November was almost over and winter had finally settled in London, covering Diagon Alley in just enough snow to make the shops look like glazed gingerbread houses.
Amy rushed along the street, the block heels of her shoes thumped quickly against the cobblestone ground, when she squeezed through groups of people, who strolled there as well, though much slower and more relaxed than she was. When she finally reached her desired spot, she opened the door to J. Pippin's Potions, stepped in and shut it behind her swiftly, still bringing in the crisp air from outside.

Mr. Cavenar, who cleaned glass containers behind the counter, with his back facing the entrance, didn't even have to turn around, as he recognized her hitched breathing, and greeted: "Morning Amy. You've still got fifteen minutes until we open, no need to hurry."

"I know Leonard, thanks", she sighed as she opened up the buttons of her coat. "But you know that I hate being late. Also I need coffee before we get started."

He chuckled and shook his head slightly as he put the bottles back into the cabinet, took his wand from his pocket and sent a tired wave towards the door of the office, which swung open creakingly, making room for the two steaming mugs, that floated his way.
"I prepared", he said complacently and took one of them, as the other one drifted past him, to Amy.

"Thanks boss, you're the best", she cooed and caught hers with both hands, took a deep breath to inhale each spectrum of its scent, as she always did, before she took her first sip.

Time passed quickly until noon, as the customers came and left. Leonard advised them in his specialty, which were toiletry and body care potions and he was a real good example of how to use them wisely, as his slightly grey hair was the only indication of his 60th birthday coming up; while Amy sold mostly medicine. She enjoyed that people were more calm than usual, the Christmas spirit soothed their minds and the annual hectic of getting presents, hadn't taken over yet.

When there was nobody left in line anymore, Amy pulled out invoices to do some paperwork, until she heard the front door opening again and Leonard called: "Your special customer's here again."
She raised her head and saw Remus Lupin coming her way, eyebrows wiggling when their eyes met, as he held the healer's receipt ready and swung it like a million galleon lottery ticket.
She put down her quill and smiled at him, the way old friends did. They weren't old friends exactly - firstly they weren't old, secondly they weren't friends.
But she had known him since school, where they have shared some hours of patrolling as prefects together and every time he came to buy his medicine, she got that nostalgic feeling, reminding her of her teenage years. So semi-old acquaintances, maybe?

There was someone walking behind him, who she didn't recognize at first, but as he strolled casually along the aisles of mixtures, his leather jacket half open, despite the cold weather, one hand in the pocket of his jeans, the other one running through his dark hair, which was slightly shorter than she remembered, Amy knew it had to be Sirius Black. He looked good. Too good, she had to admit. Still as carelessly charming as he did seven years ago, topped with a stubble that made his facial features look even more defined. His reputation of 'angel's face with devil's hands' was seemingly still appropriate, even if she never got a chance to confirm the latter.

"May I help you with something, sir?", Cavenar asked in his polite salesman manner.

"Yeah, no, thank you. I'm just escorting him", he answered and pointed to his friend, before his glance fell on Amy, who already talked to Remus, had taken his receipt and put his money into the register.

"Come on then", she said and took him to the office, where they handled all of the businesses that demanded more secrecy.

Sirius followed them as well and walked past Amy, who held the door open for Remus, smirking at her confused expression and whispered: "Hi there."

"Sorry, you can't come in here. It's a private matter we're dealing with", she told him and showed no intention of closing the door, while he was still in with them.

"Ah, don't worry, I'm aware of his 'private matter'. Time of the month is on its way again", he answered and leaned his back against the wall.

Amy's eyes wandered over to Remus, who nodded in approval, so she closed the door shrugging and intended to walk over to the cauldron with Wolfsbane potion, when Sirius said: "Wait a minute. I know you from somewhere. Where do I know her from, Rem?"

Remus chuckled before he answered: "That's Amelina McConnell. She was in our year back in school."

"Amy's fine", she intervened and offered her hand to Sirius, who shook it gently, but didn't let go as he continued talking.
"Indeed, Amy's fine", he smirked. "I knew I've seen this pretty face somewhere. Hufflepuff, right?"

She fought the urge to roll her eyes as she looked down to their hands, which still held on to each other. Hasn't changed a bit since school.
"Hufflepuff indeed, Black", she said and pulled back, when he started to draw circles on her skin with his thumb.

She knew that he scanned her body, could feel his eyes on her backside, when she walked past them, towards the cauldrons, yet refused to give in to the drive of pulling her shirt down and pants back up in place.

"Ah, sorry Remus, it isn't quite ready yet. Our orders were delivered late. Needs one more day to simmer. I can give you a daily ration of our reserve stock though", she offered as she stirred the liquid slowly and looked over to him.

"No worries, I'm planning ahead. I've still got some left for the next days", Remus reassured. "I'll come back tomorrow."

"Alright", she said and went to open the office door for them to exit. "See you then. Take care."

They both nodded to her, Remus' expression was warm and friendly, while Sirius' glare sent a spark her way, that could have melted ice. Womanizer.


The next day went by pretty fast, as Amy was mostly occupied with filling finished potions into dose-appropriate bottles, weighing and measuring them repeatedly, to make sure they were safe for use. She prepared most of the pre-orders including Remus' Wolfsbane potion, which was finally ready.

When she went back to the counter, to check if Leonard needed help, Sirius came in and she assumed Remus would follow. He didn't, so Amy frowned in suspicion, while Sirius held eye contact with her, the whole way from the entrance to the counter.

"Where's Remus?", she asked.

"Hi, nice to see you too. He's busy and asked me to pick up his stuff. Now that you know you can trust me", he answered.

"Not quite sure about that, but okay", she answered jokingly and earned a grin from him, before she turned around to enter the office and waited for him to follow.

"Here you are, a monthly dose. He knows how to use it", she told him and handed over an opaque paper bag, filled with thirty small vials.

"Thanks", Sirius said and followed her steps, back to the door leading to the front area. "Oh yeah, wait, before I forget. I wanted to ask you something."

She rested her hand on the door handle and turned around to face him, asking: "What's that?"

"Can you apparate?"

"What?"

"It's no shame if you can't, there are many people who-"

"I can. But why do you want to know that?"

"Well, we're having dinner at James' and Lily's tonight, with Remus and Peter and they wanted me to ask you to come. It would be necessary for you to apparate to Godric's Hollow, unless you want to go on a four hour train ride, or something like that. If you want to come, in the first place."

"Um... I'm not sure why they would invite me to dinner. I haven't seen anyone, except for Remus and you in years."

"Well that's the reason. Lily and Remus talked about you being a fellow prefect and that they haven't seen a lot of people from school in a long time. Come on. For old times' sake?", his eyes turned from wolf to puppy in a second.

"Okay, I guess?", she gave in and let her hand wander up to her neck.

"Great. 8 p.m. Here's their address", he said, his wolfish smirk back in place, and placed a piece of paper into her other one, that's been resting on the handle, squeezing her balled fist, while opening the door himself.

"See you then", she mumbled as he left with a wink.