Once again I must note that the characters in this chapter belong only to J.K. Rowling, except for the people list below!

Have a nice day!

~Amanda~

Characters that are mine:

Peter Lupin

Susan Lupin

Ules Smithy

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CHAPTER 2: THE MEETING

August first finally came in a whirl of confusion, anger, and apprehension for Remus. The long hours counting down until two-thirty p.m. were more than he could stand. Earlier that morning his mother offered him something to eat, he refused. She stayed up half the night getting his clothes ready for the next day, very nervous herself. Peter mimicked his son and stayed shut up in his room until Susan called him downstairs for lunch. Now a very tense atmosphere was filling the house, hard to ignore was the fact that Remus sat there, staring at a grilled cheese sandwich, pondering what exactly discuss situations in which your placement at Hogwarts may be secured meant.

Very shakily Susan checked her watch, "You'd better hurry eating your sandwich Remmy, we have to catch the bus in about ten minutes. Make sure you have your booklist, and that you comb hair. Alright?"

Unable to speak, Remus just nodded his head. After attempting to eat for a couple minutes (but failed), he marched upstairs, took his letter and booklist, then stuffed them into his robes. He walked into the bathroom and tried unenthusiastically to comb his hair.

"Are you ready yet?" his father demanded while he looked up the stairs.

"Y-y-yes dad." he replied, feeling rather sick to his stomach.

The three beings walked out the door, and unto the oak porch, "Shall I call it dear?" Susan inquired.

"Sure hun, it doesn't matter." Peter shrugged, looking a little sick himself.

Susan walked about 5 meters away to the road, (or you could say a trail, because no muggles and their cars hadn't used it in some time, so it had become overgrown and barley visible) and stuck out her left hand-her wand hand. Instantaneously, a large bus entered their midst, as being a triple-decker and violently plum-colored bus you could imagine Remus's shocked face.

A short, porky man hoped out of the doors and bowed low to the ground to Susan. "Hello 'mam, welcome to the Knight Bus." He straightened up and introduced himself, "Me name's Ules Smithy, and I'm the conductor this afternoon. How may I help you?" His face was round, and like his middle, very chubby. The uniform he was wearing in question looked at least two sizes too small for his enormous rolls of fat.

Susan gestured hurriedly to Peter and Remus to come over to this odd bus and while she did this she said, "Well, err, Mr. Smithy is it? We need to get to London, before 2:50. How much would it cost for the three of us?"

Ules finally noticed Peter and Remus, and replied, "Uhh, that would be...." he counted on his fingers, "For regular price it'd be thirty-three sickles, but if you were to get three lemonades or such it'd be-" he started to count again. "It'd be thrity-nine sickles, and if you wanted to get a water bottle and a seat cushion it'd be... erm... forty-five sickles."

"Well, we'll just get the seats, there's thirty-three sickles for you." She emptied a heap of silver coins into Ules's hands and walked up the stairs into the bus. Remus and Peter followed, ushered by the man in the plum uniform.

"Hey Ernie, hightail it to London, umm, where in London mam?"

"The Leaky Cauldron please." Susan replied politely.

"Well, you hear her. Oh, and mam, this is our driver Ernie Prang."

The driver called Ernie turned about, he looked about forty years-old and had very thick glasses. "Pleasure to meet you mam, and you too sirs."

"Umm, how about the lady sits up here in the chair in the second row, and you two gentlemen in the fifth row back, we're awfully busy this time 'o year." Ules said as he pointed out their seats.

Remus, still feeling queasy, made his way back to the fifth row and situated himself next to the window. Bang, the bus was off with a jerk like traveling with floo powder. This severely intensified Remus's queasiness. He dared himself to look out the window, and he saw the scenery passing so fast it looked like a mess of watercolors had been blended inexpertly together by a six year-old child.

