Chapter 10: Date

Alfred Braxton looked at his calendar. August 3rd,it read. Braxton's face broke out in a large grin. "Only one more month then," he said to no one in particular. He hasn't really been out, sometimes he would go get a drink down at Three Broomsticks, but he really preferred Hog's Head. It was much quieter. He ran a hand through his light brown hair. "Well, friend, it looks like our Transfiguration is a bit off," he told himself. The mirror he saw himself fell off the nail and crashed. "I don't know if that is bad luck or karma for turning a flower into a mirror," he laughed. He looked around for a broom or something he could transfigure into a broom. He spotted a straw on the ground and reached for his wand. As if it was timed, an owl tapped on his window.

"Mail? Me?" he asked the owl happily. The owl, however, couldn't hear him as the owl was on the outside of the window. It continued to tap. "Alright, alright, I'm coming," Braxton said. The letter had his name on it, as it should. And the B on it looked very familiar. It was a handwriting he has seen many times. He couldn't believe it. "Moony wrote me!" he exclaimed.

Earlier this day

"So, he has a house in Hogsmeade," Colleen sighed over her tea.

"You don't go to the house of a man you, a married woman, kissed. You ignore him with all your power," Lupin advised.

"But you've met him! Surely-"

"Don't call me Shirley," Lupin said.

"Why are you cracking jokes?"

"Since I'm going to Hogwarts again, I'm trying to remember what the prankster in me thought. It will be helpful," stated Lupin.

Colleen sighed again. "You know, Alfred reminded me of Sirius."

Lupin's face was stoical. "Let's not talk about him. Why'd you even bring him up?"

"You mentioned Hogwarts," she said accusingly.

"I have to be going," Lupin politely said.

"Now Remus-"

"Goodbye." With that, Lupin went to his house. He finally managed to get in without causing too much property damage. He picked a pen and quil he finally acquired and began a letter.

Dear Alfred,

Colleen tells me you have a house in Hogsmeade. I need to go to Hogsmeade to pick up some supplies I'll need for the school year. I'll be there at noon on Friday at Three Broomsticks, if you'd like to joing me.

-Remus

"Merlin," muttered Lupin. "It sounds like I'm asking him on a date."

Braxton ecstatically wrote back.

Dear Remus,

Of course! I'd love to join you. I'm sure you remember all the shops from you school days, and I'd love to get to know my new town with a companion I already know.

A. Braxton

Friday rolled around soon enough, there was Braxton at Three Broomsticks at noon. He leaned up against the bar, watching the fireplace intently for the familiar shabby dressed man. When the flames flared green, the familiar man stepped out. "Remus!" Braxton said, arms outstretched. Lupin returned the hug a little awkwardly.

"Should we order drinks first, or set out?" Braxton asked. Lupin opted for the the later, and they made their way across town. Conversation began quickly, and nearly half-way through the first stop they were talking like old childhood friends. By the end of the day, one couldn't tell they had met a precious few days earlier. They stopped by Three Broomsticks.

"Well, Al, I must say, the highlight of my life will be seeing you, all composed talking seriously, tumble down a muddy hill," Lupin laughed into his butterbeer.

"You sure helped enough, Remmy, by laughing so hard you couldn't remember the spell to clean," said Braxton, his face in a mock-glare.

They tried to compose themselves enough to look serious at each other, but burst out laughing instead. "Al, I might have to swing by on a Hogsmeade weekend during the school year."

"Please, feel free! Merlin knows I won't make much more friends," Braxton proclaimed.

The barmaid was wiping off countertops, and as she passed the men's table, she told them, "Boys, we're almost closed. I suspect you'll be wanting to get a move on home soon."

The men looked at each other. "Where has the time gone?" Lupin wondered out loud.

"You'd best be getting home soon, Remus. I'm afraid I don't have any Floo with me-"

"I've got some. Until we meet again, Al," he said as a farewell. Braxton bid him adue, and Lupin left.

"Until we meet again, Remus," Braxton whispered to himself, appearing in deep thought. "Until we meet again." Braxton slid some coins onto the table and left to walk the Hogsmeade streets at twilight.

A/N: Sorry, I know I don't usually post these, but I always picture Braxton walking, shoulders hunched in dim light into rows of crooked houses at the end of this chapter.