Tuesday, 21 December 1976

"So, this boy you like is here right now?" Mark asked seriously, his hair its natural colour.

Lena groaned as her family and her walked down Diagon Alley. She really wished she hadn't mentioned her crush to her family. Lena had gone on a date with a Muggle boy named Steven over the summer and made the mistake of telling her father about the date before it happened. Steven had taken her to a nice Muggle restaurant. Unfortunately, the date was ruined by her father, who morphed into one of the Muggle waiters, continuously interrupting her date. Mark Pettigrew was not a fan of his daughter dating.

"Look, I don't even know if he's here. And it wouldn't matter if he were. He doesn't like me in a romantic way."

"Well, why wouldn't he want to date you? You're amazing, muffin."

Lena crossed her arms, furrowed her brows, and looked at her father. "I'm sorry, but I thought you didn't like the idea of me dating?"

"Don't get me wrong. I dislike it immensely but I think everyone should like you. And I do want my muffin to be happy."

"You need to stop calling me muffin in public, Dad," Lena said, blushing. "I'm not five anymore."

Lisa tutted and kissed both Lena and Peter's cheeks. "You still are to us though, sweetpea. You and your brother will always be our babies."

"Muuuuum," Peter protested.

"Oh, don't complain Petey," Lisa said as they family walked into Sugarplum's Sweets Shop.

Lena and Lisa made their way to the back of the store by the Cauldron Cakes while Peter and Mark, whose hair was now green, remained in the front.

Lena laughed to herself as she heard a mother lightly scold her child.

"Bill, I said you can have only one sweet from the shop."

"But, Mum! This one's for Percy!"

"Percy is a baby. He's much too young for sweets and you know it."

Lisa turned around and smiled. "If it isn't Molly Prewett!"

"It's Weasley now, Lisa," the young red-headed woman replied pleasantly.

The woman, Molly, was holding a small infant with red curls in her arms and a small red-headed boy, who was six or so, stood in front of her. A tall red-headed man stood beside her. He was currently being climbed on by another red-headed boy who was probably four.

"Lena, this is Molly Weasley and her husband Arthur," Lisa introduced.

"Nice to meet you," Lena replied shly.

"You too. And this is my oldest Bill and my youngest Percy. Charlie is the little monkey hanging on Arthur's arm," Molly said with a brilliant smile.

Lisa began to coo over Percy. "He is too cute, Molly!"

Little Charlie cried out in indignation. "Hey!"

All the adults and Lena laughed. Lena smiled at Charlie. "Don't worry. You're cute, too. And so is Bill," Lena said as she turned to him.

Both children blushed and thanked her shyly.

"I miss when mine were that young. You've got to cherish that time."

"Mum," Lena groaned quietly.

"They're already growing up too fast. I wish I could keep them small forever." Molly sighed, brushing Bill's hair with her left hand.

"Well, not everyone's like that," Arthur commented, his voice muffled as Charlie tried to climb onto his head.

"What do you mean?" Lisa asked.

"You didn't hear? The Zabinis have already betrothed their daughter— I think her name's Audrey— to the Flint baby. Neither of them are even a year old!" Molly cried.

"They have more of a love life than I do," Lena murmured.

"Oh, that's dreadful," Lisa said.

"Quite right," Arthur agreed.

Lena and Peter walked down Diagon Alley to do their Christmas shopping. Their parents had left them to do their own. They agreed to meet around seven at the Leaky Cauldron for dinner.

Lena had already gotten gifts for most of her friends and family, even Raj who didn't celebrate Christmas. All she had to do was get something for Zoë, her cousin Tim, her papa, and Remus.

"I can't believe you bought dad a pranking kit," Lena said.

"He'll love it!" Peter insisted.

"Yeah, but Mum won't," Lena laughed.

"Eh, she'll get over it," Peter shrugged.

"Peter! Lena!" A voice called from in front of them.

It was James Potter flanked by Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.

"Hey guys," Peter said.

