"That's weird. We just got this phone turned on like a week ago. How could someone already have our number?" Andrea was walking to grab the phone, when Adara jumped up and beat her to it.

"Hello?"

"Uh, yes. Is Adara there?"

"This is she. May I ask who is speaking?" She thought that it was Remus, but she wanted to be sure.

"Oh. Uh, this is Remus. Remus Lupin. The uh guy you met at the bookstore last week? Y-you had given me your phone number and said that if I got a wild hair, I-I could call you…"

"I thought that it was you, but I wanted to make sure. I wasn't sure you were going to call. How are you, Remus?"

She could hear his smile when she cleared up that she remembered him. He had already wracked his nerves in order to call her in the first place, and had she not remembered him, he would have felt like a complete idiot. "I am pretty good. I've been getting all of my school books together and getting a head start. How about yourself?"

Adara nodded, not that he could see her. "I am very well, myself. I haven't gotten all of my school supplies yet, but I'm nearly there! I am excited about this school year. I have never stayed longer than 6 months at a school before, so this year will be my first full length year at the same school." Remus could hear the excitement in her voice.

He really wanted to know what school she was going to, but neither one of them asked. Neither wanted to make the conversation turn awkward – really, if the person you just met started talking about how they go to school in a castle that no one can see unless you have magical abilities… Yeah, that conversation would be a great start.

"So…" They both began at the same time. The two laughed.

Remus waited for Adara to start. "So, not to come off rudely, but what were you calling for?" She hoped that he did not think she was trying to hurry him off of the phone. She enjoyed talking to him. His voice was very calm and respectful. He was starting to grow deeper, she could tell.

"Oh, sorry. Um, I was going through my books in my room and I thought about what you said about exchanging books. I was wondering if you would like to maybe meet up?" He sounded hopeful.

Adara smiled widely. "Yeah, yeah sure. That would be great! You said you didn't think you lived far from me? Well, I have a nice oak tree in our backyard that would be a great reading spot. If you'd like, you can come over and we could read together?"

Remus agreed to come over to her house at about 2'oclock. After the arrangements were made, they both got off the phone to get their most treasured books. When Adara came down the stairs, her mother, who was in the kitchen cooking, turned to ask who was on the phone.

"It was the boy I met at the bookstore the other day, Remus. He asked if we could meet up and exchange books. I told him we could sit by the oak tree out back and read together."

Andrea's smile that formed only grew when her daughter spoke. "Aw, well that is very nice. Sounds like you are already making friends. Would you like for me to set a plate for him for dinner?"

Adara answered, "I will ask him if he would like to eat with us when he arrives. He said that he lives just down the street from us. He told me that he saw our moving van come in."

"That is fantastic, dear. Now, why don't you go grab a blanket from the cupboard for you to sit on outside and I will make some lemonade for the two of you."

Adara thanked her mother and did as requested. Adara kept glancing at the clock to make sure that she was ready by the time Remus got there. Upstairs in Adara's bathroom, she sat brushing her dark brown hair. It was just at the middle of her back. She made sure to put some light makeup on as well as dress nicely. She was not used to having friends around, much less a boy friend around. Just before 2'oclock rolled around, she looked out the window and saw Remus walking up. He was dressed in a nice grey button down shirt, khakis, and nice shoes. They still showed signs of lots of wear, but he looked nice all the same. His hair was obviously toyed with; he kept running his hand over it to make his shaggily cut hair stay flat. Adara could see that he had a nervous tick to rub his hand behind his neck, as this was the second time she had seen him do it.

Adara ran down stairs, one of her favorite books in her hand. She heard the doorbell ring just as she got to the door. Not to look like she had been standing there waiting, she waited for a few seconds to open the door.

"Hey Remus." Adara smiled her shy smile at him.

He returned the same smile. 'Hello Adara. You look very nice today." She blushed at his words. She was not used to compliments, except from by her parents. Adara was wearing dark blue jeans, teal colored flats, and a white flowing blouse. She also had her hair half up.

Andrea had heard the doorbell ring, and not seeing anyone come in, she went to the door.

"Hello dear. You must be Remus?" Andrea extended her hand out to young boy, which he politely shook. "Yes ma'am. You have a very lovely home, Mrs. Foley."

Andrea smiled at the guest and thanked him before welcoming him inside. "Adara, don't be rude! Show Remus through to the back yard while I get you some lemonade."

Adara led Remus through the backdoor to the blanket in the shade under the oak tree.

"Just a warning: I don't have many friends, so my mother and father might just smother you. I apologize in advance."

Remus laughed. "I know what you mean. Up until I met my friends, I was the same way. My mum was so enthusiastic about me making friends that she invited them to stay with us the whole summer. After she met them and spent the summer with them, she never made that mistake again!" They both laughed.

"So, what? Are you guys a bunch of hoodlums?"

"No, mostly they just love to have fun. They just get carried away sometimes. For example, they put one of those Mu- I mean, prank cockroaches in my mums bath slippers. She is absolutely terrified of roaches and they knew that, so you can guess how that played out."

"Wow. From the looks of it though, it doesn't seem like you are that type of guy."

"Don't get me wrong. I love to have fun, and my friends are very fun to be around, but we are different. They don't understand my love for books and knowledge. They are all about pranking and girls. They don't even study very often. But they are very intelligent, well, at least James and Sirius are. Peter, he is kind of a lost cause."

