Disclaimer: I Disclaim. I mention Mr. Tambourine Man – it's a song – in this chapter, but, again, I take no credit for it. I like the song is all.

A/N: Thanks to Conqueror Worm, MintAndSpice DownUnder and silent-voices for reviewing. You guys are cool! Okay, so I promised a happier chapter, right? Here it is, I hope. You guys need to review because it makes me want to update. You like updating, right? Anyway, moving on...

August 13th.

I awoke, as usual, in my queen bed. After being at Hogwarts, you get used to big beds. I am a morning person. The only one in my family, actually. I showered in my ensuite (Mum and Dad said they no longer wanted the master bedroom and gave it to me), dressed as quickly as possible and ran outside to the front lawn.

"Morning, Torza!"

That is Mr Merry's nickname for me. Hence the name, he is a merry fellow. He always says hello to me, even if I don't answer. He is an elderly man, with a balding head and glasses. Mr Merry has lived next door since before I can remember. I waved and walked down the road to the corner shop.

"Good day, Miss Cherri!"

That is what Ms Honey calls me. She owns the corner shop since her father past away twenty years ago. I never met him, but I was told he was just like his daughter. Ms Honey is tall and elegant. What she is doing in a corner shop, I will never know.

I smiled and bounced over to the back of the store. That is where they keep the apple flavoured bubble gum. One of my biggest weaknesses. I can't get enough of it. I am probably the only reason Ms Honey keeps it in stock. I grabbed about four packets and jogged back to the counter. That's the way I do things around here - I don't often walk – I either jog, or add a spring in my step. I don't think anybody notices though.

"Just that?" Ms Honey asked politely.

I nodded and took the gum from her. I waved and walked over to the library. I don't really like books, but when nobody talks to you because you can't return conversation, there is not much left to do. I sat out the front – I never actually go in of a weekend. I chomped into a piece of gum and put the rest in my pocket. I looked up just in time to see Remus Lupin walk over to me.

Remus Lupin didn't normally talk to me at Hogwarts unless it was school related. The main reason he didn't was because of the outrageous rumours that spread when any boy comes near me. It's normally that I am pregnant with his child or something weird like that.

"Happy Birthday, Tory!"

I didn't realise anybody remembered. I smiled and patted the seat on my right. He sat down and handed me a package. I ripped open the envelope on the front and the card said:

Dear Tory,

Happy Birthday! We hope you have a lovely day and you like our present.

From,

Remus, Sirius Hotstuff Black and James.

Obviously Remus put them up to it. Remus lived just around the corner and the rest of the Marauders would usually come by. Since Peter was in Hufflepuff instead of Gryffindor, he wasn't included as much and wasn't as known as the other three. I giggled – something only the Marauders can make me do - at the way Sirius wrote his name and then opened the square parcel carefully.

Inside was a beautiful deep red box, lined with little silver gems. I opened it slowly and gasped. Sitting in the middle of the little case, was a silver ring with a little lion on it. Of course, I had never told anyone, but my family crest was a lion. All my grandparents and my parents are Leos. So am I. Just.

I stuffed the ring onto my finger and grinned. I had never been given a birthday present from anybody but family and the Gryffindor girls. I held my hand up and gazed at it twinkling in the sun. Remus was smiling too. He always tried to cheer me up. I think it was pity. I don't know why, but I get the feeling he knows why I don't talk. Maybe it's just me.

I turned back around to him and gave him a massive hug. He blushed a bit and hugged me back. After a while, we both pulled away and I looked at the ring again. The little lion was so gorgeous, perched on its hind legs in 2D. We were both about to get up and leave but we were denied exit by the Gang.

I call them the Gang because that is what they are. A gang. The leader is Bobby John. He is really nice – when he isn't alive. He is too good looking for his own good. Then the cronies are Broadie and Linkin. Just as bad.

"Hello, Cherri," Bobby snarled. "I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce."

"Shove off!" Remus said fiercely and took a step closer.

