To Meet

Amy

It was the weekend! And best of all in was a Hogsmeade weekend! Let the residents of our neighbouring village prepare themselves. Let them take a deep breath in preparation for the pelt up, suppressed energy of forty days of school in about two hundred teenagers! Not to mention me.

Sugar waits!

I grinned and bounced down the stairs. If anyone asked at this moment I may have conceded I was being a bit too energetic about the visit but as it was nobody did so I told myself it was perfectly normal – and most defiantly not over excitement. Bah, what was over excitement! I could never be excited enough! About anything! Chocolate!

"Good morning!" I skidded to a stop and dramatically throwing my arms into the air, a grin fixated on my face.

I saw Tabsie tripping down the stairs, pulling her pretty reddish hair into a braid as she did. She should have anticipated I would have left the dorm faster today than any other. She looked damn right terrified if you asked me – which I'm going to pretend you did – Silly Tabby loo! I turned back to my other friends started talking - as was my habit.

"It's the weekend! Saturday and Sunday lie before us again! And it's time to visit the lovely town of Hogsmeade! Aren't you excited! The first visit of the year! So much to do and so much to buy! LARA, you've never been there!" I shouted, spotting the shocked silver head "Oh my mad Merlin, we cannot have this! You wait – you have to visit Honeydukes! You're never getting out of it; I'll drag you if I must – don't think I won't!" I stared hard at her "Because I will! There's the Choco-Loco, the Lick'O'Rish Spiders! Don't knock it till you try it! Ow! You must try Pink Coconut Ice or Pixie Puffs, they're the best! No, no, no! Sugared Butterfly Wings! Or Shock-o-Choc! Oh you wait! It's the weekend everyone!"

I leapt into the air, just imagining the sugar made me wiggle with excitement. A passing second year tried to dodge me but I proceeded to hug her anyway. She ran away scared. How sweet.

So much to do!

My eyes were wide as chocolate coins and I clapped my hands excitedly. I ran for the portrait hole. Knowing Tabby was following. She seemed to have this idea I was dangerous when faced with sugar. She said I didn't need any more energy. Pah! What would life be without sugar? Silly Tabsie! In fact she usually tried to confiscate my wand – but only if she could catch me!

People moved out of my way as I sped down the corridors. Wise of them.

"Weeee!" I yelled as I slid down the banister. The portraits shouted at me as I whizzed past them with a permanent beam.

Watch out Hogsmeade, I was on my way!

Lara

The usually calm face of Tabby was now twisted into apprehension. I could see why. I was completely shocked, and a little scared, by Amy's outburst. Who on earth would sell that sugar!

"Hogsmeade weekend! Dammit I forgot! It's always the same! No! Wait up Amy! She off, I'll never catch her, damn!" The hysterical girl said before sprinting off.

"Is anyone else feeling really sorry for Tabby right now?" I said stunned as I watched her dash away after her manic friend.

I looked back at my friends and saw them looking amused and nodding earnestly.

"Oh yes. There is nothing scarier that Amy Farmer on a Hogsmeade weekend. You know it's a full time occupation dealing with that, Merlin knows how that girl manages" Alice said shaking her head disbelieving.

"Remember when Tabby was in the hospital wing last year during a Hogsmeade weekend?" Lily said and they both shivered at a memory.

Alice launched into a tale fraught with terror, screams and a twisted amount of on sale bonbons. I tried to stifle my laughter at the obvious fear in the girls' eyes.

Lily

"Lily" Potter said plonking himself down into the chair opposite me at the Gryffindor table.

"No Potter, I won't" I said without looking up from my toast.

"You don't even know what I was going to say, Lily Flower" he said smugly.

"Call me that again and you soon won't be able to remember either"

He simply smiled that god damn annoying lopsided grin and placed his chin on his cupped hands. He stared at me.

Bloody hell, why couldn't he leave me alone?

"Look Potter, I'm not going to go with you to Hogsmeade, in fact I'm never going with you anywhere so you might as well just find some other girl" I stared daggers at him.

"Ow, I'm wounded Lily Flower" he clapped his hand dramatically to his heart.

"You soon will be" I muttered.

Lara

The chilled air was fresh and there was an unnatural clarity to everything around me. The colours seemed the bounce and everything was sharp and focused around me. I felt so awake and alive.

