Chapter Three

Knockturn Alley

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A day, quick shower and a few Pain Relief Potions later, Remus found himself walking through the Diagon Alley with a parchment heavy in his pocket. It was mid-August and he was sweating thanks to the temperature that was higher than usual and his black cloak that was - to his disappointment - utterly not made for summer.

Resisting the urge to move the hood off his head to get some fresh air - as the hood was making it completely hard to breathe in that hot weather, he moved through the desolated street. It was completely empty of people. All of the props that stood in front of the stores were now moved, a few of the adverts were laying on the ground and Remus couldn't help but think that one of his favorite places looked completely dead.

Ignoring the melancholy in his chest, Remus tightened his grip on his wand that he casually stored in the pocket of his robes trying to stay aware. After all, they were in the middle of the war. He was walking through one of the happiest - how deserted - streets, holding his wand and waiting to be attacked at noon on Wednesday. Clenching his jaw, he took a deep breath feeling the droplets of sweat roll down his temple. How ironic, he thought with a snort, remembering the event that happened at the same location a few days ago.

The moment he entered Diagon Alley, he noticed the change. Not only by looks - the street looked completely empty and just sad, but in the smell, in the feel. His nostrils filled with a scent he immediately recognized and it didn't feel right.

Burnt wood, ashes, and blood.

A few days ago, a raid happened at the same location Remus was in in absolute daylight. Death Eaters came, made an arson on Flourish and Blotts and the raid ended as soon as it started. When the fire started there was a few people in the store - an owner, his assistant and a customer. One dead, two hurt. Death Eaters gone and both Aurors and Order late.

Nobody noticed the flames until it was too late.

Nervous, Remus stopped in front his destination slowly pulling his hood down. His muscles ached as he remembered what he was supposed to do and the bag filled with coins suddenly felt as if it wasn't there even though he knew he was just being unreasonable. Wiping his sleeve on his forehead, Remus pushed the door.

Mr. Mulpepper's Apothecary was a corner away from Flourish and Blotts. The windows of the store that previously showed numerous potion ingredients, cauldrons - both regular and gold ones, were now covered with a dark blue cloth leaving you to think the store was closed. Only the sign with the word OPEN said otherwise.

Bell tinkled as Remus got into the store and he felt overwhelmed almost immediately. The smell of all of the ingredients hit him at once making him dizzy. Before he closed his eyes to compose himself, he saw a golden cauldron at the corner of his eye and he let out a quiet laugh remembering James' fascination with it.

"Are you here because of cooling charms or are you here to buy something?" A voice overlayed with malice woke him out of his trance.

Remus opened his eyes to see an older man and couldn't help to think of him as his grandfather. Or anyone's grandfather. He had an oval face with a quite big nose and small eyes covered with huge glasses that made his eyes pop a bit from different positions. Man's - Mr. Mulpepper's - hair was short, completely gray and utterly disheveled like it went through a hurricane.

"Yes, boy?" Man sneered, squinting at Remus. "Do tell me please, I do not want your kind around my store."

Remus' breath caught in his throat. His kind. Images of his transformation two nights ago flashed through his mind and his mouth went dry when he tried to speak.

"You Death Eaters are everywhere," Remus frowned. continued. "What do you want?"

Remus eyes widened and he let out a breathy chuckle.

"I'm not a Death Eater, sir," He said, watching the unconvinced man eye his black cloak. "I swear, sir, I'm here to buy ingredients, you see-"

Taking a parchment out of his pocket, he showed it to the owner of the store who gladly took it. His eyes passed through the sentences and at the end of the list, he froze. Mr. Mulpepper's jaw clenched and he looked at Remus with disgust.

"You think you're funny, kid? Out of Hogwarts and now you're pulling pranks?"

Remus' heart almost shattered. Collecting his thoughts, he looked at him who was glaring at Remus as if he could cut in half.

"No, sir," He began, already put down and nervous. "I really am not."

Remus looked at his feet. A moment of silence. A moment of Mr. Mulpepper looking at him suspiciously, then analyzing him and catching the sight of the scar covering the half of his face and then - Remus heard a gasp.

