Thanks for the reviews: MiSSxMELON, Tiania, and redireas :-)

Also...I know that chapter 8 passed rather quickly and that was the only time that'll happened! I have some ideas for Remus having alone time with each of his friends. (Nothing Slashy! ;-)). Sorry this took so long to get up, I've had school and there was a mix up about what High School I'm going into. Anywho...enjoy the chapter...review...have a nice life....bare with me as I write, type and post each chapter As fast as I can... :-D

Chapter 8- Diagon Alley

I didn't think it was possible for a day to pass so unforgivably slow. I redid my homework at least 3 times trying to find something useful to do.

The television kept me busy at night or when it rained, but I didn't really want to watch it anymore. I wrote to each of my friends every so often, telling them how I was holding up at home.

3 weeks left,

This is taking forever, I thought angrily, as I set down Hogwarts: A History having read the book completely for the fourth time, and shut off my light.

I woke the next morning and followed the same routine of taking a shower and getting dressed. When I walked across the living room to get to the kitchen, I smelt something... different.

Probably some new food mom is cooking, I thought as I walked into the kitchen

Mom, however wasn't there, there was no new food being cooked.

I shrugged and sat down with a piece of toast and began reading a book James had lent me, when my mom came in, she looked in a way, scarred. I, having seen this look dozens of times before I stopped eating and closed my book.

"Mom, what's wrong?" I asked,

"Nothing sweetie, getting some tea for our guest,"

I stared at her blankly for a few seconds,

"What guest?" I automatically unrolled my sleeves to cover my arms,

"She's from the ministry, dear, why don't you go and introduce yourself,"

I got up and walked into the living room, noticing the woman, feeling self conscience. When she saw me, she stood up,

"You must be Remus. I was wondering if you were just shy," She smiled warmly,

"I didn't notice you," I said,

"You smelt me," She smiled again, I was about to ask her how she knew when mom came back in with a cup of tea and offered the woman a seat.

"So, Mrs. Darc, what brings you here?" Mom said

"I was asked to check on some of the lycanthropes registered today," she said it so delicately even I didn't cringe. More so, most would call us werewolves in a harsh voice, "To make sure he or she is being treated fairly,"

I looked up, surprised, "Treated fairly?" I scoffed.

Mrs. Darc nodded, "I personally believe that lycanthropes should be treated just as fairly as any other person," She smiled at me.

I felt myself redden as Mrs. Darc got up,

"If I may see Remus's room and the room he uses on the full moon," She said very business like.

Mom and Mrs. Darc went to my room as I put Mrs. Darc's tea cup in the kitchen and caught up just as they were leaving and heading down to the basement.

I didn't go into the room, I don't remember what the inside looks like and I didn't want to find out, just in case it would bring back memories.

A few minutes later mom and Mrs. Darc rejoined me.

"I'm very impressed," Mrs. Darc said as she wrote something on a note pad, "You're very luck, Mr. Lupin," She smiled, "Well, thank you for your time,"

"Remus, will you show Mrs. Darc to the door," I nodded and headed toward the stairs,

"How did you know I smelt you?" I asked

"I grew up with a lycanthrope. You learn to read their body language," Mrs. Darc said simply. "Thank you for the tea,"

I opened the door for her, smiling. As I closed it, I thought of another question,

"Mrs. Da-" I stopped, she was gone.

That must be apparation, I thought as I closed the door.

"She was nice," Mom said as I came back into the kitchen, my toast and book still lying where I had left them,

"Yeah, I wish more people were like that," I sat down and picked up my toast,

"Here, I'll make you a more decent breakfast," Mom took my plate, "What book is that?"

"Simple potions and charms for young..." The book said Pranksters, but mom wouldn't approve of that, "wizards,"

There was a hoot as an owl swooped in through the window over the sink. It dropped the envelope and left without resting.

Must be from Hogwarts, I thought as I watched the owl fade from sight,

It was. In it there was the 2nd year supply list and a few other papers for my parents.

While I ate, mom looked over the papers, and another owl came, it landed however and looked fixedly at my toast.

I tore off a piece of the crust, gave it to her, and turned my attention to the note.

Hey Remus,
Sirius, Peter and I are going to meet in Diagon Alley next Monday. Can you meet us there? Send you answer back with Nan.
See you later,
James

Next Monday? That was the day of the full moon. I handed the letter to mom and she read it,

"I don't know,"

"Mom, please,"

"But you need to rest,"

"Come on mom, I'll be fine, please,"

She looked me over, disliking this conversation, "Alright...fine,"

"Thanks mom!" I said happily sprinting to my room to send my reply,

"Remus... get up, Remus," I felt dad shaking me,

"What?" I mumbled, "Time to get up. It's Monday."

"Oh... let me take a shower." I got up and took a quick show, my body fighting with me every step of the way.

We took the Knight Bus to the leaky cauldron, where I swore that I'd never take it again unless my life depended on it.

Before we met James, Sirius, and Peter, dad and I went to a potion shop to purchase some pain-relieving potions. The clerk gave me a knowing smile as he held out a container containing a forest green potion.

"Do you take any other potions before or after?" the clerk asked me while he accepted the 15 sickles from my dad. I nodded,

"I if may suggest this..." he held out a container with orange liquid, "Heals most wounds conflicted by oneself because of transformations in just a few hours,"

"That's was I take," I said,

"Nastily complex potion, you have a friend, Have a nice day!" I drank the potion before leaving. Almost at once my entire body began to feel somewhat better.

"Hey Remus!" I heard Sirius call out once we left the potion shop, both dad and I turned around,

"Hi Sirius, James," I said, smiling, both had grown several inches. Sirius's hair was a bit longer while James's was short but as messy as ever.

