Remus was shaking his head as he finally joined us again. This was going to be the last night that it was basically going to be just us three all day. The Weasleys were coming tomorrow.

"I still can't believe you managed it," he was saying.

I didn't particularly like the level of disbelief he was using and from the looks of it, neither did Sirius.

"We're perfectly capable," he said in an injured tone.

"Of course, you are," Remus backtracked but then narrowed his eyes as I snorted. "Oh, you-"

"Ah, ah, ah," Sirois waved a finger in his face. "No bad language around the young and impressionable."

"Last time I checked I wasn't a toddler," I complained. "And I probably know more swear words than both of you."

"No one knows more swear words than Moony," Sirius assured me.

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow.

Remus blushed but didn't deny it. "Why don't we just continue..."

"With what?" Sirius asked. "We weren't doing anything. You've just arrived."

"Yeah, I want to know more about these swear words," I said.

I just couldn't imagine them coming out of Remus' mouth. Not even a mild one.

"Well, I would like to know more about your time at Hogwarts," Remus retorted.

The three of us had a bit of a standoff before Sirius and I relented. There was just no way to stare Remus down - he was the master of it.

"Okay, fine." I gave in. "Want to take a memory trip to Hogsmeade?"

I did the nerdy thing and laughed at myself. Hey, it was pretty funny.

"Sounds good."

"Seriously, where are they?" James complained, tapping his foot. "They're taking forever!"

"I'm sure they'll be here soon," Tonks tried to sooth him. "They do have to come down from a tower."

James just huffed at her. Yes, she wanted to get to Hogsmeade too but they had all promised to go together which meant waiting for each other. Anyway, James was one to talk because Tonks was ready before him this morning.

Just as James looked like he was going to complain again, their two Gryffindor friends finally appeared. Though they appeared to have picked up a first year. Ah, kt was Samantha's cousin, Freda. She had just started Hogwarts this year.

"Finally!" James exploded.

Samantha raised an eyebrow. "What's up with him?" she asked Tonks.

"Impatient."

"Ah."

"We're not going to be there until lunchtime at this rate," James grumbled.

Davey checked his watch and raised an eyebrow. "You do realise it's not even ten yet, don't you?"

"Really?" Davey showed him his watch. "Huh. Felt like a lot longer."

"So, are you going to do it or not?" Freda impatiently demanded, the small first year crossing her arms.

Samantha sighed and glared at her cousin. "You do realise you have an older brother for this sort of nonsense, right?"

"Sweets aren't nonsense!"

Tonks gave them a look of confusion.

"Freda wants Samantha to get her some of Droobles Best Blowing Gum and other sweets."

"I'll even give her money for it!" Freda added indignantly.

'Well, I wasn't going to get it for you, brat," Samantha scoffed. "I don't have endless pocket money."

"I'll get you some gum," Tonks assured her, just wanting to get moving and Freda was a nice kid.

"I knew I liked you better," Freda told her.

"Hey! I'm your cousin!" Samantha said indignantly.

"Exactly."

With that, they finally headed off. Tonks had never really realised how far the walk was to Hogsmeade before. They always got carriages to it at the start and end of every school year. But they made it in the end though Tonks wasn't looking forward to the trip back as it was all uphill.

"So, where to first?" she asked.

"Honeydukes, obviously," James scoffed.

"But everyone's going to be there," Davey pointed out. "We'd be better going somewhere else first."

"Like the Shrieking Shack?" Samantha said slyly.

Davey shuddered at that. "No, thank you."

"Oh, we have to go there," James agreed.

"Why? People say it's just a shack."

"A haunted one," Samantha eagerly stressed.

Davey did not look interested in that and all.

"Don't tell me you're scared," Samantha said scathingly.

James snorted. "I thought we came to the conclusion that Davey was scared of everything."

"I am not!" the boy in question said hotly. "I just have a strong sense of self-preservation!"

"Where's your sense of adventure?"

"In story books. Where it belongs."

"You're no fun whatsoever."

"Says the one who wants to get eaten by a ghost or something!"

"I'm pretty sure ghosts can't eat you."

Samantha rolled her eyes at the boys' bickering and turned back to Tonks.

"Do you want to go to the Shrieking Shack?"

Tonks shrugged. She didn't really have a strong opinion either way. She supposed it would be good to go up to it just to say they've been. Everyone seemed to do it.

"Shrieking Shack it is then."

"Doesn't my vote count for anything?" Davey complained.

"Not when you're outvoted."

"Tonks didn't vote."

"You're still outvoted. Two to one."

Davey grumbled but obviously didn't want to be left behind as he followed them as they headed over to the Shrieking Shack. It was a bit out of the way but they got there.

"This is so cool!" Samantha gushed.

Davey was looking around everywhere but the shack with a nervous look on his face.

"I wonder what wrecked it so much?" James asked.

"Ghouls? Poltergeists? The undead?"

None of those options seemed to reassure Davey at all. He looked more horrified with each suggestion.

"What do you think?" Samantha asked her.

Tonks shrugged. "It's just a shack."

Seriously, she expecting something... more? Something creepier? More shadows? Seeing things out of the corner of your eye? But this had none of it. It was literally a run-down shack.

Samantha stuck her tongue out at her. "Spoilsport."

"Can we go?" Davey asked loudly.

"I want to touch it," James said decisively.

"Are we even allowed near it?" Tonks wondered.

"No one said we couldn't."

"But it's haunted," Samantha pointed out.

James scoffed. "What are you? A chicken? I thought Gryffindors were supposed to be brave and reckless."

"And noble and chivalrous," Davey added, folding his arms. "And brave doesn't mean doing stupid things."

"Whatever. I'm still touching it."

"You're an idiot, you know that?" Samantha said with an eye roll.

"I dare you to do it too," he challenged.

Samantha hesitated but took the bet.

"You're on. Dora, what about you?"

Tonks rolled her eyes. "I am going to get butterbeer with Davey before he explodes in anxiety or something."

"Thank you!" he called over from his "safe distance".

"Not interested in the Shrieking Shack at all then?" Sirius asked in far too innocent a tone.

I had to give him an odd look. "No. It's just a derelict building."

There really wasn't anything interesting at all. Trust me. Me and my friends proved it but that was going to be another story.

"No interest at all?"

"Nooo..."

I was definitely missing something here but Sirius wasn't explaining- instead just grinning at me. Because that was useful.

Remus sighed and shook his head. "It's where I used to go to transform while at Hogwarts," he explained. "I was the one who gave credence to those haunted rumours."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

What else was I supposed to say to that? Was there anything I could say?

"That would be why mum and dad didn't know what I was talking about when I went home," I said thoughtfully.

They bad been so confused.

"Yeah, we came after them," Sirius said, nodding.

"Well, that leads us quite nicely into my next memory," I told them.