Ch 5

The next morning Victoria awoke with the same feeling of well-being she'd fallen asleep with the night before. She was curled up on her side barely peeking out from underneath the most comfortable down duvet she'd ever felt. She could see the odd roofs of strange buildings from the window as she laid there not wanting to move for fear that the feeling would be lost as soon as she extricated herself from the bed. She sighed looking at the clock next to her bed, a muggle instrument she couldn't help but bring with her, the small piece of home reminding her of why she'd chosen to come across the ocean. Deciding that being after 11 it was probably a good idea to finally make her way out of bed. She was surprised how much jet lag could throw off her system.

A moment later she heard a tapping on her window. Looking over she saw a large tawny owl holding a tiny folded piece of yellowed paper in its beak. Wracking her brain she couldn't think of who could possibly be contacting her by owl. It was too far for her parents to send her anything by owl. Making her way to the window she opened it and took the paper from the owl. It looked rather disgruntled when she explained to it that she didn't have anything for it. It ruffled its feathers moodily and took off. She unfolded the note and saw an unfamiliar large, slightly sloppy writing. She read it over:

Victoria-

Hope you haven't forgotten about your tour guide already. I'll meet you at noon at the Leaky Cauldron.

See you soon,

Sirius

Smiling she set the note down next to her clock and went to get ready for the day.

…

An hour later she made her way down the staircase to the main pub. Being rather early in the day there were few people there. There was a tall witch reading a book in the corner drinking from a cup that had red smoke rolling out of it, and a couple of goblins sitting at a table conversing loudly in Gobbledegook.

As she sat down at the bar to wait for Sirius she heard a loud crash from behind the counter. Looking up she saw the bartender Tom standing in the doorway to the kitchen completely drenched in something resembling pea soup. His face was red and from the looks of it he was doing his best to not explode in rage. Next to him stood a girl, her hand still held up around her midsection as if holding a tray. Her eyes were huge, obviously terrified, and waiting for Tom to blow up at her.

After a moment where they were both frozen in the same stance Tom blew his cool screaming, "Tell me again Kate, why is it that I keep you around here?" He asked, watching her stand there still unable to move a muscle. "Oh that's right," he continued, "I don't have to. You're fired." He left her still standing there in a puddle of soup.

Victoria tried as she might to avert her gaze, but she couldn't help it. It was something like a train wreck. She kept stealing glances at the poor girl over her menu, not wanting to interfere, but also feeling bad for the girl. Finally the girl broke out into tears and ran into the back. Tom came back after a minute and cleaned up the mess. He sighed as he pushed the mop back and forth.

Victoria finally looked up, "Rough morning Tom?"

He laughed humorlessly, "I'll say. That girl has cost me more in spilled food than I've made in the last year."

"I'm sorry." She answered honestly, setting her menu down. "Sounds like you need some help back there."

He looked at her cautiously, a small smile passing over his face, "What, you planning on staying around here?"

"I've thought about it." She smiled back.

"Have you ever waited tables before?"

She nodded, "I was a waitress for a year back home."

His smile grew, "You ever poured a drink?"

"No," she answered honestly, "but I'm a quick study."

He looked her over again, "I can't pay you much."

"I'm not asking for much, I just need enough to get by on."

"You won't get much in the way of tips."

"It's ok."

"It's evenings mostly, and weekends."

"Fine by me, I don't have much else to do."

Finally he gave her a curt nod, "Be here tomorrow at 5. Can't tell you when you'll get off. We don't close till everyone leaves."

She smiled giving him a nod as well, "Pleasure doing business with you sir."

He laughed walking back into the kitchen.

A moment later she heard a voice in her ear, "Smooth, very smooth."

She jumped, then turned to see Sirius with a wide grin on his face, "Thank you. I wasn't expecting it but when an opportunity falls in your lap what are you going to do?"

He laughed, "Very true." He took the stool next to her, "So would you like to sample more culinary adventures, or just jump into our tour."

"Well since I skipped breakfast, I should probably eat something first."

"Right." He said, turning his attention to Tom who'd just walked back from the kitchen. "Tom my good man, can I get a plate of bangers and mash for the lady and a steak and kidney pie for myself."

Tom nodded returning to the kitchen. Victoria stared at him, a look of disgust plastered on her face, "Please tell me you're kidding."

"What?" He asked looking at her curiously.

"Steak and KIDNEY pie?"

"And what's wrong with that?"

"It's kidney. That's disgusting."

"Have you ever had it?"

"No," she said as if it was the craziest thing she'd ever been asked, "why would I want to?"

"Because it's quite good." He answered easily. "When I get it you should try some."

"I think I'll pass."

"Where's you adventurous spirit?" He asked looking over her in surprise, "Is this the same girl that came across an entire ocean on a moment's notice?"

She narrowed her eyes at him, still not wanting to admit to herself that he was right. "Just because I'm adventurous doesn't mean I have to eat the organs of a poor animal."

"The animal is already dead Vicky. It's not going to feel anything now."

"That may well be, but I'll know it." She thought about correcting him on her name for a moment, but decided against it. She liked how it sounded coming from him.

He shook his head at her, "Suit yourself, but you don't know what you're missing."

