Cats and Dogs

Chapter 27

“Oh, come on, Lily! How long are you gong to be mad at me?” I whined as we made our way up to the castle in the carriages that were pulled by Thestrals. I knew why I could see them and I knew that most of the students in the school didn’t even know of their existence. When one of the Aurors reversed the stunning spell causing her to wake up, the first thing Lily did was glare at me and since then she’s been ignoring me.
“Well, you can’t blame her for being mad at you, Amilia. You did, after all, attack her.” Alice stated who was currently sitting in between Lily and I.
I rolled my eyes, “Look, if I hadn’t had done that she would’ve gotten hurt - or worse.” I mumbled the last part.
Lily leaned forward to look over Alice at me. Her usually bright green eyes looked dark with anger, “Oh, so you can risk your life to protect us but we can’t risk our own to protect you?!”
I nodded, “Exactly.” I crossed my arms over my chest and Lily’s glare intensified.
“That’s complete rubbish!” she shouted making my eyes slightly widened in surprise and the kids who were sitting across from us jump in their seats. “He was torturing you! I could have helped-!”
“NO!!” I bellowed angrily, standing up to look down at her. “You wouldn’t have helped! You would’ve just got yourself killed! I can take care of myself - NO ONE WILL DIE FOR ME!! NOT AGAIN - NOT EVER AGAIN!”
I slammed back down into my seat and ignored all the looks people were giving me. My hands and jaw were clenched and I was glaring daggers at my feet.
“Are you… talking about your parents?” Lily whispered and I saw Alice go still.
I said nothing. I leaned back against my seat and it was my turn to ignore Lily now. “Amilia-”
“Look, you would’ve gotten yourself killed, so I don’t regret stunning you. So drop it.” I stated coldly.
I could hear yelling ahead and my heart gave a leap. I stood up and we all looked to see everyone who had stayed during the holidays running out of the castle to greet their friends and make sure they were okay. Our carriage came to a halt and we quickly got off and began to make our way through the crowd and I couldn’t help but hear my name being said a lot.
“Lily?! Lily!” I heard James yelling somewhere in the crowd. “Move- get out of my way!” I felt a harsh shove making me ram into someone else.
“Hey, watch it- oh! You’re Amilia Moody!” The guy I had been shoved into help me upright. “You’re the one who saved everyone!”
“What?” I blinked a few times in surprise. “No, I mean - we saved each other-”
“Yeah, that’s her, over there!” Another person yelled.
“James!” I turned around and saw James wrap his arms around Lily, pulling her to him. He hid his face in her neck and held her tightly and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held him just as desperately.
I felt a hand warp around my wrist and tug me around, “Amilia! Thank god- I- you’re alright!” Sirius pulled me against him and hugged me tightly and the thought of my bones crushing crossed my mind. He quickly let go and held me by the shoulders. His usually care-free vibrant, smokey gray eyes seemed clouded and unusually dark. It was unsettling and I couldn’t help but begin to wonder what happened to Sirius when he heard what happened on the train.
“Get inside- get inside!” I heard McGonagall shouting at students. The large herd of students began to make their way into the castle to the Great Hall. I felt myself being carried into the castle and I saw Sirius disappear into the crowd. Once in the Great Hall everyone broke up into their Houses and began to sit down. The Great Hall was roaring with chatter and I saw McGonagall stride fiercely to the staff table where the other teachers were settling down. “Sit down! All of you!” She shouted and we all did as she was told.
I saw Remus searching the crowd and when his eyes landed on me I saw him let out a sigh of relief and he shoved Peter next to him and pointed at me. Peter’s eyes were wide and they seemed to relax when he saw what Remus was pointing. I quickly walked over and sat across from them and I saw Lily and James sit next to me.
“What the hell happened?” Remus asked worriedly. “People are saying that you fought one-on-one against Voldemort!”
My eyes widened, “What?! That’s crazy! Who’s saying that?”
“People. Everyone. And that you fought off a hundred Dementors!”
I rolled my eyes, “That’s an exaggeration!”
Remus’ eyes widened, “But you did fight off Dementors?!”
“Sent about thirty of them running for their lives!” Alice stated as she took a seat on my other side and Frank on hers.
If possible, Remus’ eyes got even wider, “That’s amazing! And on your first try!”
