Hello!

Just wanted to thank backseatwriter and KL-918 for your reviews! It's because of you I keep writing :3 And thanks to the new followers of the story! (Lot's of people) I love you!


It was around eleven am when he left the castle to walk the path to Hogsmeade. He wore a big, red jumper his mum had made him and a pair of second-hand brown trousers. His family wasn't very wealthy. His mum was Muggle-born and she didn't work. Remus didn't exactly know why. She had told him that it was hard to find a job, which it was in these times if you didn't have contacts or come from a well-known family. But Remus also believed that she'd chosen to stay home to take care of him after he got bitten. It made him feel guilty, as if he was holding her back. He never told her that though because he wanted to show that he appreciated all she did for him. Remus' dad had a lower position at the Ministry. He worked on the Department of Magical Transportation with the Floo Network Authority and in the Portkey office. He earned enough to support himself and his wife, so Remus knew that they were quite relieved when he got into Hogwarts.

The wind was chilly as Remus approached the village. He pulled the overly-long sleeves over his hands and walked a bit faster. How he longed for a cup of cocoa now. He didn't have much money to spend but if he cut his chocolate budget just a tiny bit, he could probably afford a drink.

The streets of Hogsmeade weren't packed with students like they usually were on Saturdays, but it was still quite busy inside Honeydukes. Remus didn't care much about Bertie Bott's beans or liquorice wands or any other sweets for that matter. He was only here for the chocolate, for they had the most delicious chocolate there was.

He made his way over to the shelf and looked at the different flavours. There were always new ones. But since he had a limited amount of money, it felt safer to buy something he knew he liked. So he grabbed two original ones and one with caramel. He paid 14 Sickles for them, which left him with one Galleon and three Knuts. He really wanted to buy a book too so he couldn't spend any more in here.

A Hufflepuff girl on her way into the shop held the door open for Remus as he walked out. She smiled at him and he thanked her. Not everyone in the school disliked him, they just didn't know him. And as he walked down the street, he gazed at the students around him, walking in groups or as couples. Remus had always tried to convince himself that he was fine without anyone else, but it was at moments like this, that he couldn't help feeling a bit lonely. Though, he didn't dare risking having anyone knowing about his condition.

His stomach twisted every time he remembered the previous night when Black had been in the shack. Now he felt a bit guilty for not considering that he could have hurt him. Remus had only cared about his secret in that moment. He was lucky not to have injured or killed Black! He would never forgive himself if that happened. Not even if it had been someone as horrible as Black.

Remus hadn't seen Black since Saturday morning and he was happy to not run into him on his way to the bookshop. There were rarely any students in this old shop, which he appreciated and the prices were affordable. But sometimes he missed Muggle book shops. He admired books where the characters had to face their problems without magic. There were also a lot more Muggle authors and therefore a lot more to choose from.

After 15 minutes of reading blurbs of books and then re-read some of them, he finally decided to go for "A light that never goes out" by Christina Johnson. He paid for it and walked out with his new book and his bag from Honeydukes. When he got out on the street again, the wind was stronger and it had started to rain lightly. He hurried down to the Three Broomsticks, with his head bowed to the ground, holding the book tightly in his arms. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the Shrinking Shack on the hill to the right. He refused to turn his head and look at it though. He didn't need to see it more than once a month.

In the pub it was warm and welcoming. A sweet smell of Butterbeer filled the dimly lit room and there weren't too many students in here, meant the noise level was more comfortable than in the Great Hall. Remus spotted a small table by the window with a large comfy-looking armchair. He gathered his last coins from his pocket, counting them carefully as he walked towards the bar.

"And what can I get you, lovely?" asked the landlady Madam Rosmerta.

Remus looked up where he was holding 6 Sickles and 5 Knuts as he'd just counted. He studied the drinks menu behind her, trying to figure out what he could afford.

"Eh...I'd like a hot chocolate, please," said Remus. He sighed in relief when he had just enough money left to pay for it.

After an hour of peaceful reading, the door swung open and a loud laughing gang of four boys entered the pub. Remus sighed. He didn't need to look up from his book to know who they were. He could recognize that barking laugh anytime.

Sirius Black and three of his Slytherin friends (one of them was, of course, James Potter) walked up to the bar, and Remus could see Black put on his most charming smile as he talked to Madam Rosmerta. Remus couldn't believe that people kept falling for that. Sure, Black was handsome but that was all, he was so fake. A person is rarely both good looking and kind. Remus believed that handsome people had to hide their inner evil by being charming. Which always worked.

Remus watched Black joke and laugh with his friends, his book completely forgotten by now. Everyone seemed to like him and he obviously enjoyed being the centre of attention. Suddenly, Black turned his head, flipping is long strands of black curls out of his eyes. It made Remus' mouth fall open uncontrollably and he was sure that his heart skipped a beat when Black's eyes landed on him. Those mysterious grey eyes, shining with mischief, winked and lit up as they spotted Remus in the corner. It took a while for Remus to realize that he was staring at Black. Remus, for God's sake, close your mouth and look away!

Remus obeyed his brain. And he felt even more stupid when he moved his eyes to the right (only to get away from Black's intense gaze) and saw that the girls at the table next to his were staring at Black with the same dreaming eyes as Remus just had done. Oh no...what have I become.

He heard Black chuckle and saw him turn back to his friends. The girls were now giggling madly and whispering excitedly to each other. Remus knew very well that he was gay and didn't try to deny it. He had never been very interested in girls, so he had kind of always known. But he didn't have a crush on Sirius Black. Black is an arrogant idiot who'd just found out my biggest secret. It's my privacy. He's got no right to know!

A frown appeared on Remus' face as the anger built up inside of him. It was easier to hate him now when Black had his back turned to him. How can he just smirk and wink at me, like he hasn't done anything wrong? And what if he'd already told his friends about me?

By the calm, uninterested looks they gave him (not at all like the one Black had given him for that matter), Remus would guess that they didn't know. He drank the last of his now cold cocoa and gathered his things. The pub was no longer peaceful so he could just as well leave. With his head bowed, so as to avoid any more awkward eye contact, he passed the gang of Slytherins.

"I'm gonna get something to eat. Anyone else hungry?" Remus heard Potter say.

"Like a wolf."

Remus stopped abruptly in the middle of a step. His heart raced in his chest and he turned around to look at the guys. For the second time today his mouth fell open and he stared in shock at Black who'd turned around together with his friends. The disturbing part of this was that it hadn't been Black who had answered Potter.


Take care and I'll try to hurry with the next chapter. xxx