"School letters!" Announced Ginny as she walked into the room handed out letters to everyone.
Amy thanked her as she took it and opened it as Ginny left, probably to give Hermione hers. It contained two pieces of parchment: one the usual reminder that term started on the first of September; the other telling her which books she would need for the coming year.
"Only two new books." Harry said
Amy looked down to the list and read, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, by Miranda Goshawk, and Defensive Magical Theory, by Wilbert Slinkhard.
Crack.
Fred and George Apparated right beside Amy. She was so used to them doing this by now that it didn't even startle her.
"We were just wondering who set the Slinkhard book." Said Fred conversationally.
"Because it means Dumbledores found a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," said George.
"And about time too," said Fred.
"What do you mean?" Asked Amy, now sitting up.
"Well, we overheard Mum and Dad talking on the Extendable Ears a few days before you arrived," Fred told her, "and from what they were saying, Dumbledore was having a real trouble finding anyone to do the job this year."
"Not surprising, is it, when you look at what's happened to the last four." Said George. "One sacked, one dead, ones memory removed and one locked in a trunk for nine months."
"Well I hope this one is some-what normal." Amy stated.
Fred nodded to her until something caught his eye. "What's up with you, Ron?" He asked.
Ron did not answer. Amy looked across the room to see him standing very still with his mouth slightly open, gaping at his letter from Hogwarts.
"Is he glitching?" She asked.
"What's the matter?" Said Fred impatiently, moving around Ron to look over his shoulder at the parchment.
Fred's mouth fell open, too.
"Prefect?" He said, staring incredulously at the letter. "Prefect?"
Amy covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing too loud.
George leapt forwards, seized the envelope in Ron's other hand and turned it upside-down. Amy saw something scarlet and gold fall into George's palm.
"No way." Said George in a hushed voice.
"There's been a mistake," said Fred, snatching the letter out of Ron's grasp and holding it up to the light as though checking it for a watermark. "No one in their right mind would make Ron a prefect."
The twins heads turned in indoor and both of them stared at Harry. "We thought you were a very!" Said Fred, in a tone that suggested Harry had tricked them in some way. "We thought you were bound to get it!" Said George indignantly. They then turned to Amy and was about to say something before they stopped themselves. "Nope. Not you." Said George shaking his head. "Yeah you were definitely a no." Fred agreed and Amy's just rolled her eyes at them but couldn't argue.
The door banged open. Hermione came tearing into the room, her cheeks flushed and her hair flying. There was an envelope in her hand.
"Did you - did you get -?"
She spotted the badge in Harry's hand as Ron had just given it to him to look at, and let out a shriek.
"I knew it!" She said excitedly, brandishing her letter. "Me too, Harry, me too!"
Amy looked to the twins who looked about as amused as her.
"No," said Harry quickly, pushing the badge back into Ron's hand. "It's Ron, not me."
"It - what?"
"Ron's prefect, not me," Harry said.
"Ron?" Said Hermione, her jaw dropping. "But...are you sure? I mean -"
She turned red as Ron looked round at her with a defiant expression on his face.
"It's my name on the letter," he said.
Amy took the pillow from next to her and covered her face as she wouldn't be able to contain her laughter for much longer.
"I...." Said Hermione, sounding bewildered. "I....well....wow! Well done Ron! That's really -"
"Unexpected," said George as Amy removed the pillow from her face.
"No," said Hermione blushing harder than ever, "no it's not....Ron's done loads of.....he's really...."
Amy couldn't hold it in any longer. She burst out laughing casing everyone to turn to her. Fred and George eventually joined in being followed by Harry and Ron. Hermione looked around and began laughing awkwardly until it became real.
"Ahh perfect prefect Ronald." Said Fred as he wiped a tear from his eye. Causing everyone else to laugh harder.
"You don't mind if we don't kiss you, do you, oh lord Ronnie?" George asked.
"We could curtesy if you like." Offered Fred, as him and George did so infront of him. Making the others laugh uncontrollably.
•••••••••••
The first day of back finally arrived and Amy couldn't be more excited. She woke up,got ready and grabbed all of her pre-packed bags moving them downstairs.
Everyone else was already in the kitchen enjoying their breakfast. Amy sat down and joined them as they started conversation about what their school year could possibly bring.
Once their stomachs were full, Mrs Weasley walked in. "Amy, Harry, you're with me and Tonks," she informed. "Leave your trunks here, Alastor's going to deal with the luggage.....oh, for heavens sake, Sirius, Dumbledore said no!"
A bear-like black dog had appeared at Amy's side as she was clambering over various trunks cluttering toe room to get to the hall.
"Oh honestly...." Said Mrs Weasley despairingly. "Well, on your own head be it!"