I scoffed, “Well, not exactly. Tried it a few times at home-”
“But that was the first time you faced a Dementor- and thirty of them!” Remus looked actually proud of me making me look at him oddly.
“Yeah… Well, I owe it to your Christmas present-”
“SILENCE!” Dumbledore bellowed and immediately the Great Hall fell silent and I was almost certain I heard a cricket. Everyone turned to look up at him. “The Ministry of Magic are on their way here. I know most of you are very confused and scared by tonight’s event and are wondering what exactly happened. Today, Voldemort and his followers attacked your fellow classmates and friends.” Murmuring broke out but quickly died when they realized Dumbledore wouldn’t continue unless it was silent. “Voldemort gave them two options; join him or face death.” The small backdoor by the professor’s table opened and in walked a group of men and women and one man was holding a large camera. The only one I recognized was the Minister Thomas Turner. He was of average height and around the age of fifty and had a very large, round stomach. Even with the arrival of the Minister of Magic, Dumbledore seemed unfazed by him an continued as the group from the Ministry stood by the back table. “Unwilling to betray their family, friends, and the greater good they chose a third option,” Dumbledore paused to look at the three tables; Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and lastly Gryffindor, “they chose to fight. And with the leadership of one particular student they fought well and won tonight’s battle.” I saw many people turn in their seats to look at me and I could feel heat rise to my face. “Amilia Moody, if you’d please come up here. The Minister would like to give you an award.”
I blinked a few times. “I don’t want it.” I found myself saying quickly, earning some gasps and more murmuring. “What I mean is,” I began standing up but not leaving the comfort of my table, “is that… I alone don’t deserve that award because it wasn’t I alone who fought on that train.” I looked at my fellow Gryffindors, “They fought,” I gestured to them and I turned to the Hufflepuffs, “and they fought,” I looked over at the Ravenclaws, “and they fought as well.” I turned back to look at over at Dumbledore and the Minister who was watching me attentively. “We wouldn’t have won if it wasn’t for all of them. They all risked their lives as did I. They all fought bravely. That award doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to all of us… Well, not the Slytherins.” I added in a mumble but those who heard smirked, smiled, and grinned.
“Oh, bollocks!” I frowned and turned to look at Herbert Macmillan standing with his arms crossed over his chest. “Look, modesty is an admirable trait and all, but while all of us were freaking out, you were calm and had a plan and that plan worked so take that award! At least, except it on all of our behalf’s!” Claps emerged from (almost) everyone making that nervous feeling become stronger in my stomach.
“Go on!” Lily whispered behind me before shoving me forward making me stumble. I shuffled over to the front of the Great Hall towards the Minister who pulled out a flat dark box from inside his jacket. The man with the camera quickly ran over and began taking pictures causing me to jump slightly and blink at the flashes.
The Minister was smiling broadly and kept glancing at the camera. He clasped my right hand and shook it firmly. “On behalf of the Ministry, Hogwarts, and Magical Community, we would like to award you with this award of Special Services.” He handed me the box and then quickly pulled me under his arm and squeezed me with his left arm and turned us towards the camera which began to flash violently once again.

~~~

“Oi, is it true you’re Patronus is a lion?” Millie McKay, a blonde third year asked as we made our way to the Gryffindor Tower. “The whole school knows about it, anyways. Cardy Hargly was going to turn in some paperwork for Slughorn to Dumbledore. He was outside the door and he heard your Patronus telling Dumbledore everything and when Dumbledore rushed out he saw your Patronus. A lion! I guess you’re a true Gryffindor, aye?!” She was grinning broadly, as if she were proud of me, though we’ve hardly ever spoken before now.
I blinked, “Oh… kay…?” I gave her an odd smiling, making her grin and run over to her friends.
“Yeah, Cardy got a weeks worth of detention because of that announcement. Everyone was just lounging around and then out of no where Cardy’s voice starts booming, ’THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS IS BEING ATTACKED BY HUNDREDS OF DEATH EATERS!!’” James interpreted Cardy’s excited voice spot on. James smile faded and he wrapped his arm around Lily who gave him a reassuring smile and then a kiss on the cheek. “It was nerve wrecking.”