"Peter's not here yet, we were just heading to Quality Quidditch Supplies, my mom and dad are waiting there,"

"This is my dad, dad, this is James," I pointed to James and they both shook hands, "And Sirius," Dad shook his hand,

"Nice to meet you, Remus has told us all about you of course,"

"Is your mom still sick?" James asked, I nodded, really mom was at work and seemed quite put off when I told her my cover up, but decided that a little extra money wouldn't hurt.

"What sickness is it?" Sirius asked as we began moving.

"Well, um...we..."

"Don't know," Dad interjected, "It's a new case,"

I saw Sirius and James glanced at each other; my stomach gave a funny jolt.

Did they know?

We walked in an uncomfortable silence, my senses annoying me greatly...

"James!" I heard a woman shout, we all stopped. James, Sirius, and Dad looked around, but I turned right to the source, a few moments later a woman with blonde hair came up to us. "Here you are...oh, you must be Remus," I smiled, James's mother hugged me, the first hug I'd ever received from someone beside my parents. "It's a pleasure to meet you,"

"You too," I said,

I sound pathetic, I thought

I just met her and she's already hugged me, said the second voice, she is pretty though...

Shut up! I thought, pushing both voices away

"You were supposed to meet us in the shop 15 minutes ago," Mrs. Potter was scolding James,

"But you said 11:00, It's only 10:44," James looked at his watch before holding it out for his mom to see it, as she was setting it, James winked at me.

"Ah, there you are," Came a mans voice, I looked at him.

He looked a lot like James in facial structure and he too had hair that stuck up slightly in the back, he turned to my dad and me,

"You are Remus or Peter?" He asked holding out his hand,

"Remus, sir," I said shaking his hand,

"Sir? No, no need to call me sir,"

"Mr. Potter?" I asked

"That's fine," he said smiling and began talking to dad. I walked to Sirius and James,

"You have nice parents," I commented

"Good thing you guys are here," James whispered, "Their always nice around company,"

"James, Sirius, Remus!" Mrs. Potter said, we all looked up, "Best we make for Quality Quidditch Supplies,"

"We told Peter to meet us there," Sirius said

Quality Quidditch supplies was as busy as ever, apparently, a new bat had just been released for Beaters,

"James, Remus, Sirius!" Peter called out, making his way towards us,

"Check this out," he held out the bat, it looked beautiful...

the smell of the bat caught my nose...

Silver

"Pure mahogany wood, 100% silver plated handle, jinx protection..."

"Here Remus," Sirius was holding it out to me, having just gotten done looking at it himself.

I paled, I couldn't hold it, they'd figure out, they'd tell everyone in the store...people would panic...

"Remus, come here a minute," Dad called.

"Be back in a minute," I said turning and hurrying to him,

"Thanks dad," I muttered. He smiled sympathetically and kept me for a few minutes, talking to me about the different models.

"Dad wanted to see if I was interested in trying out for the house team," I said casually when I rejoined James, Peter, and Sirius,

"And?" James asked,

"Not this year," I chuckled; I wasn't really a good flyer in the first place and would miss far too many practices, "What about you three?"

"Nope," Peter said immediately

"Probably," James said happily,

Sirius, however looked thoughtful,

"Sirius," James asked, smiling at him, "Simple question,"

He shrugged, "Depends,"

"What, if enough girls are around?" Peter grinned causing Sirius to raise an eyebrow

"Fair Point," He laughed

"You're not talking about girls at such a young age, are you? Tsk Tsk..." We could all tell Mr. Potter was being sarcastic

"No, us? Dad you've gone mental!" James looked horrified at the prospect, but his voice as well was dripping sarcasm.

"Like father, like son," I said out of the corner of my mouth to Peter

"Well... We've got shopping to do! Let's go!" Mr. Potter said cheerfully.

I've never had more fun shopping. Occasionally we'd look at things we didn't need, like a set of gobstones that changed color depending on how you felt.

We stopped at Florean Fortescue's for ice cream around 3 after we'd purchased what we needed.

I felt the muscles in my stomach cramp when we were walking to a table holding our desserts. I hadn't expected it, making it hurt all the more. I dropped my ice cream and doubled over.

"Remus, what is it?" I heard dad ask,

"Stomach ..." I mumbled, but the pain was beginning to lessen, it had only been a quick pang.

I was red from embarrassment as I sat up. Several people had stopped to see if I was alright. We made our way to a table, where James gave me an ice cream,

"I thought I dropped mine," I said confused,

"You did, James caught it," Peter said admirably

"Thanks," I smiled, James winked at me.

"Remus, here, drink this," Dad said after returning from the potions shop, "I asked the clerk and he said it was nothing to worry about. Just nerves," He handed me a bottle; it was the same green potion I'd had earlier. Almost at once I felt perfect, I smiled thankfully at Dad before joining the conversation James Peter and Sirius were engrossed in.

"So, I was thinking seeker," James was telling them, "Or keeper,"

"Either would work, the seeker, keeper, and a chaser all graduated last year,"

"You're guaranteed to make it on the team," Peter said matter-of-factly

"And we'll win the cup," Sirius commented almost bitterly, "I'm sick of Slytherin winning; it's gone to their heads. 4 years in a row they've won the Quidditch cup!"

5:00 came all too soon. It would be dark at 6:20, I needed to get home.

I said bye to James, Peter, and Sirius and made for the train station,

6:00 It was a close call...there had been a delay at the station.

"You have nice friends," Dad said as he locked the manacles on my legs,

"I'm lucky," I admitted

Dad smiled, "Good night, I really enjoyed today,"

"Me too, good night,"

Dad closed the door, I heard the faint click as the door locked, and the light was switched off.