A/N: hey there! I would like to thank everyone for reading chapter one and moving on to chapter two. Hopefully you will all continue reading and enjoying the story. Please leave reviews when you're done because your opinion matters to me and whether your responses are positive or negative, they will help me grow as a writer. Thanks again!

All Things Lost

By Aki-chan

Chapter Two: Fated by the Moonlight

"Good morning, father." Said a scrawny, sandy haired boy who looked about the age of ten. He yawned and stretched his way over to the kitchen table and slumped into an empty seat.

"Morning, Remus. You sleep well?" His father asked.

"Sorta. I woke up once because of something noisy. Must have been dogs. It was hard to fall back to sleep after that." He said, rubbing his eyes.

"I'm sorry, son." Charles mumbled as he took a sip of his coffee.

"Why? Its not you're fault." Remus yawned.

Suddenly, Charles choked on his drink and spit it all over the newspaper he was reading. Remus leaned over and patted his father's back as he coughed and caught his breath.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine, Remus, just fine." He wheezed as he shook off the ruined paper. He gave a sideways glance out the kitchen window and noticed a beautifully clear blue sky. He also noticed the moon. Pale, barely visible in the morning light, but looming.

"Are you making a mess again, Charles?" Constance asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"No, dear." He smiled.

"Wonderful, then you can go change your shirt because you have coffee stains all over it." She smiled back as she cleaned the table.

"I would, but I really have to get to work. It's been a real mess down at the Bureau lately."

"I'm sure it has. Now get upstairs and change your shirt or else I'm not letting you out of the house." She said with a stern look.

"Yes, love." Charles laughed nervously as he rushed up the stairs and changed his shirt.

"Hurry up, Dear. I have to get Remus off to his first day of school." She called up to him while she gathered their cloaks. "I still can't believe this will be your last year." She said turning to Remus and handing him his coat. "The next thing you know, you'll be off at Hogwarts becoming a spectacular wizard."

Constance smiled brightly as she blinked the beginning of tears from her eyes.

"Oh, mom." Remus sighed, slightly embarrassed. "I don't even know if I'll get a letter. I might not have what it takes to be a wizard."

"Of course you do! You come from a long line of talented wizards. There's no doubt in my mind that you will do many great things, you just need to believe in yourself." Constance said, getting a sentimental look again, making Remus roll his eyes.

"I'm sorry," she started in a mocking tone. "It's just that my little Remus is growing up so fast!" Constance laughed as she moved toward him, pretending that she was going to smother him with kisses, making Remus smile but run away from her.

"There now, Connie." Charles said jogging down the steps in a hurry and walking over to her. He took his cloak and gave her a good-bye kiss on the cheek (Remus gave them a disgusted look at the thought of kissing) and Apparated.

"Look at the time! We'll be late! Grab your books and go to the fireplace." said Constance quickly tossing a velvet green cloak around Remus's shoulders.

Mother and son moved in front of the large fireplace and wrapped their cloaks tightly around them. Constance took a small flowerpot from beside the hearth and sighed.

"Looks like we're running low on Floo powder." She said quietly to herself. "Now speak clearly, Remus. I don't want you turning up in some strange place that's three countries away, not again." She scolded.

"Of course not, mom." Remus said. The memories of an afternoon in Italy a few years ago came flooding back to him because he had said something more along the lines of 'Sicily' instead of 'the city' but he blamed his missing front teeth on that one.

Remus took a handful of power and stepped into the fireplace. "Pierson's Peak." He said firmly and in a flash of light and green flame, he was gone.

After a sudden rush of wind, Remus was pushed out of a large, antique fireplace and into a large, crowded area filled with people, all wearing long bright colored cloaks and some had long pointed hats atop their heads.

Pierson's Peak was a tall cliff overlooking a vast lake and the small village of Pierson that sat right on the lake's edge. No one from the village or any muggles at least, would ever venture to the cliff. It was said that an old, run down mansion sat atop it where strange people gathered to do odd things. And the Piersonfolk, being people who enjoyed minding their own business, never ventured to see if any of the rumors were true.

In actuality, the old house was a large, very busy bus station and it was far from run down looking on the inside. It was a place covered in anti- muggle spells, which made it quite all right for any muggle to pass right by and pay it no mind at all. Though large purple and green busses often stopped in front of it, anyone non-magical would have thought it to be tour bus simply paying respect to a quiet, old house that had been there for generations.

Inside however, was madness. Large groups of witches with their children and wizards stood in lines here and there, a voice was constantly announcing arrivals and departures over the loud chattering that filled the building and station employees were busy pushing carts of luggage hastily through the crowds.

On one side, it was a station for wizards and witches alike who lived in the area and wanted to get around without having to Apparate while the other side was for children all leaving for school.

Remus stood amongst a tall group of wizards whom seemed to be having a conversation about the latest problem with magical creature disturbances. He looked for his mother but she was nowhere to be seen. He even called out her name but no one answered. Remus could barely hear himself think as he pushed himself past darkly cloaked wizards with sour faces.

Suddenly, a hand gently grabbed his arm and pulled him though the herding masses to a small open area in the corner by the front doors.

"Come now, Remus." His mother said letting go of him and straightening out his messy hair. "The bus should be here any moment."

"At eastside gate number four, buses seven and eight are now arriving...It will depart to Stonewall Elementary School for Future Witches and Wizards, in just a few moments... All students, grades one through five will be loading immediately... At westside gate number two, bus number fifty-six, now leaving for London..." The voice called over the people, trailed off and then mixed again with the noise.

"That's you, Remus. Do you have everything? Books? Lunch money? Brain?"

"Mom!" Remus laughed.