"Are they coming to your house before you go back to school?"

"Yeah, in the next few weeks or so. We meet up at least once a month when we are away from school."

Adara smiled. "I really hope I can make friends like that this year. It is going to be so different for me. Because of how much I've moved, I've always just solely focused on my schoolwork and never put effort into making friends. Mostly, because I am never there long enough to keep them and it's hard for me to even get out of my shell as it is."

"Well, you seem to be doing fine with me! I would consider us friends." Remus looked over at Adara.

"Thanks. I hope that it will be this easy with other people too. Hey, maybe I can meet your friends? I-if you wanted me to, I mean."

Remus did not really want to share her with his friends. He knew that if she met his friends, as lovable and desirable as they are, she would forget about him. Not that he had romantic feelings for her or anything…He just never had a girl want to be around him and only him. He was scared that the moment she saw Sirius Black or James Potter, that would change, and he would have to be the middle man for them again. But, he saw the hope in her eyes when she asked and he couldn't deny her of that, even if he did not want it to happen.

"Uh, yeah. When they come over, I will bring them over or invite you over. Just to warn you: they will probably be all over you. Well, at least Sirius will be. James is after Lily. But, they can never pass up a pretty face." He knew he was turning red, so he turned to the side and went through his bag that he brought with him to pick out a book so she wouldn't see his face. She was glad that he had turned because her face looked the same way. She smiled at him when he turned back around.

Andrea peaked out the French door window and saw the two of them talking, smiling, and blushing. How adorable! When she saw them getting their books out, she decided to take the lemonade out to them.

"Here you are, darlings! Remus, dear, would you like to have dinner with us? I would love for my husband to meet you. He will be home within the next hour or so."

"Yes, ma'am. I would be delighted to. Thank you." Remus smiled at the older version of the girl to his right. He knew that Adara would turn out to be as beautiful as her mother, because you could already see the likeness.

Remus and Adara sat under the tree in silence as they read each other's book and drank their lemonade. One thing Remus noticed was that Adara read at nearly the same speed he did. He had let her read Withering Heights, while she let him read The Bell Jar. Eventually, Adara got uncomfortable and laid on the blanket, resting her head on his stomach. When she did this, his head was in the book. The sudden contact surprised him and he let out a gasp. She sat up.

"Is something wrong? I can move, I just didn't want to lay my head on a root. If it bothers you, I can move." She asked, embarrassed.

"No, no! It's okay. I just wasn't expecting it was all. It's fine." His face stayed behind the book, although he wasn't reading anymore. He had never had a girl this close to him. It made his heart race and throw off his concentration. He had already lost his place and he knew her father would be home soon for dinner, so he just hid behind the book stealing glances at his new friend.

"Remus! Adara! Come in to eat, sweethearts!" Andrea called from the door.

The two teens got up from their positions on the blanket and walked inside.

"Hello Remus. I am Darren, Adara's father. It is nice to meet you." Darren smiled at the young boy.

Remus extended his hand. "It is nice to meet you, as well, sir. I appreciate your family letting me stay for dinner. It smells amazing." Remus smiled at them.

They all sat down to eat at the dinner table and Mr. and Mrs. Foley began a conversation with Remus.

"So, Remus, how old are you?" asked Andrea.

"I am fourteen." Remus answered before biting into the chicken that Andrea had cooked.

"That's how old Adara is. Do you have any brothers or sisters?" asked Darren.

"No, sir. I have three best friends who I consider to be my brothers, but no blood relation. It's just my mum and I at the house."

"Oh, I see. What does your mother do for a living?" asked Darren.

"She is a hea- a uh… nurse for a nearby hospital. Has been for the last 8 years."

"You should invite her over one night for dinner the next time you come. We would be delighted to meet her." Andrea extended the invitation. She was just as excited about making friends as Adara was.

"I will!" Remus was very thankful of the Foley's. His mum never got out much after his dad left. She would love them.

"Remus said that his friends from school are coming into town in a few weeks. Would it be alright if I went over to his house or either they come over here? I would love to meet them!" Adara asked her parents enthusiastically.

They chucked at her excitement and agreed, as long as she was in before 10'oclock.

After dinner, the Foley's offered to drive Remus to his house. He reluctantly accepted the offer. He knew that his house was nothing compared to their home, but it was getting late and he needed to get home soon.

When they pulled into his yard, he thanked them for giving him a ride. Adara got out to say bye to him while her parents stayed in the car.

"Thank you for coming over today, Remus. It was very nice seeing you." Adara smiled.

Remus returned the smile. "I enjoyed myself today too. I usually have to read in my house by myself, so the company was great."

"Maybe next time, you will actually finish your book! I was surprised at you. You keeping up with me for a while, and then you never turned another page." Adara confronted him, confused.

Remus rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. "Yeah. I don't uh know what happened. I just lost concentration."

"Well, either way, we will just have to do it again soon. You will have to finish it!" Adara smiled at him before giving him a quick hug goodbye

Remus turned red at the hug but hugged back all the same. "Bye, Adara!"

"See you later, Remus!" With that, she got back in the car and they drove off.

As Remus walked up to his house, he knew that he was going to have a time getting Sirius to stay away from her once he met her. As he got into bed, he already knew that once they started hanging out regularly, it would be hard to leave her when he went back to school.