Bobby took a step back. He hadn't met Remus before and didn't know what to say. He regained his composure and sneered. He sneered a sneer that even Severus Snape would wish his sneer was half as good as Bobby's sneer.

"What did you say?"

"Shove off!" he repeated.

"Why don't you come here and say it?"

"I would, but I'm a bit homophobic."

"Then what are you doing near her?"

WHACK! Remus' fist came in contact with Bobby's nose and he went flying backward into Broadie and Linkin. He got up slowly and put a hand over his face.

"I woob be bwack!" he said through his fingers.

They ran off and I turned to face Remus. He was shaking with anger and still had his fists clenched. I tugged at his sleeve, biting my bottom lip. He relaxed at my worried face and sighed. He was a good friend, but he was too... nice.

"Come on. You can have breakfast at my house."

See? Told you.

I walked off toward his house beside him. My parents wouldn't be awake until about lunch time and it was still early. I had only been to Remus' house once before. And that was tricker-treating two years ago. Remus had been to my house about twelve times to ask about homework or to talk to my parents. Our parents are good friends and he runs around doing errands for his. I would but I can't exactly communicate with strangers.

We walked through the front gate and up the garden path to the front door. The Lupins owned a small little cottage-like house, backing onto the woods. It had flowers in its flowerbeds and a big willow shielding the house from the sun. I loved the feel of their home. It was very cosy.

"Good morning, Tory."

I smiled at Remus' mother, Susan. She was a small frail woman but her face was full of life. She was the strict type but also the type that would let you get away with almost everything you did wrong. Remus' father, Paul, waltzed into the kitchen humming. I think it was Mr. Tambourine Man. I love that song. He stopped when he was me and beamed.

"Hello, pumpkin."

He is a funny man, really. I giggled and beamed back. He chuckled and disappeared into the cupboard. They were very nice people but there was something strange about being in their house for the first time. Maybe it was just me.

I turned to face Remus, but his face was blank. I raised one eyebrow. Now, I'm telling you - that took me about four weeks to perfect. Hours a day, standing in front of the mirror, practising. His face remained blank. I frowned.

"Tip!" he yelled and poked my arm.

He sprinted out of the house and down the road. I tore after him. I love to run. It makes me feel free. We ran all the way back past the string of shops. Ms Honey poked her head out of the door and laughed when she saw that we were playing. Nobody ever plays with me anymore. Not since before my thirteenth birthday. Remus made a sharp turn and headed over toward the lake. I followed, slowly gaining on him. When we reached the wharf, he did a u-turn and ran toward the hill. I was barely an inch away. He skidded to a halt and I bashed into him. We fell to the grass in a heap. We were both laughing our heads off.

"Look!" he said and pointed to the tree we had stopped in front of.

Up in one of its lower branches, was a spider web. That's why he stopped. It isn't a very comfortable experience to run through a spider's web. I'm glad he saw it. I certainly wouldn't of. We pulled each other up and brushed the leaves off ourselves.

Remus was absorbed in the spider's web so, without him knowing, I slipped away up a nearby tree. I climbed to the top branch and looked down. Remus said something and turned to me. Well, where I would have been had I not have been up the tree. He did a full circle, looking for me, and started walking towards the top of the hill. Right for me.

"TORY!" he yelled.

I could barely contain my laughter. I slowly and quietly climbed down. I stepped to the right. Then to the left. Back to the right. He took a step forward. His back was now to the tree and he was carefully peering out over toward the town. I laid down on the bottom branch and stretched out. He was about an inch away. I crept forward a bit and reached out again. Perfect.

"TORY!" he yelled again. This time with worry.

BANG!

A/N: Aren't I evil. I've written the next chapter and I only need three reviews to update. Hint Hint. Nudge Nudge.

I want you all to guess what is about to happen. The closet person to the truth gets a special mention. And a virtual lolly. (My Maths teacher gives them out in class. He says the real ones rot your teeth.)

Remember, three reviews.

RG

P.S. This chapter was FIVE whole pages of writing. My fingers hurt :(