Summer of 1976

A nuzzle was made into her side. Amelia absentmindedly scratched the top of the Niffler's head. A squeak came from it. She tore her attention from a recent publication of new potions that was recently discovered, "What is it, Macgyver?"

The sandy colored Niffler dug into its pouch pulling out a note. It hugged the note to its chest. A chuckle bubbled out of Amelia. She stretched over to her satchel pulling out a shiny little spoon. Amelia held it out for the Niffler to take, "I'll trade you for grand-da's note."

Macgyver looked between the spoon and to his caretaker's granddaughter. Immediately the note was forgotten as it slid out of its little paws to the side of him. Macgyver took the spoon and hid it in its pouch. Amelia unfolded the note,

My dear sweet Amelia, I request your lovely help in feeding time.

-Grandfather

Amelia pulled herself away from her cauldron folding the note into the back pocket of her bell bottomed jeans. The soon to be sixteen year old ran down the steps of her grandparents' home. A couple squeaks were made from the two branches by the window she passed at the bottom of the stairwell. She quickly called out to them, "Don't worry, you guys I'll be comin' back to feed ya!"

The last the little bowtruckles seen was the dark auburn haired teen rushing out with her hair lightly tangling itself. Her grandmother, Porpetina, was watering her little garden at the side of the house. Amelia smiled calling towards her greying grandmother, "Nan! Thank you for the potions book!"

Tina looked up from her rose bushes. A soft smile graced her aged features, "You're very welcome, dear."

"I'm here! I'm ready!," Amelia skidded to a stop right by the mooncalves. Newton Scamander, her grandfather, was already feeding the occamies. Amelia plucked a bucket filled with pellets and started to feed the mooncalves. Their little happy faces beamed when they saw the pellets float around them. Each one stretched their necks to get the pellets.

"Amelia, I didn't get to ask you but how was your fifth year at hogwarts?," a gentle soft voice came from her grandfather.

The almost clone of her grandfather turned to him. She shrugged, "It's the same as usual. Tilly mentioned she could talk her parents into allowin' her to visit this summer."

The two of them knew it would be impossible for the Slytherin to come and stay. Her parents didn't want Matilda to associate with a blood traitor family. However, when Amelia and Matilda turned the age of thirteen was when Matilda stood up against her parents. Her parents allowed their daughter to associate with Amelia only during the school year. By the summer of that year when they were about to head into year four, she pressed her luck again and it only allowed her to give and take letters through owl to Amelia. Matilda mentioned to her after that her parents were very adamant of no more pushing.

Newt didn't mention of how it wouldn't be a possible thing for Matilda visiting. He cleared his throat, "Ah, yes. Didn't you take your O. ?"

Amelia let out a groan while she peppered the pellets into the air, "I know I will get a dreadful grade on my ancient runes and muggle studies classes. How am I supposed to remember what the function of a pet rock? It's a bloody mineral. And I thought I would be able to understand the little squiggles in ancient runes but it was turnin' my brain to mush."

Amelia placed the bucket down beside the mooncalves' corral. She headed towards the nest of baby hippogriffs. There were only two and they were nestled beside each other. Amelia bowed in front of the hippogriffs. Luckily for her, their nest was perched higher so the person who would be feeding them didn't have to get so close to the ground. Of course it would change once they grow bigger but for now it was at perfect height. Her eyes didn't break contact between the two babies. Soon the two babies each bowed their head in mutual respect. Amelia grabbed a pair of small dead rabbits. The two of them chirped excitedly at the sight of the rabbits. A small smile came from Amelia, "Here you two go."

She fed the two the rabbits. Her grandfather appeared behind her. His hand lightly squeezed her shoulder as he spoke, "I think you'll do fine in your O. . You'll be getting your results before your sixth year starts."

Amelia turned her head towards the elder Scamander, "I know I'll get an O for care of magical creatures and potions. At least an E for transfiguration."

Newt pressed a kiss on his granddaughter's head, "No matter what I'll be proud of you, my little fire salamander."

The sound of the nickname brought a bigger smile onto Amelia's lips. Each time he called her a nickname it was always a different creature. It always made her curious on what creature he called her so she would ask him about it. He would go into great detail about the creature. It was one of the many reasons she loved spending time with her grandfather.

Newt took a half step back away from his granddaughter. His aged blue eyes studied the growing up teenager. He wondered, "Did you find anything interesting within that new potions book of yours?"

Amelia paused for a moment, it was subtle, before she grabbed another pair of small rabbits. The two hippogriffs leaped up to catch the two rabbits in their beaks. Amelia tucked a stray curl behind her ear, "Oh, yes. Yes I have. I was wondering if we could possibly head into the apothecary to pick up some ingredients. They're quite expensive..."

The elder Scamander tilted his head to the right in thought, "How expensive are you talking, my little Niffler?"

Amelia felt a lump stuck in her throat. She knew it would be too expensive for her family, let alone her grandfather, to pay for. She swallowed the imaginary lump, "Well, it's aconite a-and I know how expensive it can be. I just need about a good amount in case I fail to make the potion. It just... It just seems so interesting to brew. It's difficult but-."

Newt rested a hand on Amelia's head before sliding it down to her shoulder. He didn't need to know her reasoning for wanting to get potion ingredients. He didn't want to impede on his children's interests and he's not going to start now. Not like how his family was with him. In a reasonable sensible mind, he should ask what she would need the potion for. However, he isn't by the book, is he?

Newt released his granddaughter's shoulder, "Alright, get ready. I'll tell your grandmother we are going to be leaving soon."

A smile widened itself on her lips. She nodded before running off towards the Scamander home.

The sounds of plastic hitting each other mixed in with the music playing on a record player. Amelia bit her bottom lip in search for a particular cassette. She muttered to her self, "No... No... Not that one..."