"How are you?" Lena asked

"Great," Sirius said. "Your hair looks great by the way, Lena, and so does your skin. I'm sure your crush likes you back."

"But people would like you no matter what you look like. You're such a wonderful and kind person," Remus quickly added.

At that moment, however, Lena was not a kind person. She scowled and a feral look took over her eyes. She whipped her head to face Peter. "You told them?!" She said angrily before storming off.

Peter grimaced.

"Really, Padfoot?" James asked.

"I was trying to be nice!"

Lena walked angrily with her head down Diagon Alley. She couldn't believe her brother. She was so embarrassed that Remus knew she acted insane the day before and that she was currently on period. Not that having one's period is embarrassing. It's just something Lena liked to keep it private, especially from her crush.

She was beyond mortified that Remus knew she had a crush on someone. Ugh, now he thinks I'm interested in someone else, Lena thought to herself. Not that it matters. I mean, why would he care? It's not like he likes me as more than a friend. He's not going to be jealous or upset or anything like that.

"Ow," Lena cried, clutching her head.

Lena was so deep in her thoughts that she hadn't looked where she was going and ran into someone.

"I am so sorry. It was all my fault," Lena apologized, looking across to the person she bumped into and found herself staring into the eyes of Severus Snape.

"It is your fault, Pettigrew."

"I know," Lena agreed as she bent down to pick up Snape's belongings that she caused him to drop.

He bent down to do the same. Lena looked at him discreetly. She barely ever interacted with him but she always thought he looked so sad and angry, except when he was with Lily Evans. But whatever friendship there was between the two was over now. They had not hung out with each other since the incident last year.

Lena examined his pale face that was framed by his inky black hair. He looked tired and rushed. Lena's eyes traveled down. She swallowed as she saw that his Slytherin scarf had slipped, revealing purplish bruises that marred his pale neck.

"Snape…"

"What Pettigrew?"

"Your scarf…your neck…"

Snape's nostrils flared and color flooded his cheeks. He adjusted his scarf, knotting it twice.

Lena and Snape stood up at the same time. Lena reached out and grabbed Snape's hand. Snape flinched and tried, and failed, to pull his hand away from hers.

"Are you okay? We can talk to an Auror, or my parents, or even Dumbledore. I know we're not friends or anything, but—"

Snape cut her off. "Stop. I don't need any help. I'm perfectly fine… And I appreciate the concern, Pettigrew. You're…a lot nicer than your brother and his friends."

"They're not that bad. Ya know, when they're not being idiots."

Snape laughed. "They're always idiots."

Lena couldn't help but to laugh.

"Uh, Wormtail," Sirius said hesitantly.

Peter hummed in response as he, James, and Remus inspected the broomsticks in Broomstix's window.

"Lena's talking to Snivellus."

Peter spun around faster than a Niffler could steal a piece of gold. "What?"

"Oh my God," James said, his mouth hanging open, "They're laughing."

Sirius's jaw fell open. "She's holding his hand."

"Is Snape Lena's crush?" Remus asked, panic and jealousy evident in his voice.

Luckily for him, Peter was too worried to notice. "Nope. Not possible."

James looked over at Remus, who had gone as white as the snow that covered Diagon Alley's roofs. James leaned over to him and whispered, "She likes you, Moony."

"I doubt it."

"Happy Christmas, Severus," Lena said with a small smile as she walked off.

"Um, you too, Pettigrew," Severus said as he walked in the opposite direction.

The fates had decided, though it seemed, that bumping into one Pettigrew was not enough for Severus Snape. He was met by the Marauders and two of its members seemed particularly angry.

"Why were you talking to my sister?" Pettigrew asked.

"None of your business," Snape hissed as he stormed off, feeling the eyes of a certain werewolf boring into the back of his skull.

Lena was feeling rather pleased with herself as she walked into Madam Malkin's. She had found gifts for her cousin, her papa, and Remus. All that there was left for her to get was a present for Zoë. Lena thought a pair of chameleon skin gloves would do quite nicely. They were quite popular at the moment.