Without any word, at the owner of the store moved through the racks grabbing jars to his chest and Remus felt his chest tighten. After a minute, he got back and looked at Remus, nodding him to come over so he could charge him.

As Mr. Mulpepper rang his ingredients and put them in a bag, he sent Remus a few looks he couldn't quite decipher. Anger? Fear? Disgust?

He almost laughed sullenly remembering that was all he thought of himself also.

"Most of these are in the bag," The owner began, his voice suddenly flat just like his face. "However, a few of those that are written are not legal for me to have in this Light store."

Remus nodded, looking as the man subtly threw him the bag.

"Thirty-four galleons and twelve sickles." Mr. Mulpepper grunted as he eyed Remus' money bag. It took him a few moments to count the money needed and when he paid, the man looked at him in wonder."

"The rest of the stuff from this list can only be found in Dark stores," And before Remus could ask where exactly to look, he continued. "Try Knockturn Alley."

And with that, Remus nodded thanking him, turned around and left not even bothering to put his hood on.

He always had problems with them - the looks. Gossips he could handle, words didn't matter to him, but looks. They were killing him. Slowly eating him away as he watched the silent war behind the frozen stare in the eyes of every single person that found out about his condition. It hurt. It still hurt, even after sixteen years.

Taking the turn for the street he never remembered founding himself in, Remus let out a breath as he clutched the bag that was right next to his money bag which was slowly becoming empty. One more purchase and it was as good as a trash bag.

It took him five years to collect so much money. Five years. Ever since he found out about it - the potion that could help him with his transformations, Wolfsbane - he spared money whenever he could. Each knut or a sickle he'd got from his parents as allowance was there. Every single galleon he got by working different jobs until he got fired was there. All of his hope was there.

When he stopped in front of the store that he only figured it was an Apothecary by a sign, Remus swallowed his pride and got in.

As he entered the second Potion store today, he found they were quite different than he expected. The first one, even though the dark times had a quite light interior with many decorations on the walls, while this one was much much darker.

Black and gray colors dominated through the whole store and even though the windows weren't covered, the light that was coming through still wasn't enough to make it even a bit less gloomy. His eyes darted through the whole store finding a bunch of jars with some suspicious ingredients on the shelves that he was sure he wouldn't even want to find out what they were.

The store was completely empty. As he was carefully walking deeper into the store, his eyes caught a glimpse of an elegant looking box on one of the long tables that were filled with very sharp knives different sizes. Remus approached it, his curiosity stronger than his mind. It was made out of red velvet and it was surrounded by some bigger boxes, looking as if someone was trying to hide it. Before he could make a go at it, a someone interrupted him.

"You insolent little brat! Move away from my stuff!"

Panic rising in his chest, Remus almost jumped from where he was standing. Looking in the direction from which the voice came, Remus felt his jaw open.

A copy of Mr. Mulpepper was standing right in front of him with a murderous look on his face. Same eyes, same hair, same nose, same face.

"I-I-" He stuttered.

"What?" The man yelled, looking at him angrily. "Why are you here?"

"Mr. Mulpepper sent me." Remus hurriedly said, watching as the man's face expression changed. It went from angry to furious.

"Are you really?" He muttered, looking as if he wanted to stab him. "So, now, my brother is sending me thieves in here? Isn't he enough?"

Brother. Obviously. A light bulb lightened in his mind and he almost let out a laugh when he saw that the man was still waiting for a reply. It looks as if the question wasn't rhetoric.

"Uh, no, sir. I am truly sorry. I am here to buy potion ingredients. He just redirected me."

Squinting at him, the other Mr. Mulpepper grunted something and looked at the box on the table.

"Then, boy, move forward," He spat taking the box into his hands. "I will definitely not serve you."

Remus frowned, but still followed the orders. Moving into the store he thought if he should pick the ingredients himself. But, most of those were unfamiliar to him. Most of them weren't allowed at Hogwarts and he was not the best at Potions. He doubted he would recognize them. As he slowed his pace, he heard a sound behind a big curtain that was in front of him.

"I thought you were a Gryffindor, Remus," A female voice said, a smirk evident in its tone. "So, why is a Gryffindor in Knockturn Alley?"