Hogsmeade was pretty cool and reminded me of a town in Germany very near to my family home which was also muggle free. In places like these, the magical community had no fear (save from themselves) and you could see anything walking open. For instance, I skirted away from what looked suspiciously like a Hag as we walked down the main street and down the path a group of excited third years were emitting loud explosive sounds and sparks. You never find that in the main streets of Berlin or London. Lily frowned at them at them and I clenched her arm tighter in mine to prevent her going into Prefect mode. Everyone was excited about the chance to escape the confines of school; they deserved to let off steam.

It wasn't as enjoyable though, once we started walking past boarded up shops and broken windows. By the time Lily had led me to The Three Broomsticks we both carried grim faces and the third years had silenced. Students shuffled down the street in closely knit groups, speaking in mutters. Many of the older students, myself included, grasped wands inside pockets as if Death Eaters were about to spring out of the next alley. Something told me the next Hogsmeade visit wouldn't be as popular.

Entering the warm and cheerful pub was like releasing a prolonged intake of breath. We chose a little table in the corner and ordered two butter beers. The atmosphere was pleasant and filled with the voices and laughter of many students. I sighed and sipped my drink, relishing in the warmth that seemed to reach to my toes. Lily swept her dark red hair behind her shoulder and looked around the room.

The door opened and a group of forth year boys came in, pulling off Slytherin scarves as they did. My mind twitched. My sight was telling me nothing was out of the ordinary but my mind was saying quite the opposite. The two senses fought and contradicted each other. Was it just me but did that door stay open for just a little too long and wasn't that...

I laughed as I recognised the minds slipping to the room, cleverly concealed. Lily looked at me odd as the door slammed shut, I smirked at her. The tricky duo was carefully working their way through the crowds of table towards our table, their minds bent on us. Well, well, well; look who has an invisibility cloak. Honestly, don't these boys understand I'll know they're here? Well two could play that game.

"Honestly, I think those boys are a bad influence to my brother, don't you think?" I said casually, my eyes sparkling, feeling the boys settling into place behind us. Lily looked at me inquisitively, obviously confused at my change of subject, but she shrugged it off.

"Definitely, didn't I warn you to stay away? Poor Alex, I should have tried harder" She smiled and sighed dramatically, shaking her head; I could hear the grin in her voice.

"You know, and I may be wrong, but I have the smallest feeling that a certain Mr Potter may have a small crush on you" I chuckled.

Lily grimaced and I laughed as I saw a faint disobedient blush on her cheeks.

"He won't leave me alone! Every day its 'Lily will you go out with me' 'Evens I love you'. That boy!" she scowled.

"Ahh, but I think you like it really don't you?" I said slyly and she gapped at me.

"Wh- No! Of course - I mean, I don't!" She said, rambling a little, annoyance and embarrassment clear in her eyes.

A chuckle escaped my lips as I listened to the reactions behind me.

"I think you should give him a go. He may be a jerk sometimes but he is a good-hearted jerk. As much as you have been trying to ignore it" I replied humorously, yet I was deadly serious and she knew it.

She crossed her arms determinedly and glowered at me.

"If it's there I haven't seen it. Any way- he's just does it to get on my nerves, I know it"

I cocked an eyebrow in her direction. She thought he was just doing it to annoy her? Now that's unexpected. Based on that theory she would never actually see him for the kind loyal person he was. This problem needed to be rectified.

"You think that's the reason he does it?" I said incredulously.

She shifted at my obvious disagreement with her. Lily wasn't stupid, by far; she knew that when it came to a competent Legilimen she was at a disadvantage on knowing people.

"Well, yeah, it's obvious. He's been trying to annoy me for years – since the moment we met, it's only been in the last year or so that he's started asking me out" She said uneasily, a small frown on her lips.

"But he is so obviously smitten with you! He thinks about you constantly, no matter how much I try and block him. It's sort of annoying. He practically worships the ground you walk on, for Merlin's sake! I know that feeling a mile off and it's evidently not the thoughts of a boy trying to annoy a girl. How could you not have noticed?" I may have lathered it on a bit much, but it was just too satisfying to see the red cheeks of my friend and the shocked, mortified mind of the boy in question. Mwahaha.