He moaned, clutching his stomach. "I know," Peter leaned over smiling, "I remember my first time on here, threw up all over the driver, I was in the front row." They both laughed, and in a couple minutes the conductor said, "All passengers wanting to get off at The Leaky Cauldron, London, your stop is after next."

Remus shifted in his seat, why did this bus have to travel so fast? Suddenly, the scenery outside of the bus changed, the luscious green fields and forests instantaneously to a cityscape. Perfect emerald lawns, and houses that resembled each other stood next to one another, and there were young children playing outside in the summer heat. "This is a muggle suburb, I think it's called Little Whinging." said Ules, watching Remus stare outside the window into the muggle world. "We have to stop here o' minute. I'll be back in a moment."

Ules made his way up the aisle, and signaled Ern to stop. With a screeching halt, and a slight case of whiplash from the other passengers, the person who had been sitting next to Peter got off, and Ules hopped off the bus after them. After a couple minutes he hopped back on, now accompanied by a girl with shoulder-length red hair. After a couple of gestures from Ules, she started to move back to the fifth row, smiling broadly at everyone.

"She can't be more than your age, son." Peter nodded at Remus. "Maybe you'll be going to school with her." This made him even more sick.

This girl moved back next to Peter and said nervously, "Err, sir? May I please sit with you?"

Peter grinned, "Of course, I'm Peter Lupin." He shook her hand and then nodded at Remus, "This is my son Remus."

"I'm Lily Evans, it's pleasure to meet you Peter, and you too Remus." She smiled even more if it was possible and shook Remus's hand.

"Everyone situated?" Ules called. For an answer he got a couple sick nods, and the sound of someone retching behind a seat somewhere in the third row. "Take her away Ern."

The bus jerked again, and more vomiting occurred throughout bus, Peter started the conversation with Lily, "So Lily, you live in a muggle suburb?"

"Well, I'm muggle-born, as Professor Dumbledore told me. He's going to be at the Leaky Cauldron today. He said he has one of his friends to help me around, but to see him after he's finished." She started to fiddle with the strap of her bag.

"So are you starting at Hogwarts too this year?" Remus asked, leaning over to get a better look at her.

"Yes, are you too Remus? Nifty!" she giggled, and he smiled.

"I'm really nervous." she replied quietly, look downward as if ashamed.

"Hey-" Remus whispered as leaned even closer, "-if it helps any, I am too."

That lovely smile flittered across her pale, perfect face as she gazed at Ules, who had been watching the two.

"Leaky Cauldron passengers-" he bellowed as the bus slammed to a stop, "-it's your stop."

Many trunks and handbags fell unto the floor with the sudden stop, about twelve of the occupants rose up, (all looking a pale shade of green) collected their things, and moved towards the door. Peter, Remus, and Lily were the last people to get off, they said farewell to Ules and Ernie. Then just as soon as the gold doors closed, the bus was gone.

The three of them turned to see Susan waiting for Peter and Remus. "Oh who is this?" she asked, gesturing to Lily.

"Oh!" Lily blushed, "My name's Lily Evans, I'm going to be a first year at Hogwarts this year. I came to get my school things."

"Well, after our meeting with Professor Dumbledore, we'd be pleased to show you around if you like." Susan replied smiling back at Lily, whom she found very polite for a girl that age.

"Well, thank you, but the Professor said one of his employees would help me, maybe we could meet later for dinner, or something like that. I'm staying here tonight." she gestured to the Leaky Cauldron.

"We'd be delighted to Lily, what do you say about five o'clock?" Peter stated.

"Sure!" she replied and lead the way into the pub.

The Leaky Cauldron was full of a variety of people, many looked at the newcomers as they walked, then back to their drinks when they realized they were no one important. Professor Dumbledore-an elderly man wearing long dazzling robes of gold and scarlet, had a very crooked nose on which were perched half-moon shaped glasses-was at the bar, trying a foreign drink when he spotted the quartet, "Hello! I see that you got here alright Lily," she nodded back, "and that you have met the Lupins' I imagine." Again, a nod told him her answer. "Ah, and hello Peter, Susan, and of course Remus. Hagrid?"