I saw Frank nod and hold Alice’s hand in his, “Yeah. No one new what it meant at first. Everyone was just kind of in shock and was wondering if it was even true or maybe a prank…”
“A cruel prank it would’ve been. I would have pounded Cardy if he was lying… but to be honest… I was praying that he was.” James whispered.
We all climbed through the portrait hole and weren’t surprised in the least to see that it was packed. It seemed no one was ready to go to sleep yet and I sighed.
“After a minute or two, everyone was running to the nearest Professor asking if what Cardy had announced was true. The Professor’s expression said it all.” Remus stated as we walked over to an empty table in the corner of the common room.
As I sat down my eyes immediately began scanning around the room looking for Sirius. From what I could see, he wasn’t at the Gryffindor table when we were all in the Great Hall and I was beginning to worry he was off planning something stupid. It was quite obvious the Slytherins had known about the whole fiasco but with no proof Dumbledore nor the Ministry could punish any of them. And unfortunately, when I talked to Dumbledore and the Minister about what I had over heard about the group of Slytherin boys say before the winter break, they said it wasn’t enough to even arrest them. But I knew that Dumbledore would be watching those boys carefully from now on.
“What happened after you guys found out it was true?” Lily asked tenderly looking upon James’ face with concern and wonder.
“What do you think?” James smiled and shook his head. “We began to freak out. No one knew what to do. Everyone seemed like they were trying to do several things at once. People wanted to get on brooms and go with Dumbledore -- we were the ones who suggested that. But the Professor’s wouldn’t let us. They said we would only get in the way and cause more damage and that Dumbledore was on his way to you guys along with Aurors. All we could do was sit and wait. It was agonizing.” James stated tentatively.
Remus let out a soft laugh, “This guy,” he pointed at James, who’s eyes began to widened and face began to redden as he slowly shook his head. “It seemed like he was going through the five stages of dying. First, was denial.” James dropped his head into his hands. “’No, this isn’t possible!’” Remus began in the best James voice he could muster. “’Not my Lily-Flower. It’s the Hogwarts Express! It’s protected by charms!’ Then, anger. ’I’ll kill Cardy if this is a joke! It isn’t funny! I’ll swear I’ll slaughter any Death Eater that hurts her!’” Remus was grinning, “This next one was my favorite: bargaining.” James slammed his head on the table. “’Please god’, mind you, he was on his knees now, looking up at the sky with his arms in the air. ’Please, if you save Lily, I’ll do anything you want! I’ll stop picking on the first years! I’ll go to church! I’ll do whatever you want!’” Everyone was smiling and laughing at James’ expense. “Then, depression. ’How can I live without her? I’ll die. I love her…’” Our smiles fades along with Remus’ words because we all were thinking the same thing. We were letting the words James had cried out sink into us. His words of denial… furious anger… desperate bargaining… and suicidal depression. But would James had ever made it to the fifth stage? Acceptance?
No, I don’t think he would ever be able to accept that Lily, his love, Lily was dead, if it had came to that.
James suddenly got up, “I’m pretty tired.” he faked a yawn and stretched. “I’m going to head up to bed.” James fake yawn was contagious, as many of the Gryffindors began to yawn and say their good nights to their friends and fellow Gryffindors and head up to their rooms.
Peter stood up and gave out a wide yawn and waved good night to us and followed the crowd into the sixth year boys dorm along with James.
“Yeah, I’m feeling pretty tired too.” Frank whispered. Alice stood up with Frank and they walked over to the staircase. Frank whispered in her ear, making her grin and then they shared a deep goodnight kiss and went their separate ways.
“Well, I guess I’ll be heading up too.” Remus pushed himself up. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.” He walked over to the staircase and Lily shot up.
“Remus! Can you tell James to come back down here… please?” Her long red bangs were covering her eyes and I knew she wanted to be alone with James so I stood up to get to bed. Remus nodded and climbed up the stairs and I heard him mumble, “Where’s that idiot, Sirius?”

~
Lovely music 1
Lovely music 2
~

I sighed as I stared at the dark ceiling above me. It was around three in the morning and I had yet to fall asleep. My mind wouldn’t let me. It was restless. I kept going over and over what happened when I preformed the Patronus Charm. I was going over the fact the I really did love Sirius. And that Patronus had proved it. A part of me was still trying to fight these feelings. A part of me didn’t want to be in love with Sirius… but the part that loved him… the part that had been locked away for all these months had been set free and it had no intention of being locked away again.