They walked down the hallway one last time and Mrs Weasley wrenched open the front door and stepped out into the weak September sunlight. Amy, Harry and the dog followed her. The door slammed behind them.
"Where Tonks?" Amy asked, looking round as they went down the stone steps of number twelve, which vanished the moment they reached the pavement.
"She's waiting for us just up here," said Mrs Weasley stiffly, averting her eyes from the lolloping black dog beside Harry.
An old woman greeted them on the corner. She had tightly curled grey hair and wore a purple hat shaped like a pie.
"You alright you two?" She asked, winking, Harry and Amy nodded. "Better hurry up, hadn't we Molly?" She added checking her watch.
"I know, I know," moaned Mrs Weasley, lengthening her stride.
The great black dog have a joyful bark and gambolled around them, snapping at pigeons and chasing its own tail . Amy couldn't help but laugh. Sirius had been trapped inside for a very long time and she saw how unhappy he was becoming.
It took them twenty minutes to reach Kings Cross on foot and nothing more eventful happened during that time than Sirius scaring a couple cats for Amy's and Harry's entertainment. Once inside the station they lingered casually beside the barrier between platforms nine and ten until the coast was clear. Amy couldn't help but keep an eye out for any sign of her friends. Each of them leaned against the wall and fell easily through onto platform nine and three-quarters, where the Hogwarts Express stood belching sooty steam over a platform packed with departing students and their families. Amy inhaled the familiar smell and her spirits soared...she was really going to see then again....
"I hope the others make it in time," said Mrs Weasley anxiously, staring behind her at the wrought-iron arch spanning the platform, through which new arrivals would come.
"Nice dog, Griffin!" Called a spiteful voice, Pansy Parkinson was standing a few inches away from her with Millicent Bulstrode.
Great, she's the first person I see, Any thought
Amy looked down and saw that Sirius was no longer there. She turned around and saw him headed towards the covered seating area at the end of the platform. She looked back to see Mrs Weasley still focusing on the wall. So she quickly followed Sirius inside.
She got inside and thank Merlin it was empty. Sirius was sitting down in his human form, covered in a fluffy black robe.
"For heavens sake, act more like a dog Sirius." She hissed as she took a seat next to him. She noticed how he was holding something in his hand. "What is that?" She asked.
He turned to her. "You asked me how I knew your mother." He said, "we went to school together, was in the same year." Amy felt stupid for not making that connection before. "You look so much like her." He smiled. Only then she saw what he was holding. A moving photo of her mother when she was much younger, was standing in between two Gryffindor boys but seemed very closer to one of them. And that's when she realised, that boy was Sirius. "You were friends?" She asked still staring at the picture. Sirius nodded smiling. "I was mad for her." He added, still looking at the picture. Amy couldn't believe what she was hearing. Amy stated "But she was a -" "Slytherin?" Sirius finished for her. "Oh I know, how her parents disapproved of me." He said with a laugh. Amy smiled at the thought of her tight ass grandparents meeting Sirius Black. "You liked her didn't you?" Amy asked knowingly. Sirius nodded slowly, "loved." He corrected.
Amy didn't know what to say. Here Sirius was, confessing his past love for her mother. "Your father came along sixth year." He sighed. "That was the last time I saw her, I had left to join the Order. I asked her to come with me but she was already leaving with you Father." He said sadly.
Whenever Amy was told about her parents in school, it was made out to be the most romantic thing to grace the earth, but now she was learning the truth of it.
"Here," said Sirius, turning to her. "Take this." He placed the picture in her hand. "Sirius...I can't-" she started. "Maybe one day you can give it to her." He said as he smiled softly. Amy smiled and put in in her jean pocket.
A warning whistle sounded. The train was to leave any moment. "You better get going." He said to her softly. Amy hugged the man in-front of her which he reacted to straight away, hugging her back. "Thank you for this summer." She said, "You're welcome back anytime." He said.
They let go of each other and Amy headed for the door. She turned back to Sirius one last time and waved to him. She ran towards Mrs Weasley on the nearly empty platform.
"Oh there you are dear!" She said startled as she embraced Amy in a hug. "So lovely to meet you dear."
"Thank you for everything." Amy said as they pulled apart.
Mrs Weasley smiled to her and placed her hands on her shoulders, "now you have a good year Amy, now quick! Onto the train otherwise you are stuck with me til christmas!" She said pushing her to the train door.
She climbed on and got one last look at them all. Tonks and Remus was waving to her and Mrs Weasley looked as though she was about to cry. A dog appeared next to them.
The train stated to move and Amy went to the closest window. The dog began running after the train howling and barking as it began to quicken. Amy wave one last time then they rounded a bend. And Sirius was gone.
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An:
Guess who's in the next chapter :)