life.

She frowned deeply at the statement. She decided to tell him what she knew about Amorette which was nothing compared to what he had told her.

"Professor….." she began tentatively.

"Yes Miss Malfoy?" he asked tiredly.

"I know where she lies," she finished softly.

He looked up to see her with sad eyes. He looked at her with his green colored eyes intently and she nodded yes to his silent question.

"Where?" he croaked out.

"She lies at the Malfoy Cemetery" she replied. "Every year on this day my mother puts flowers on the tombstone" she said.

"I see…." He looked at the calendar and saw December 12.

He had discovered something more to the missing puzzle piece, and now it was complete. Her brown hair reminded him of Sirius, her brown eyes reminded him of Amorette and the waviness of it was just like her mother.

"You may now leave Miss Malfoy…..I believe you got everything you needed" he said.

She nodded and got up, as he lowered her quill, ink bottle and notebook. She packed them in her satchel and smiled kindly at the professor.

"I bet you now forgive me for the detention?" he asked.

The lightness in his tone made him take in one of the most beautiful and heart-wrenching expressions he had seen. For when she smiled, the innocence within her blossomed and in that, he couldn't help but see the smile of his best friend.

"I suppose I do" she said.

As she opened the door to exit his office he took a leap of chance.

"Oh, Happy Birthday Miss Malfoy" he called out.

She froze and she turned to look at him confused and grateful.

"Thank you Professor, how did you know?" she asked.

"I never forget my students' birthdays" he fibbed.

She nodded and closed the door behind her. Leaving a tired Remus Lupin taking in all that information. That girl wasn't just anyone, but rather the daughter of his former best friend, the heir of the wrong fortune, and someone he would never get the opportunity to properly raise as his own. Running his fingers through his hair he groaned in frustration. First Harry, now Angel? Just what did the world have in store for those souls.

...

Her trek back to the common room was promptly stopped as she heard the bells tolling. This meant that her friends were back from Hogsmeade. A smile rose to her face and she immediately headed towards the Great Hall. She had missed them very much. As she opened the door, she noted not only that everyone had returned, but that Draco had a surprise for her. She noticed Crabbe and Goyle trying to get something from Pansy, who immediately swatted their hands away. Draco was in turn waiting patiently by the door, and once he took her hand she knew it was for her. His blue/grey eyes brightened as she tugged her along towards the table.

Confused for a brief second, she yelped in surprise as she was picked up by Blaise to stand on the table. She blushed heavily at how they were embarrassing her, but this was expected. As the birthday celebration began, she felt herself try to shrink, but her brother wasn't having that. She leaned shyly against him hiding her face as everyone chanted in celebration.

"You're horrible" She murmured against him.

"Only to those I love," he teased.

Laughing slightly, she couldn't help but join in the clapping as they brought her the cake. Looking up briefly she noticed that Dumbledore himself lifted his cup to greet her. Professor Lupin himself, not so secretly, also did the same.

…

"-and the post office! It's about 200 owls, all sitting on color- coded shelves, depending on how fast you want your letter to go!" Hermione gushed.

"-and Honeyduke's is brilliant filled with Sugar Quills, Flaming Whizbees, and blood-flavored lollipops for Halloween!" Ron continued.

Harry nodded absentmindedly, and picked quietly through the spray of brilliantly colored sweets on the table. He was glad they had fun, for the moment he had sneaked out, it had been nothing but stress for him. He looked up hearing uproar from the Slytherin table. He smirked thinking he had gotten Draco good with the snowballs, but now it wasn't about them. Currently, they were cheering for Angel and he then noticed that they had handed her a cake. He felt even more foolish because the moment he had to talk to her, he wasted on talking nonsense and never wished her a good birthday.

Angel smiled and let Blaise lower her down on the floor. She cut the cake and lifted icing to cover Draco's nose, much to his annoyance and they laughed and began to dig into the cake, oblivious to the staring. Angel stopped for a second and turned to face another direction.

"What?" Draco asked.

"Just give me a sec, I want to take a piece of cake somewhere" she said.

Draco rolled his eyes and let her go.

Harry trailed her as she walked towards their direction,and he wondered just what she was up to. But before she properly reached them, she turned and walked to the Ravenclaw table, handing a grateful Luna a piece. The girls embraced and Angel pulled her towards the festivities.

"She's really hamming it up" Ginny muttered from her seat next to Ron.

"Yeah" Ron said as he picked up a sugar quill.

"Who cares?" Hermione said.

Ron nodded and then looked like he remembered something interesting.

"Oh! Hang on, I almost forgot. I got you something wicked at Dervish and Banges. It's a Pocket Sneakoscope." He said excited.

Ron placed a small glass spinning on the top of the long table.

"If there's someone untrustworthy around, it's meant to light up and spin. Mind you, Fred and George say it's rubbish, sold for wizard tourists, but I thought, you know, it can't hurt, given that..." Ron finished sheepishly.

"Sirius Black's trying to kill me." He grinned "I'm glad you had a good time. Really, and thanks for this." He said eyeing the Sneakoscope. "Rubbish or not, you're right. It can't hurt."

…

At the end of the day, it wasn't so bad being left behind, at least on Angel's perspective. She had learned about the mysterious woman, Amorette Holmes, and got to know more about Black from a perspective of a former friend. She soon forgot all that, after all, her birthday wouldn't be overshadowed by the past of two people who had nothing to do with her. She decided to let them all eat cake and to celebrate even at a lower lever, without her parents. Unbeknown to either Harry or Angel, they both had a connected past, and the criminal had more to do with them then they thought.

8/26/18 Author's Note: Please head on over to the poll regarding the most recently topic. Thank you!