Could I live with loving and hating Sirius at the same time?
No, I knew it would tear me apart.
Would Sirius be happy once I told him?
That is, if I ever do tell him.
Could I live with loving him and not being with him?
No… This too, would tear me apart.
I hated that my heart was so dependent on Sirius. I knew with just a few, simple words, Sirius could crush it.
Would risking it be worth the reward?
The reward… What exactly would that even be?
Holding Sirius’ hands… holding him… kissing him… being with him. Marriage? Children? Growing old together?
Would we even last that long?
How long would we last?
Our first date didn’t even last longer than an hour?
Our friendship itself is rocky.
What would our relationship be like?
We seem to thrive off of arguing with each other. What kind of healthy relationship would that be?
My parents hardly ever argued… and when they did they would make up the minute after they were done.
My parents…
Would they approve?
That is… if they were alive?
I could see my father now once I introduced Sirius to the family. He would be watching Sirius carefully with his dark narrowed eyes and continuously flexing his muscles and twirling his wand in his fingers, making sure Sirius knew just how dangerous my dad was.
My mom would be rolling her green-gray-honey eyes at my father as she would ask Sirius questions about himself and his family. I knew my mother would find it very brave that Sirius ran away from his home under his circumstances and would be very glad that he had a friend like James to count on. And though my father would not admit it, he would be impressed too.
I smiled, knowing full well that my parents would love Sirius and my friends here. I wish they were still alive to meet them all. I hope, where ever they are, that they know that my friends loved me as much as I loved them and none of them would ever hurt or betray me.
I sighed once more and sat up and threw my legs over my bed. I rested my hands on my bed and leant my head back.
The glow of the three-quarter moon was shining brightly through the window and on my face. Another full moon would come soon. I hoped to join the rest of the Marauders in another run around the forest.
My eyes were heavy and I knew that if I laid back down and shut my eyes I would finally be able to go to sleep.
But what would I dream of?
Would I dream of fighting the Death Eaters and Voldemort, but this time truly by myself?
Would I dream about how my parents lived or how they died?
Would I dream of watching my friends rise or watching them fall?
I shook my head and stood up. Is there a spell to make me stop think for just a moment? I thought with frustration and annoyance.
I walked over to the window and looked up at the glowing white moon. Pure and watching us as we watched it.
My eye lids fell and slowly opened again, but this time my eyes were on a small figure that was sitting by the lake. It was looking up at the moon and watching it. The figure was still and though I couldn’t see who it was, I already knew it was Sirius.
I took a deep breath, “It has to be now.” I whispered.
I turned around and everything began to feel heavy. My legs as I began to run out of the room felt like they were moving slowly. The air felt thick and dense, making it hard for me to breath. My lungs already felt like they were on fire and I had barely made it out through the door. I could hear my heart hammering in my chest, trying to make me run faster. But I was slow… everything was slow. It frustrated me that I was only now making it to the end of the spiral staircase. The once roaring fire in the common room was barely lit, making the common room darker than I had ever seen it, giving me an ominous feeling.
Though everything seemed to be moving slowly I ran so fast I didn’t even notice Lily and James lying together on the couch, all their limbs seeming to be intertwined with each other like two trees becoming one.
I pushed the portrait open and crawled out of the hole and nearly fell on my face doing so.
I was going so fast I knew I would trip and fall down the stairs if I didn’t slow down but I felt that I wasn’t moving fast enough.
I had to move faster.
I had to get to him…. Faster.
I had to be with him…. Faster.
I had to tell him I loved him…. Move faster!
I wanted to cry out in frustration.
Why was I the one who had to do the running?
Why couldn’t Sirius run to me?!
You idiot.
My eyes widened at the sound of the voice returning as I continued to run through the empty halls and corridors.
He has… He’s been running to you since the day you walked into Hogwarts. You’ve just been running away from him so he hasn’t been able to catch up to you. So now it’s your turn to do the running. You just better pray he hasn’t decided to run away from you now. Who would blame him anyways?
I hung my head. No one would have the right to blame him if he truly gave up on me. I gave up on him after all. And I was an idiot for doing so. I was so embarrassed that he poisoned me with a love potion that I wasn’t able to see that a flower cannot bloom where there is no seed.
I winced slightly at the creaking the door made and then let out a sigh as the cool night air met my face.
