Chapter 8

Author's Note: Not mine. Hit the review button when your done reading, I like comments. Thanks to my readers and beta James.

Molly waited patiently for Remus in the kitchen. He would be here any minute and she wanted to make sure he would be comfortable while he finished... his dinner of course.

'What is taking him so long?' Molly stirred the stew. 'He is going to finish it tonight, I just know it.'

The kitchen door swung open and she turned smiling brightly at Tonks. "Oh," she tried not to sound disappointed, "hello dear, hungry?"

Tonks smiled appreciatively, "yeah, a little." Molly looked at Tonk's strawberry blond hair. "You look very, er, normal today Tonks." She joked lightly setting a bowl of steaming food in front of Tonks. Tonks giggled lightly and started eating, "Yeah, I'm suppose to dress to fit in today, feels weird."

Molly sat in deep thought reading over the letter again when the door opened again and Remus entered. He paused when he saw the strawberry blonde hair and a smile appeared. Tonks looked up and his smile faltered for a second, but he quickly replaced it.

"Tonks, you look nice today." Molly's head jerked up abruptly.

"Thanks Remus," Tonks stood up and put her dishes in the sink, "I'm off, have a good evening you two."

Remus began to ladle out the stew. Molly jumped up to finish and pushed him towards the table. After she sat the stew in front of him, she poured him a glass of water and sliced him some fresh bread. She sat down opposite of him and smiled.

"We left shortly after graduation..."

XxXxX

Sirius, James and Lily leaned against the fruit portrait down the hall from the great hall and the graduation dance. They were silently conversing while watching the hallway for signs of stragglers to the dance. Slowly, Sirius swaggered down the hall to the main stairwell. He looked around lazily.

"Remus." Sirius spoke into the mirror quietly.

Within seconds a pale light showed at the edges of the mirror and Remus appeared. "We're on our way."

Sirius waited several minutes while James and Lily watched silently. When he began to walk towards them they moved closer to the picture. When Sirius reached them James quickly tickled the pear. The portrait swung open and the small group slipped inside into the darkness of the hidden hallway.

Sirius closed the portrait and turned in time to see Remus and Gala pull the invisibility cloak off. He smiled at his friends and handed them a small picnic basket. Gala looked at it with curiosity before excepting it.

"I stole into the kitchen while the house elves were preparing the feast. The food has been shrunk down so more would fit; there is enough for about a week, maybe a little more. That way you won't have to stop anywhere close."

Gala smiled her thanks and added it to the small bundle she carried under her cloak. The portrait swung open and the teenagers jumped in surprise while pulling out their wands. Peter fell through the portrait spilling cakes everywhere on the hall floor. There was a very audible sigh.

"Peter, what the hell is wrong with you?!" Sirius grabbed the back of Peter's collar and jerked him roughly to his feet; "did anyone see you?"

"I, I don't think so," Peter stammered loudly, "I was trying to get here before Padfoot left."

"Peter." James glowered, "keep it down." He looked around the outside hallway before pulling the picture shut.

Gala glanced nervously at the small man. Peter was picking up the fallen cakes and shoved one greedily into his mouth. She looked away in disgust. Her gaze fell on Lily; she had the same expression on her face. There was more though, was it loathing? Gala wasn't sure. Lilly caught her eyes and just shook her head in revulsion.

Remus, James and Sirius stood silently against the wall saying their good-byes. Remus hugged his two best friends while Gala looked on. Lily approached her slowly.

"I'm sorry we did not get a chance to become closer acquainted," Lily smiled warmly. "We could have given them a real run for their money." She giggled lightly and embraced her. Gala felt the tears well up and hugged her gratefully back. Gala and Lilly approached the guys. James leaned down to hug Gala, "take care of him for us." Sirius looked at her and suddenly wrapped her in a tight hug without saying anything. When Peter walked up to say goodbye, Gala stayed behind Remus and simply nodded her head at him.

With their good-byes said, Remus and Gala slipped down the passageway that led to the cellar at Honeydukes in Hogsmeade.

XxXxX

Remus was looking into his coffee mug. "We got out free and clear, no one realized we were gone. We made it to Hogsmeade and stayed in the Shrieking Shack for the night. After that we traveled, Gala wanted us to go everywhere. We were able to pick up short time jobs anywhere we went, there was still my problem, but there always seemed to be something that showed up."

Molly sat quietly, she knew what the next part of the story contained.

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