"Yes sir?" replied a very large man wearing an overcoat with many pockets.

"Lily is here, I would like you to show her where to get her supplies for school this year."

"Of course sir." He looked to the door and saw her, "'ello, me name's Hagrid."

"Hello Hagrid, it's wonderful to meet you. I'm Lily. Well, goodbye Mr. and Mrs. Lupin, and good day to you Remus." She straightened up and walked over to Hagrid, "I'll see you later."

Professor Dumbledore stood up, and whispered something to the bar keeper which he replied back, "I'll go get it ready sir." He hurriedly whisked up the stairs to a room above.

"I asked for a privet parlor." Dumbledore explained. "Shall we?"

All of them marched up one flight of stairs, and entered the second door to the right. A bright, cozy room appeared in front of them, the window to the outside filled the place with the sounds of the invisible Diagon Alley, and the muggle London. Dumbledore sat down in a cozy plush armchair and put his fingers together, apparently waiting for the others to make themselves comfortable also. Remus sat nervously into his chair, attempting to take a deep breath, trying to settle to upturning and swishing of his stomach.

Seeing all of them situated Dumbledore spoke first, "First of all I must ask Remus, do you want to attend Hogwarts school this year?"

Remus was stumped that he would ask him such a question, of COURSE he would go, it was just the issue of his transformations that concerned him. He stuttered, "O-o-of course Professor, I would love to go."

Dumbledore smiled and his brilliantly blue eyes sparkled, "Remus, I know that you are worried about your transformations while attending, that's why I asked you if you'd like to come or not."

"Excuse me sir?"

"Please, enough with this 'sir' business," he stated, waving it behind him, "I do not feel my students should ever have to call me 'sir'. Well, the reason I needed to know that is because if you are determined enough, and show a little risk, then I feel I have worked out a solution for your attending. It doesn't involve too much risky behavior mind you, but since the staff will know your situation, it shouldn't be all that bad. Plus, it will be no risk to anyone on school grounds, or in the village Hogsmeade for that matter either."

Remus's heart jumped into his throat, really? Could it be that he might just get to attend school, and not be a risk to anyone???

The meeting lasted for another half an hour in which Dumbledore explained his plans to which Remus could transform and not be a danger to the Wizardry community. After many tears of joy from his mother, and many proud looks from his father, Remus finally figured out that at last he might just have a chance at going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, no matter if he was a werewolf or not.

After the meeting ended, Dumbledore said that he had to go meet Lily and Hagrid and see how their day was coming. He whisked from the room with a broad grin on his old, wrinkled face, clearly glad that Remus was able to come to Hogwarts. Remus stood up shakily with a very large smile, "Should we go get my books then?"

Susan sniffled, "Oh, of course I almost forgot! Come on Peter."

Remus lead the way down the stairs, thinking that it wouldn't leave a good impression to the other customers in the pub to slide down the banister. They went to the back door, twisted the ancient, brass knob and pushed the it aside. Peter stepped in front of him and tapped five different bricks on the cobblestone wall opposite them. The wall was cleared away and what was left was a plaque overhead that proclaimed, "DIAGON ALLEY." Remus gazed down the alley to see many witches and wizards of all ages bustling about the alley, entering and leaving the shops. Talking in loud voices, and there was much laughing. Even from the mouth of the alley they could see the massive man called Hagrid, the beaming Lily, and Dumbledore striding toward them.

Susan stared at Remus's booklist, "I think we should get your wand first, it'll be the most expensive and we could buy you a treat later." She smiled at him, folded the parchment, and dived through the crowd. Remus and Peter followed, trying to spot her brunette head bobbing in the sea of people. They spotted her waiting outside of a ancient, dusty shop. A sign hung above, announcing in gold peeling letters "Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C."

The trio entered the shop to find Dumbledore, Hagrid, and an aging man, clearly helping Lily finding her new wand.