A/N: I love this chapter. Why you ask? Well, because I love Remus. A (not so) quick note on OCs (If you have no problems with them, then feel free to skip all of this): I do have them, and with GOOD reason. Please don't let that scare you off. Artemis is, in no way, a Mary-Sue. Romulus isn't a male version of this either (I know what it's called, but I can't remember right now). There's not too much extraordinary about them. Though she's bright, Artemis is, in a lot of ways, just a normal little girl who happens to befriend everyone's favorite werewolf. Romulus is a great wizard, but we aren't talking Dumbledore or Moody or even Kingsley great. I don't want you to think that because their names were not in the books (as characters anyway) that they are going to ruin the story. The way I see it, any good Marauders story has some original characters. Even characters that we only get a glimpse of in the books, and we often don't get a very good idea of their personality from those short scenes. For example, the only times we see Frank and Alice, they are either insane or in a photograph. Their personalities need to be almost completely invented. Anyway, I wanted to throw that out there. I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy the story. And PLEASE REMEMBER TO REVIEW. Also, this is the last chapter that I have already typed up, so they definitely won't be coming in as often. I wanted to establish all of the characters and how they were related before I posted. However, everything is written down in journals somewhere, and I hope to get chapter 5 up by next Monday. Sorry for the ATROCIOUSLY long author's note. On to chapter 4!

Chapter 4:

"Well, London is still stuck in the midst of this horrid heat wave, folks," the radio announced through a crisp crackle. "It should be over soon, but for now it is hot, hot, and hot. But on the up side, skies are clear, and there's a refreshing breeze sweeping in from the north. Tonight, cool with clear skies, giving you a beautiful view of the night sky."

Remus switched off the handheld radio and gazed at the picturesque vineyard in front of him. He couldn't remember the last time he enjoyed the night sky around this part of the month. He gave an involuntary shudder. He thought (or rather, he'd hoped) after seven years he'd be used to the idea, but even now the notion of it still sent chills down his spine.

"Hey, you!"

He looked back. A girl his age stared down at him, her red sundress whipping about her knees in the breeze. Her name was Artemis, and as far as eleven-year-olds go, she was extraordinarily odd. Whether that was a good or bad thing, he had not yet decided. She plopped down beside him.

"I've been looking all over for you. I guess I should have known. Why are you always out here all by yourself?" she asked. He shrugged. She looked at him intently for a moment, and then smiled. "So it's you that keeps stealing my wireless." He held out the small blue handheld, but she pushed it back. "Keep it. If you like it, you can have it. Really, I have two or three more just like it," she added, noticing his reluctant look. He placed the wireless on the grass beside him and gave her a slight smile.

"You're welcome," she said, smiling back. She toppled onto her back suddenly and heaved a large sigh. "You don't like it here much, do you? I mean, you never seem like you want to be here. You look like a sad puppy in a pound, just hoping that someone will come to pull you out of your cage. Or maybe you do like the vineyard, and you just don't like me. You've never spoken to me, and you've known me for two summers. I know you're not a mute or anything. Your brother told me so."

It wasn't that he didn't like the vineyard or her. He didn't mean to give the impression that he didn't want to be there. He was just worried. Before he met her, he'd never really had a friend before, or even anything close to one, aside from his brother, Romulus, and his brother's friend, Frank. So he just kept quiet, and, even though she complained about it a lot, Artemis kept on following him and talking. Quite frankly, he thought she just liked to have someone around to listen to her speak.

"Have you ever laid back and just stared at the clouds?" she asked abruptly. He shook his head. "For some reason that doesn't surprise me. Okay, well, it's about time you did. Lie down." He obliged. He lay down on his back on the warm, dry grass and gazed up at the sky. Unexpectedly, his eyes began to sting. He closed them hastily and sat up. "Oh snap, I'm sorry! I forgot to tell you to squint your eyes at first. It takes a second to get used to. Here, try again," she said, pulling the sleeve of his shirt. He lay back again and slowly opened his eyes. "Better?" she asked. He nodded. "Good. Now, look up at the fluffy ones. Sometimes, they make shapes. You know animals and such. Like that one," she pointed to a cloud drifting lazily over head. "That one looks kind of like a Crup with an elephant trunk or a---"

"There you two are!"

The two sat up straight and looked behind them. A young man with long, light brown hair pulled back into a ponytail trekked up the hill into view.

"Hi, Romulus!" Artemis exclaimed with a wide smile.

"Hey yourself, Thresher," he said cordially. "Your dad wants you to head back. He said dinner's almost ready. Remus, go with her, eat, and gather your things so that we can leave tomorrow afternoon after I finish."

"Why do you guys leave for three days and come back?" Artemis said. "Why don't you just stay? I like it when you guys are here. I have someone to talk to, even if they never talk back," she added, shooting a feigned scowl in Remus's direction.

"I have to go home and check on my father."

"So leave Remus here with me. I'd take good care of him. I'd feed him and everything, I swear."

Romulus laughed. "Feed him and everything, huh?" he said, looking at his younger brother. Making sure he was out of her line of sight, Remus shook his head urgently. "Let me think about that for next time. I'm sure you would, midget, but for now, Remus has to stay with me. I'm responsible for him."

Artemis sighed and said, "Fine. I guess I'll just be bored."

"I'm sure you'll find something to keep you entertained until we come back. Now, go and wash up. I'll see you soon."

Artemis grabbed Remus's wrist and pulled him past his brother and down the hill towards the villa.