A dark curtain behind the counter moved and a familiar woman in a black shirt and black pencil skirt revealed herself looking quite smug. Her short blonde hair was picked up in a bun which was so small that Remus could imagine her putting a pencil in the center just for a decoration. She was familiar, but he couldn't remember why.

She arched her eyebrow as she looked at him, the curves of her lips trying to resist a smile. Still feeling confused, he looked at her as she was watching him and he tried to remember her. A diamond shaped face with freckles all over it clashed with dark brown eyes that looked at him amused. Remus frowned and when he subtly took her small frame into consideration, his eyes caught the name tag on her shirt: ROBIN ASHFORD.

A bunch of short termed memories of the blonde haired girl from the last month filled his thoughts and he gaped at her for a second before he nervously collected himself.

"Robin?" He frowned once more, suddenly feeling suspicious. "What are you doing here?"

Robin just let out a short laugh and shook her head at his expression. A strange feeling of uneasiness filled his chest and he just looked at her with only a blink.

What was an Order member doing in a Knockturn Alley?

Yes, what are you doing here? a mocking voice said in his mind and he mentally rolled his eyes at himself.

"I work here, have been for about four months actually." He raised his eyebrows. "It's easier to get to know different people and learn new things, you know?" As a realization crossed his face, she took the list from his hands with a wink. Cringing at the fast movement, Remus waited for a cold stare and a change in behavior when she figured out what potion he wanted to make.

"Um, oh, yeah." Nervously, Remus muttered."I mean..."

"I see you've got a few of Grey ingredients here, huh, so that's why Ben sent you here?" She interrupted him, her positive mood still on.

"Yes, no - I mean - who's Ben?" He stuttered equally stunned and confused. Robin moved away from him, grabbed a bag and started filling it with, what Remus presumed, were potion ingredients.

"Mr. Mulpepper, the Diagon Alley one." She answered, not looking at him, but still having that light tone in her voice."Did you know they're twins?"

An image of both the owners flashed in his head and he nodded silently when he figured out she had her back turned to him and she didn't see him agree.

"Um, they do look alike..." He started stupidly and she answered with a laugh at which he couldn't help but give out a smile. When he wanted to continue, she suddenly disappeared beneath the counter and he just stared at the spot where she was before mutely.

"Yeah, it's like Polyjuice, but better." Showing a half of her face behind the counter, Robin wiggled her eyebrows at him and in a moment she was gone again.

"I guess..." Awkwardly, he said, tapping the bag of galleons. It was all the extra money he had and it was gone as it never existed. It would take him forever to gather that amount of money again. A shuffling sound was heard and Robin was up again, blowing the hair from her eyes.

"And the last one," Putting one"Here you go, Remus, that'll be thirty-two galleons and four knuts. Wow, pricey."

"Nice, thank you and come again soon!" She grinned a smile full of teeth and he couldn't help but give one in return, his being shyer. Thinking she probably won't ever see him there again, he nodded. Turning towards the exit, Remus passed Mr. Mulpepper who was sneering at him with his body guarding the red velvet box he was looking at earlier.

Feeling irritated, Remus rolled his eyes as soon as he put his hand on the door.

"Also, Remus!" Robin yelled, making him turn around. She was now sitting on the counter, her legs crossed.

"The birds are meeting again today, haven't you heard?" She said, her brown eyes twinkling with mischief. "I heard the evenings are the best for people to join, possibly around eight, if they want to hear something new. Possibly a new melody, I know you love those. I left you the deets. You coming?"

Before he could ask her where she left them, Robin gave a pointing look at his bag filled with ingredients for Wolfsbane. Remus' mouth closed as soon as they opened and he just muttered yes before nodding once more.

"What in the world are you talking about?" The other Mr. Mulpepper asked confused with a sneer still present. "What birds?"

Agitated by the man, Remus huffed, opening the door and exiting.

"Oh, Mr. Mulpepper, don't bother," He heard her giggle. "The flamingo's aren't supposed to find out."

The last thing he heard before he closed the door was 's call for Merlin's help. Shaking his head, Remus didn't know he'd need it too and soon.