"Hi, Lena."

Lena nearly stopped breathing. "Hi, Remus. Uh, what are you doing in here?"

"I'm helping my dad pick out something for my mum."

"That's nice of you," Lena said, rocking on her heels.

She swallowed. "Sorry about freaking out earlier."

"You shouldn't be."

"Thanks for the bakestones and chocolate. They were delicious. And the note was so sweet. And thank you for what you said earlier too."

"I meant it. You're wonderful," Remus paused, smiling. "So, have you had a good break so far?"

"Yeah, it's been alright. I'm gonna see some of my old schoolmates. And I'll probably go to the cinema to see a few films."

"Oh, do you want to see—"

"Remus, what do you think about this for your mum? I think it's nice."

Remus groaned internally as his father interrupted him when he was about to ask Lena if she'd like to see a film with him.

Lyall Lupin stood in front Remus and Lena, holding up a set of brown dress robes that resembled a burlap sack. Lena could see the family resemblance between father and son. Both Remus and his father were tall and lean. Most of Remus' features, like his nose and green eyes, were from Lyall. To most, the most striking difference between father and son would be Remus' multitude of scars. But to Lena, the biggest difference was that Lyall had blond hair while Remus had brown.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were with a friend. I'm Remus' father," Lyall introduced himself, holding out his hand.

Lena shook his hand, hoping her grip was firm. "It's alright, Mr. Lupin. I'm Lena Pettigrew."

"Ahh, Peter's sister. Remus has gotten nothing but nice things to say about you."

Remus frowned at his father as his face turned red. He was happy that Lena was looking at his father and not him at the moment.

Lena went a bit pink. "I'm sure he's exaggerating."

Lyall laughed. "I'm sure he isn't. So, is my son well-behaved at school? I'm sure he, your brother, and their mates are lying when they say they are."

Remus groaned. "Dad."

Lena laughed, glancing at Remus quickly. "He's very well-behaved, Mr. Lupin. He's nice to everyone and everyone likes him. And he's such a great tutor."

Lyall smiled and Remus blushed. "I'm glad to hear," Lyall said, lifting up the dress robes, "So, what do we think of these?"

"Dad, they're horrendous. Mum would never wear those."

"They can't be that bad! What do you think, Lena?"

Lena bit her lip. "Maybe try something blue?"

Lyall sighed, "C'mon Remus, you've got to help me pick something else out. It was very nice meeting you, Lena. Happy Christmas."

"You too, Mr. Lupin," Lena smiled, giving a slight nod as Remus' father walked to the back of the store.

Lena smiled at Remus and pulled him into a hug. " Happy Christmas, Remus."

"Happy Christmas, Lena," Remus said into her ear before joining his father.

"She seems very nice, Remus," Lyall commented as he examined the collection of dress robes.

"She is."

Lyall paused. "I think she likes you."

Remus groaned. "Not you, too, Dad."

"And you obviously like her. You got so red and embarrassed."

"Please stop."

"So when are you going to ask her out?"

"February 30th," Remus deadpanned.

Sitting at her desk, Lena dipped the nib of her quill into her ink pot.

21 DEC. 1976

DEER PROFESSOR DUMBLEDOOR,

I WASN'T SHURE WHO I SHOULD SPEAK TOO, BUT YOU SEEMED LIK ONE OF TEH BETTR CHOICES. I SAW A FELLO CLASSMATE OF MINE TODAY. I'M A BIT WORRIED ABOUT THIS PURSON. TEHY HAD BRIUSES ON THEIR NECK THAT TEHY WERE HIDING. TEHY INSISTED THAT NOTHING WAS RONG, BUT I'M SURE THAT'S NOT ACTUALY TEH CASE. IS THEIR ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO FOUR THIS PURSON?

CONCERNED,

LENA PETTIGREW

Lena waited for the ink to dry before placing it in the envelope. Lena would post the letter in the morning.