Don’t slow down.
I nodded and quickly shut the door behind me. I could feel the cold, wet dew on the grass tickle my bare feet as I ran towards the Black Lake that had the white light of the moon shining down on it. “I won’t slow down.”
I slipped on the wet grass but my hands quickly shoved me off the floor before I could even hit it. I pushed harder and ran faster.
There seemed to be no time. Would I run forever?
Is this how Sirius felt when he chased after me?
With this taunting hope that seemed like it would never be attainable…
The hope was bright. It was the light to happiness. But it seemed so far. But with every step I began to see the light shine brighter and brighter until everything cleared up. I could hear my breathing.
It was heavy and loud.
I could hear the soft water of the lake moving with the push and pull of the moon.
The moon. The glowing bright moon. It was the light leading me here.
Here with Sirius.
Sirius turned to look at me. His once dark gray, clouded eyes were now glowing brightly, making them look pure silver. He looked confused yet hopeful. Like he knew why I was here but was still cautious. He slowly stood up and turned his whole body towards me.
The bright glow of the moon was shining down on both of us, making everything clear to each other.

It was a few long moments before Amilia’s lungs stopped burning and her breathing became calm and even. Sirius stood before her, patiently waiting, like he had always been. Amilia took a step forward; slowly, cautiously, not wanting to scare Sirius off.
The thought of stepping back and away from her did flash across Sirius’ mind, but only for a second. What was she doing here? He wondered. It was impossible that she might have feelings for him, wasn’t it? Or did she finally realize that his younger brother was no good for her and the right one for her had been by her side the whole time. Whether it was arguing or pulling pranks together.
He loved her. He truly did. Did she see that now? Did she care? Say something.9
Amilia’s full lips parted slowly and only slightly. What should she say? How should she say it? She wanted to make things right and fix all the wrong. Another cool January breeze blew by making her shiver slightly but the last thing she cared about was the weather.
“You’re cold.” Sirius stated and Amilia shut her mouth and frowned slightly.
She wanted to be the one to speak first. She wanted to say she was sorry before anything else was said. Sirius began to take off his robe without taking his liquidly silver eyes off of Amilia making a warm heat rise to her cheeks.
Sirius clenched his jaw slightly and then held out his robe for Amilia to take without moving a single inch closer to her.
What did this mean? Amilia thought as she looked searchingly in Sirius’ eyes. Her hands were still at her side and this slightly frustrated Sirius. With a heavy sigh he grabbed his robe and briskly walked up to Amilia and wrapped his warm robe around her bare, goose-bumped shoulders. Amilia cursed herself in her mind. He spoke first, and now he took the steps towards her.
You’re a Gryffindor! She shouted to herself. Why can’t you muster up the courage to do this?
Sirius decided to take a step back, fearing he moved to quickly and that she would be scared off.
Without her even thinking about it, her right hand quickly grabbed his left hand before he could step back. His hands were hot against her own cold ones.
Sirius’ eyes immediately widened and Amilia fought against the thought of letting go. She never wanted to let go.
Slowly her other hand reached out and gently held his other hand.
Now, say it now.
“I love you.” Amilia whispered looking up at Sirius’ wide eyes. They’re like the moon…
Sirius’ eyes softened and a small smile played its way onto his handsome face, “Finally.”
This made Amilia smile and even let out a soft laugh, which then led Sirius to grin. This time, it wasn’t arrogant, cocky, or childish.
It was pure.
Pure happiness.
Pure love.
Sirius leant forward, his grin fading into a wide smile, then a small one, then a soft one until his soft lips finally met Amilia’s. Amilia’s heart ached for a moment, but not out of sadness or fear but because of this overwhelming feeling of something she had never felt before… And Sirius’ heart ached along side hers.
It seemed to be an outer body experience for them. Neither of them could believe their lips were together, sealing away their own fates into each other. They knew, yet were unaware that they had just given each other their body, heart, and soul. They both simultaneously placed a spell on each other. A spell that would never break or die out.
They let their hands fall out of each other, but their lips still stayed connected. Amilia wrapped her arms around Sirius’ neck as he wrapped his around her waist and pulled and held her tightly against him.
Sirius’ heat warmed up Amilia and her coldness cooled him down.
They were opposites… like cats and dogs.