"What! You're kidding right, as in lying! It's not funny Lara, that can't be true!" My friend cried, her face blooming burgundy. Her hands fluttered on the table cloth. I laughed in amazement. He couldn't have been more obvious and yet she hadn't noticed a thing!

"No, I am not joking! Honestly Lily, for one so clever I cannot see how you could be so blind"

"Well… either way, I don't think that…"

I rolled my eyes.

She crossed her arms and glared at my, her cheeks still pink.

"Well your one to talk, If I'm blind then what are you" she muttered. This time it was my turn to blush. Dammit, this wasn't where I wanted the conversation to go.

"Wh- what do you mean" I said uneasily.

Lily grinned wickedly.

"Oh well you know… I'm not the only one who has caught the eye of one of the Marauder's." Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.

My cheeks felt like they were being pumped with boiling blood. I was so glad right now that it wasn't Remus beneath that cloak. Talk about turning the tables.

"Er… I don't really think that… that's a bit farfetched… I haven't…" I stuttered.

"I prove my point" she said smugly "The all knowing hasn't figured out her own admirer"

I stumbled to think of a reply, one that would divert her attention.

"If you're thinking about Sirius then you're out of luck. He moved on a while back, I'm not sure where" I smiled my own wicked smile "Or at least I don't think I do"

"I've been thinking about that too… I have a few farfetched theories but I can't be sure" Lily said contemplatively.

"Well, sometimes the most farfetched ideas aren't so improbable to others" I replied knowingly, hoping the boy behind be heard.

Lily sat there thinking on my words for a while then she seemed to snap back and she looked at me annoyed.

"Hey! Don't change the subject! We were talking about your admirer, not Black" She accused, poking my arm playfully "To be honest I don't know why you don't just ask him. You obviously like him – don't deny it - and I know he likes you" I cringed and dragged a hand uneasily through my hair.

"It's not as simple as that" I whispered, laying my head in my hands "And any way, as you said, he doesn't date – remember?"

I hoped the two spies couldn't hear me now.

"Nonsense!" Lily yelled and I flinched.

"He completely adores you; I've never seen him like that with anyone else. If there is anyone that will break that, it's you" She said and I heard a determined edge to her voice.

I shrugged and looked away, just in time to see the door swing open. I felt the familiar mind before I saw his cocky face. Dressed in dark green and black Irvine swaggered in with two other boys. He hadn't seen me and I tucked my tell tale hair into my hood; I wanted it to stay that way. Lily looked in the direction I was and gasped quietly.

"That's Irvine – the one you told me about" I nodded sharply once and clenched my wand tightly as I felt my anger boil "and that's Regulus Black – Sirius' brother"

I studied the boy in question and my eyes widened. The young man, about a year or two younger, looked exactly like Sirius. It was uncanny. They had the same neat black hair; the same eyes glistened under their lashes and the same carved physique. I though Sirius was handsomer than his younger sibling but Regulus was cuter. Both boys had a scene of danger but the younger looked more sophisticated.

They were speaking to the waitress, Rosmerta, ordering drink presumably. Irvine was flirting with her and her cheeks were slightly flushed as she waved her wand toward some flagons of butter beer. I growled quietly.

The two spying boys behind me were also becoming angry at their appearance and I could hear their mind ticking with cunning. I couldn't have that. I turned in my seat and looked directly at the place they were both hiding. Whoops cover blown.

"Don't do anything" I mouthed at them commandingly.

I felt their shock and I knew they had heard. I also felt their grudging consent and I smirked.

I looked around a saw Lily was looking at me confused, I shrugged.

But she wasn't the only one watching me; I could another in the room looking my way. I turned my head and my eyes met those of Regulus Black. His look was curious and I could see by the way his eyes rolled over me that he was checking me out. He sneered and I narrowed my eyes at him in disgust. His mind was concealed but I could read his face and it made me feel ill. This was Sirius' brother?

"I want to leave" I said to Lily barely concealing my complete revulsion. She nodded in agreement, her own face contorted in aversion.

I got to me feet, pulling my hood over my head. If I had been more logical about this I would have waited for the boys to leave so they wouldn't notice me leaving, Alex would wait. But I didn't, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when a hand clasped my arm. Before I could do anything however, I was pulled roughly around to face my captor. Irvine's eyes bored into mine.

