Chapter 28

Remus smiled as he glanced out the window where Meredith and her friends were gathered in the backyard. It was not

an unusual sight to see. Though the four of them had spent the majority of their summer vacation days bouncing from

one of their houses to another they usually wound up here. At the Weasley home they had to deal with Percy's

younger siblings, particularly the twins, constantly being underfoot and giving them no privacy. They usually stayed there
long enough to enjoy some of Mrs. Weasley's wonderful cooking and then vacated for a quieter location. The Patterson's

home was very much like a museum. Beautiful, cold, and you were not allowed to touch anything. The Wood home was

not as cold, but Mr. and Mrs. Wood were very strict on rules, the most important being that their son was not to have

guests over when they were not at home. So, it was more often than not that the foursome wound up here as it seemed
that Remus had been declared 'the cool parent'. He was friendly to his daughter's friends, allowing them to help

themselves to food and such, but he mostly left them to their own devices, trusting them to stay out of trouble. As he

watched them he could not help but feel a bit of nostalgia. The four of them reminded him so much of the Marauders

during his Hogwarts days. Oliver, standing and telling stories of his Quidditch victories, like James used to. Patricia, sitting
crossed legged on the grass hanging onto Oliver's every word, much as Peter used to with James. Percy, leaning against

a tree his head buried in a book, like himself. And Meredith, sprawled on her back like a lazy puppy, as though she did

not have a care in the world. Like Sirius, he thought a sharp pain cutting through him. But looks could be deceiving. He

knew that unlike himself and his old friends, these four did not get into nearly as much trouble as the Marauders did. He

did get the occasional note from McGonagall that Meredith had jinxed someone and would be receiving detention.

However, he knew that Meredith never cursed anyone unless they had provoked her, or had been picking on one of her

friends. Percy, unlike himself, seems to be quite a stickler for the rules, and had no trouble exercising authority over his

friends. Getting them to listen to him was another story, Remus thought with a chuckle, but you had to give the boy

credit for trying. Oliver was most definitely the jock of the group. Quidditch seemed to be the only thing he ever thought

of, except for those who could see past the exterior. The boy never hesitated to stand up for his friends, and he was

fiercely protective of them. Patricia, in a lot of ways reminded him very much of Peter. Behind the rest of her classmates in
lessons, dependent on more talented friends for help, and many times just astonished that 'the cool kids' let her hang

out with them. They were an eclectic group make no mistake. But they were a tight-knit quartet. They cared about each

other, looked out for one another, and were always there for each other. Remus missed that. He missed having his

friends around whenever he needed someone to talk to, or laugh with, or confide in. As he watched his daughter laugh

at something Oliver had said and snatch Percy's book away and toss it to Patricia playing keep away as Percy jumped

trying to snatch it, he prayed a silent prayer that Meredith would never have to know the pain of losing her friends.

I know this is short, but I promise we'll have longer chapters coming. Meredith will be meeting Harry soon!!