Chapter Six…Diagon Alley

The next day Buffy awoke early, and pulled out a large volume titled Mortal Fear. It was a muggle horror novel, one she was very fond of. This was probably her forth time reading it.

Her eyes read down the page she had marked. Rose looked round at her surroundings. She could have sworn she'd heard the quiet footfalls of another person walking, the light scuffing of boots. But there was nothing there, only darkness. Maybe---

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

Buffy jumped at the sound of someone tapping at her door. She stood, setting her book down before padding over and opening the door.

There stood Remus, looking embarrassed when he saw she was still in her PJ's. "I didn't wake you, did I?"

She shook her head. "Nah, I was just reading." She frowned, realization coming to her. "Oh! I'm so sorry! I forgot…" She sighed angrily at herself. She had agreed yesterday to go to Diagon Alley with him, and had completely forgotten about it.

Remus waved his hand. "It's all right, really. Do you still want to go?"

"Yes! Of course I do. Just lemme change yeah? I'll meet you in the kitchen."

He agreed and left.

Stepping over to the dresser, the blonde dressed quickly, throwing on a filmy white skirt that ended just below her knees and a tan halter. Pulling on her high-heeled sandals, she pulled her long silky tresses into a ponytail, securing it with a pink scrunchy.

Grabbing her purse, she walked out, shutting her door behind her. She went down into the kitchen, where Remus sat, chatting with Sirius.

"G'morning, Buffy! Sleep well?" Sirius grinned at her.

Buffy smiled. "Yes, thank you." She looked at Remus. "Are we going now?"

"Going where?" Sirius looked between them.

"Diagon Alley," she answered.

Sirius sighed. "Wish I could go. Gets bloody boring, bein' cooped up in this blasted place every day. Damn." He sighed, looking depressed.

Buffy watched him, feeling badly. She had never thought about that before. Since Sirius was, as of now, still believed to be behind the murder of Lily and James Potter, and Peter Petigrew and those thirteen muggles, he couldn't leave the house, or go anywhere public. It wouldn't safe for him, and no one else believed, or even thought about the possibility that he might be innocent. She felt sympathetic, knowing she would go mad had she been in his position.

"I'll bring you back some chocolate," Remus promised.

"The vanilla-coconut kind?"

"Of course." Remus stood, smiling. "Come then, Buffy. We'd best be going." And he aparated away, Buffy following suit.

They reappeared in Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Buffy withdrew a bit of money herself. Remus, saying he already had enough on him, led her outside.

Buffy tucked her money in her purse and followed Remus onto the worn dirt street between the many rows of shops.

It was crowded, the place filled with witches and wizards.

Remus led her down towards Flourish and Blotts, beckoning her to enter. "I need to look for a certain book."

"What book?" Buffy asked curiously as they stopped at the front counter.

He lightly rang the little bell sitting there. "It's a book on werewolves."

She frowned. "But why would you need that? I mean, no offense but wouldn't you already know everything, seeing as, well you know…"

"Yes," he agreed. "But it is written by a werewolf. That is why I want it. I would like to see his perspective on this…curse." He smiled sadly. "He was an Auror once, you know. A great one. then he was bitten on the job, and fired. Sad, isn't it? He was a protector, and then was thrown away for his troubles like a used tissue, all because he was bit."

"Wait," Buffy looked at him. "You're not talking about…?"

"Raymond Hagar," he affirmed.

The blonde woman's eyes widened in wonder. "Wow," she said at last. "I…I heard some about that incident, but not the whole thing. Is he still alive?"

Remus nodded. "Of course he is! How would he have written this book if he wasn't?"

She blushed, realizing the foolishness of her question. "Oh yeah."

"May I help you?"

They turned at the voice, spotting the store owner, Jenkins. He came round to stand beside them.

Remus nodded. "Yes, I believe you can. I'm looking for a book, Lost In the Moon."

"Oh!" Jenkins turned, looking thoughtful. They followed as he walked off through the maze of shelves. "Yes, by Raymond Hagar? Yes, of course. I do believe we've got it. Should be somewhere right here…no…no…not this one…no…ah-ha!" He lifted up a heavy volume bound with thick black leather. "Here it is. Yes, the last one. quite lucky for you. Is this all you need?"

"Actually," Buffy cut in before Remus answer, "I'd like to look around. Is that OK?"

He nodded. "Yes, not a problem." He looked to Jenkins. "I'll pay for this in a bit."

He smiled. "But of course! Are you looking for anything in particular?" he asked Buffy.

She shook her head. "No, no. Just looking around."

"Excellent! I'll be in the back if you need me." And he was gone, moving towards an open door leading into a dark room.

Buffy looked round at the many shelves filled with books of every size, shape, and color. She glanced through the many categories, moving towards a section marked SCHOOL BOOKS. She lifted up a divination volume, Through the Crystal Ball. "I remember this," she told Remus. "This was the text we used in sixth year at my old school. I hated it so much..."

"Me too," Remus agreed. "Not my favorite subject. Actually, I don't think it's even in my top five."

Laughing, Buffy replaced the book. She touched the binding of another, Seeing Futures. "I had a friend once, back in Sunnydale. She was a powerful witch, more so than anyone I've ever seen. Her name was Willow."

"Oh?" Remus watched her glance through Seeing Futures.

"Yeah." She set the volume down, turning to him. "I'm hungry. Wanna go get a bite to eat?"

"Sure," Remus agreed, feeling hungry himself.

And they started towards the front.