"Is there something you want? Or did you just grab me for the hell of it? You see, I'm sort of busy" I said sweetly, ignoring the fact our chests were nearly touching.

"Darling Larissa, you haven't given me my hello kiss, again" He sneered, pulling me close and whispering it against my ear.

"Not my problem. Tell me, how is your fiancé these days" I replied, biting my lip to restrain my anger, he pushed me away. My eyes, familiar to his face, saw the look of contempt toward the pure-blood beauty. I sneered.

"Well, don't say I didn't warn you because you know that I did" I walked out of the pub without a second glance, though I could feel his eyes follow me.

Alex

Me, Remus and Peter were walking down the street. James and Sirius had gone off to presumably spy on my sister and Lily – I wish them luck. The whole matter entertained me, Lara would know they were there within seconds but they didn't really understand. I was looking forward to hear the full tale.

The three of us were walking rather aimlessly up the path, having just gone to the joke shop. I wanted to see the shrieking shack because I had heard it was the most haunted building in Britain. I'd sensed amusement from the two boys with me when I said so. I was still trying to figure out what was funny. We got to the top of the path, a dead end, where we could see the shack across the hill.

"Why is it so haunted?" I asked curiously, I'd always found those sorts of things rather fascinating. We'd had a pair of school ghosts and a ghoul at Amalia's which I'd 'befriended' and ever since then I'd been inquisitive.

Remus looked uncomfortable and he shifted his feet.

"Don't know, but they say that at night you can hear screaming. Nobody can get in though." he shrugged.

I stared at him. His words weren't a lie but they were entirely the truth either. What was he hiding?

"We tried to get in once but there are magical enchantments to prevent it. I thought it was a banshee though the others disagreed" Pete piped.

I thought on his words and found myself disagreeing with that theory. Banshee's screams killed and many people had heard the sound, and while I guessed there could have been spell to minimise the effect I doubted it. However, what I did find intriguing was his use of past tense…

"Ah Alexander. I so hoped I would find you"

I span around. Standing in the centre of the path, quite alone and dressed in a stylish grey suit, was a man. I felt the two boys with me turn as well and I heard their shocked minds. I knew what they saw. He was a tall stern looking man with short silver hair and grey eyes. He looked exactly like me, only older and the expression he used I hoped would never grace my face. My father, Alexander Grey senior, was standing staring at me intently with his coils of energy already tense in his eyes.

The dark irony about the correlation between this meeting and the one with Darien didn't fail to touch me.

Remus was becoming angry and I begged him to hold his emotions in. I knew that Lara had told him about father and I knew how he felt on the matter.

I stiffened my back automatically and tried to control my desire to gape, while my mind frantically tried to figure out what was going on. What on earth was he here? What did he want? What was he going to do? Shit!

"Father, this is a surprise. I wasn't expecting to see you until the holidays" I replied primly, as he had taught me.

I knew my friends were surprised at my change in demeanour but I paid them no mind. I couldn't falter now; the consequences would be beyond bad. Father was angry - he had been ever since we'd been put in Gryffindor but I didn't think he would do anything now. Not without Lara. I resisted the temptation to shiver.

"Indeed, that was the plan. However I saw fit to pay you a visit before hand, though I'm disappointed Larissa isn't here too." I twitched slightly at the mention of my sister. I saw his eyes sweep over Remus and Peter and a mist of distain was seen in the slight twitch of his lips. "I do not believe we have been introduced"

Peter gulped and Remus quivered with anger.

"Remus Lupin Sir it is an honour to meet you, I have heard much about you" He said formally and I sent him a shocked look. His words were tight and only just touched with sarcasm, I was certain father would notice. Bad!

"And this is Peter Pettigrew"

My father arched a brow and I saw his cold eyes linger on the fraying edges of Remus' robes.

"Lupin you say? I knew a Henry Lupin at school, a relative of yours?"

Alarm bells rang in my head. There was too much cunning and suspicion in that voice. I knew that tone, the amount of times I had fallen over at this point. Next to me Remus seemed to be feeling similar and he simply nodded. I recognised the name, it was Remus' father.

"And Pettigrew? Another familiar name…" he turned back to me, dismissively ending his notes on my friends.