"Well, I just want to be sure. Your brain won't do you any good if it's sitting in your room reading comic books. Hurry now and have a good day at school. I'll be here when you return." She smiled and shooed him off to join the other children who were gathering at gate four.

* * *

"This is the line for buses seven and eight only. If you don't belong here, bugger off!" Instructed a disgruntled looking man with a fat face. The children laughed at him and his ill behavior.

"Good morning, Mr. Donovan." A few of the older students giggled.

Mr. Donovan had been there as long as Remus could remember and he always had the same horrible attitude toward the kids. It was probably because of all the tricks they had played on him over the years. However, none of the children were scared by the man one bit. Mr. Donovan and his contempt for them were just another part of what looked to be a normal day.

The lines of children hopped onto the bus and within minutes the two large, bright purple buses were off with a loud pop and a small puff of smoke.

Remus sat in a tiny seat by himself and listened while other children talked loudly about what they did over their summer vacation. He had never made any close friends at school so there was no one to welcome him back on his first day. There were a few polite smiles from a student or two from his class but nothing more.

It was a long trip to the school through the hills and winding streets toward Stonewall Elementary. Remus always enjoyed the bus ride. He was never bothered by anyone so he was able concentrate on reading books that his father slipped him from work. Books on creatures and the dark arts that his mother would have never approved of were hidden in his book bag and in various places back in his room.

On this particular ride, Remus had been immersed in a book called Common Magical Ailments and Afflictions when he felt a light tap on his shoulder.

"Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?" A voice snapped at him suddenly.

Remus looked up to find himself gazing into a pair of dark spectacles. Behind the spectacles was a tiny girl who looked a few years younger then him. She had a thin, pale face and bright red lips. Her deep red hair was pulled into two large buns on either side of her head and had ribbons intertwined in them and tied in bows. Her coat was black velvet with a thick collar of black fur. Under her chin, a large red bow was tied tight. The look of it seemed to restrict her movement, making her look actually rather strange, even for a future witch. He especially didn't like the fact that he was unable to see her eyes behind the black glasses though.

"Well? Is there?" She asked again impatiently.

"No." said Remus as he shook his head. He attempted to smile but his blank stare never changed. He was glad to have someone to sit next too, despite the girl's odd look.

"Alright then. I hope you don't mind that I'm sitting here." She said taking a seat. "And even if you did, I refuse to get up." She added as she stuck her nose in the air and pushed her glasses up.

"Sit where you like. I don't care." Remus retorted suddenly to her attitude as he settled back into his book rather disappointed.

The girl's face lit into a smile at his answer. "I was just joking. Thank you for letting me sit here." She giggled. "My name's Saphir."

Remus was taken back by the sudden change of attitude. Her voice was no longer harsh and rude, instead it was soft and quiet.

"No problem. I'm Remus. Are you always that mean to people that you first meet, Saphir?" Remus asked putting his book into his bag and zipping it up.

"Well, no. I'm just in a bad mood. No one will let me sit next to them, except for you, Remus."

"Why is that?" He said trying to hide his curiosity.

She looked at him silently for a moment then took off her glasses. Remus gave out a little gasp but quickly started pretending it was a cough. He now realized why she wore dark glasses. Her large sparkling eyes were terrifyingly bright red.

"Your eyes are red." Remus asked, unable to stop himself from staring at her open mouthed.

"No kidding?" She said with a slight sarcastic air.

"Why?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"No reason. I was just wondering." He answered still wide mouthed like a fish.

"Just wondering?"

"Uhh..." Remus thought for a moment as he looked at her. She returned his stare but with a more intense quality that made him close his mouth and look around for a moment. "Maybe I just wanted to keep the conversation going."

"Why? Do you like me or something?" She asked tilting her head a little to the side.

"No! I mean...you see...I don't mean it like that. Sort of. I mean, I think you're alright."

"Thank you."

"So, have you always gone to Stonewall? I don't remember ever seeing you here before." He said changing the subject quickly.

"Oh no." She smiled and shook her head. "This is my first year here. Though, I won't be here for long. I'm just passing through."

"Then why are you going to school."

"For fun." She said shrugging. "I don't know how long I'll be here. Might as well do something while I wait."

"Where are you staying?"

"Just outside of Pierson." She answered. "It's lovely. There's a little park near by. It's called...er...pine cone...pine needle..."

"Pine Cove Park?"

"Yes! That's it!" She smiled. "Do you know it?"

"Yeah, that's down the street from my house."

"Oh wow! Then it's fate!" She exclaimed.

Remus just stared at her blankly.

"What are the chances of us both living there?" She explained. "We were supposed to meet. It was fate Remus."

"I guess." Remus shrugged. "But most of the kids on this bus live in Pierson."

"Most of these kids aren't sitting next to you." She replies as she was jolted forward as the bus hit the brakes and stopped in front of the school. "Well, here we are. I'll see you later then." She said jumping up.

"Are you going home on the bus?" He asked anxiously.

"No. But we can meet tonight at the park! How about around midnight?" She said getting off the bus.

"Uh...I guess that'll be f-fine." Remus stuttered.

"Wonderful! I'll see you later then, bye!" She waved and ran off toward the other fourth year students who were gathering by the building.

Remus hopped off the bus and walked over to the lines of fifth year students whom were already walking into the school.

The whole way over, he could not stop himself from smiling. It was not a tiny smile either, it was a huge grin that made a few of the other students who noticed stare at him oddly. Remus couldn't help but to feel pleased with how well things were going and the day had hardly begun.

"Hey, cool!" He heard the girl behind him say to her friend just as they entered the doorway. "The moon's still out. How pretty!"