Luckily for Amelia, her wand looked like a black stick with a lightened tip. The smooth surface of the bulbs and swirls had tooth marks from one of her many stays at her grandfather's. Her wand was twisted within her hair to keep the long strands out of her way. Her grandfather allowed her to continue her little shopping trip in Muggle London while he dealt with business in Diagon Alley.

"What's a little bunny like you doing here by herself?"

Amelia didn't take note of the Muggle who appeared on the other side of the aisle. The Muggle rested the point of his chin in his palm as he leaned on tall tower of records. Amelia continued her search for a particular cassette tape into another box further from the Muggle. The Muggle didn't seem to like being ignored. He slinked away from the tower towards the dark auburn girl. The Muggle tried again, "I never seen you around before."

Once again, she tried ignoring him but the boy was insistent. A loud smack towards the cassettes stopped the boy from his chattering. Amelia felt her annoyance grow when she spoke, "I'm not interested."

She finally found what she was looking for. Blue Swede. Before she could grab the cassette, the Muggle nipped it from the box. He held it between his fingers. The cassette box wiggled between his index and middle finger. Amelia's annoyance grew to a new level.

Outside of the music shop, an unlikely pair strolled by. One of them paused before backtracking to the shop's glass front. He cupped his hands around his eyes as he peered in through the glass. A large sly smile perked up on his face. The other didn't stop his walking as he was talking to a now empty space. The peering boy pulled himself off the glass front to enter the shop. He called out to the auburn girl while he walked closer, "Ah, Salamander! Fancy seeing you here."

The one boy outside kept walking, "Don'cha think Prongs?"

The boy looked around calling out his friend's nickname, "Prongs?"

Back inside of the music shop, James Potter looked between the two other occupants of the store. Amelia didn't feel the energy to have a healthy teasing between Griffindor's chaser. James could see Amelia's shoulders droop down. The Muggle looked at James up and down,"Who're you?"

He stopped wiggling the wanted tape. Tearing his eyes away from Amelia, James eyed the Muggle, "James Potter, who're you?"

The Muggle pointed to Amelia, "This little bunny's date."

Amelia turned her heel muttering under breath, "Only, I can charm him into a door nail, as it would rightfully fits..."

James heard her as she passed him. He looked at the Muggle. The Muggle called out, "If I buy this for you little bunny, would you go on a date with me?"

Amelia stopped at the door of the shop. A person at the doorway looked confused at seeing a familiar person. Amelia looked up from the ground to once again tell the Muggle she was not interested but Amelia and the person's eyes met. She took a deep breath as she knew she would regret this as a plan was mentally formulated quickly. She smiled suddenly at Sirius Black, "Ah, I was wonderin' when you'll be meetin' with me, love."

James' eyebrows hid themselves into his hair line. His face started to be laced with amusement. The Muggle tossed the cassette tape into the box. Amelia whispered to Sirius, "For the love of phoenix, please play along."

Sirius looked over at his best mate with knitted brows. James gave a quick nod and a roll wave of his hand as to say go along with it. Sirius licked his lips then a lop-sided smile graced his features. Sirius wrapped an arm around Amelia which surprised her, "Sorry, that you've been waiting long."

Amelia felt herself be guided back over to James who was still close to the Muggle. Sirius' brows went up in surprise that his fellow classmate would be found in this type of shop once he had a good look around. He didn't look at the shop's signage or looked around when he found his best mate inside at first. James decided to amplify the facade by piping up, "Oi, Salamander. Why didn't you tell me, your best friend, that you had a date arranged with Sirius?"

Amelia couldn't send a glare to James or it'd ruin this facade. The Muggle merely shrugged and started to turn to Sirius, "We can share, man."

Amelia's face turned red at the mere thought. Not of embarrassment but of anger. Sirius felt Amelia start to move forward but he was still forcibly acting a part. He released Amelia to stand in front of her. His arms crossed on his chest. Sirius spoke, "No. We don't swing that way, man. Now leave her alone."

The Muggle huffed annoyed, "Whatever man."

Once the Muggle finally left the shop. Amelia's shoulders relaxed with slight tension. She rubbed her forehead, "Thank you. He wouldn't take a hint."

James plucked a cassette tape case from the box. He held it out towards Amelia, "This is what you were getting?"

Amelia's eyes widened by a margin. She slowly took the case from his hands, "Thanks. Yes, it was."

Sirius took a step away from Amelia. Amelia noticed the movement and looked apologetic, "I do apologize, Black. You were simply there and I needed the Muggle to get off my back. Thank you for playin' along."

Sirius thrust a thumb towards James, "Thank him. Not me, he told me to go along."

The two of them felt a pair of arms wrapped around their shoulders. James looked awkward with the two persons' height difference. He looked slanted but he didn't care. James smiled big, "I think this calls for a trip to Florean's. A sweet treat for helping my new best mate, Salamander!"

Sirius looked like he was a kicked puppy, "I thought I was your best mate!"

James laughed, "Always!"

Amelia didn't know what to do in this situation. Her friendly banter between Potter and her never leveled up to this extent. Amelia cleared her throat, "Actually... I need to get back-."

James tightened his grip on Amelia, "No excuses! Now go pay for that and we will meet you outside."

Amelia felt James release her as he dragged his friend outside. Amelia blinked. She breathed out, "Yes, I'll definitely regret this."

A/N: So I had to look up 70s slang, and little bunny seemed okay. Apparently it also have different meanings...? From a site, it said it meant cute girl so I added little in front to make it little cute girl. Hopefully that's accurate. I also figured swingers were definitely a thing during this time period.

I hope everyone is being safe out there. Hope everyone is having a wonderful day or night!