"I came here to tell you that if anything else goes off plan then your mother and I will be taking you to see your Uncle during the holidays. Considerer your selves pre-warned." Do not think you are getting out of your punishment for your insolence, and nor do I approve of your choice of companions. The Lupin family has a sour name and if this boy is who I think he is then he is a lying monster. Father opened his thoughts precisely and coldly. I didn't have an uncle, was he suggesting he'd take me to the Dark Lord? I couldn't stop the slight shiver.

He stared at me for a while and I pressed my mental defences against my mind desperately. His eyes bore into mine and I saw a hatred and anger there, one that I hadn't seen before. The fists of his attack slammed into my mind brutally and I wavered. I was clinging to my control. He was trying to get in but I wasn't going to let him. I wouldn't. He was clumsy with his attack, though strength backed it up.

It was exhausting but eventually he drew his assault off and I struggled to stand upright. Remus and Peter hadn't noticed. It had only been a few seconds.

"I will take your advice into consideration and alert Larissa" I replied, keeping my voice as chipped and level as possible. I raised my chin slightly and stared back at him unwaveringly. He nodded coldly and without warning disapparated, with a small pop.

Sirius

Me and James walked up the path both of us caught up in what we had heard.

Lily had thought that Prongs was only asking her out to annoy her? That was… surprising. It did make sense, from her point of view but still seemed stupid from mine. James had been in love with that girl for years. Lara was right, how couldn't she have noticed?

Well either way she knew the truth now. It would be foolish to not believe a Grey and if there was anything that Lily was, it wasn't a fool.

And then there was the thing with Remus. I chuckled. She liked him! Oh he was going to have puppies when he found out. Honestly our silly little Moony, running from lovely little Greyette. I wondered if Alex knew, he must of…

My next thought had me cringing with embarrassment. Lara had noticed my crush on her. But that wasn't the worst of it… she had soundly like she knew who I like now. I pushed the thoughts away. I couldn't think about it. Not now. I just couldn't. The implications, the fears came rushed at me like a stampeding Hippogriff. I couldn't bare it. I wasn't ready for this feeling, I didn't understand it, so the very idea that she might know sent shivers down my spine.

But was I was really remembering was the eyes of my brother on Lara. My bloody brother! He was such an idiot, a suck up and coward. And the way he had looked at her... Ugh! Then that Irvine bastard had grabbed her. I'd nearly broken cover then and there but the exchange wasn't long and Lara had come out on top. I needn't have worried; Lara was a very capable witch and damn right scary when provoked.

We were approaching the end of the path and James and I slowed down. There was Alex, Remus and Peter standing facing us. But standing ahead, his back away from us was a man with silver hair dressed in a smart suit. He was a superior figure and he seemed to emit a vicious, powerful energy. He was dangerous. And he knew it.

Alex was staring at him, his eyes determined and there was a pulsing energy between the two. Alex was standing differently too and he looked proud, noble and just as perilous as his opponent (as I had named him in my head). His back was straight and his chin raised and in his eyes I saw power. It reminded me of the time when the twins went all unison mode in front of Irvine. I stared at him in surprise and awe, determined not to think.

"I will take your advice into consideration and alert Larissa" His said sophisticatedly and curtly to the man who simple nodded as popped away.

Within a millisecond of the departure, I watched as Alex visible sagged, looking like he was about to collapse. His face was entirely exhausted and I rushed forward without thought. I grabbed his arm and he looked up at me surprised but thankful. He looked like he had just been crushed.

"What happened? Who was that?" I asked. My shock and anger was palpable even to my own ears.

"That" He said tiredly "was my dear father He tried to get into my mind, but I prevented it"

I stared at him in shock. His own father had tried to hack into his brain? How the hell had he stopped him and stayed so calm? Before he had stood there proud and strong before his father, but it had been an act – a very good one at that. It must have completely exhausted him to block his thoughts.

I heard Remus growl and I looked at him curiously. He was grinding his teeth together, nearly spitting with anger. Wow, what did I miss? I had an ill feeling about the whole situation in the pit of my stomach, obviously Remus knew more.

When I was with my stuck up parents I didn't give second thought to what they thought of me, I encouraged it even. Alex was just as brave as me, if not more, so what was different about our situations that meant he did... that? What was he scared of?

I was going to have words with these twins, you could be certain of that.