She watched as Tom set down their meals smiling when she saw mashed potatoes and sausage on her plate, "Finally something I recognize."

"Do you want to know what's in that sausage?" Sirius asked smirking.

"No," she answered quickly, "let me just keep thinking that there's nothing disgusting in it."

He laughed taking a bite of his meal, watching her inspect her sausage warily.

…

A few hours later they were walking down Diagon Alley. Their first stop had been Gringotts where she got her own vault and traded her muggle money in for wizard's money. It had been a strange experience for her, being the first time she'd ever had to deal with wizard's money.

Sirius looked at her curiously when they stepped back out onto the street, watching as she turned a sickle over in her hand, "Are you sure you're not a muggle in disguise?"

She glanced up at him confused, "Why do you ask?"

"I've never seen anyone but a muggle born look at a sickle like that."

She looked sheepishly back down at the coin in her hand, "Sorry, but we don't have this stuff at home. We don't have any strictly wizarding areas in the States. We just use muggle money, it's easier."

They walked on in silence, he watched with an amused smile spread over his face as she looked over the different items in the shops with the interest of a child. In the small window of a junk shop she stopped short, staring at a what looked like a brief case with with a crucifix, a wooden steak, a gun with two silver bullets, and an odd assortment of potions. The sign underneath it read, "Vampire Killing Kit: Everything you need to slay a vampire." She looked at Sirius in amazement, "They're joking right?"

"Beats me. Never seen a vampire myself, but I highly doubt anything in there would do away with them. Looks to me like you could get away easier by hitting them over the head with the case and making a run for it."

She laughed, "I've never heard of that way to deal with them, but I'll have to remember that one."

"Shall we make our way back?" He asked still smiling at his little joke.

"Sure." She shrugged, as she turned she noticed a small shop. It looked rather shabby, but a sign above the door read "Olivander's Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C" in the window there was a single wand sitting on a purple cushion that seemed to have been there for quite some time. Looking down at her wand, it seemed as if it had seen better days. The handle was worn down almost to the core in spots and big gashes ran across it.

He looked down at her, "Care to go in? Olivander is brilliant. Best wand maker in England."

She nodded, watching as he opened the door and waited for her to enter the small shop. She blushed slightly, not used to the chivalrous act. Upon entering she was shocked to see the floor to ceiling boxes. A small counter stood in front of them with an old register on it. A spindly looking chair sat in the corner where Sirius meandered casually. Victoria looked up suddenly as she heard a soft voice from somewhere within the boxes, "Good afternoon."

A prickle of fear ran across her as she saw the man emerge from the back. His silvery eyes seemed to bore through her. Swallowing her fear she stepped up to the counter, "Good afternoon," she said more confidently than she felt as she pulled her wand out from the inside pocket of her ice blue robes, "I'd like to get a new wand."

"I see." He took the wand and studied it for a moment. "Definitely not one of mine. Ash, with Pegasus tail hair," He turned it this way and that, continuing to study it, "10 ¾ inches, quite flexible. Looks to be American."

She looked at him in disbelief, "How did you know?"

He smiled at her kindly, "Americans are the only ones to use Pegasus hair." He set the wand back down in front of her. Looking over her again he took out a tape measure with silver markings, letting it start measuring by itself. After a moment of watching it he returned to the back and pulled out three boxes. He handed her one explaining, "This one's mahogany with dragon heartstring."

She took it, trying out a simple spell to shoot off sparks, but with no luck. Olivander took it back from her, picking up another of the boxes, "Here, vine wood and phoenix feather."

She tried again unsuccessfully to do a spell. He whisked it away from her a moment later to hand her the last one. She took it and it instantly felt different, as if she'd just done a warming charm over herself. He smiled at her, "It looks like Ash is your wood, Miss Knight."

Her head snapped up as she heard him say her name, knowing that she hadn't told him what it was. She looked at him suspiciously as he continued on, "This is Ash with Unicorn tail hair 9 ¼ inches, great for transfiguration. I think you'll have better luck with this. I dare say the last was your mother's"

"How could you possibly know that?" She asked incredulously.

He smiled at her again, "The wand chooses the witch." He said simply

She shook her head, not knowing how to reply to him. She paid him the seven galleons and they left the shop.

…

After another hour they found themselves in front of a large book shop. She couldn't help the smile that burst onto her face. He watched her eyes light up as she looked in the store window seeing the huge leather bound books and gold covered tomes. He laughed as he watched her, looking like a child who'd seen their first Quiddich match.

He wordlessly opened the door for her, she didn't even notice this time, her attention completely on the books in front of her. She stepped in the shop filled with books on every subject imaginable. She didn't know where to look first. There were so many she simply stood there frozen until someone bumped into her.

She instantly knew the man; he was the same one from the night before who'd been talking to Sirius. His robes looked just as shabby, but he seemed to have gotten more sleep the previous night. There were no longer dark circles or bags under his kind hazel eyes.

Sirius smiled, "Remus, what are you doing here? I thought you were going out today?"

"This isn't out?" Remus smiled, looking around the shop curiously.

"You know what I meant Moony." Sirius replied in exasperation.

Remus smiled back, "I don't know what your definition of out is Sirius, but I'm quite content here."

Sirius shook his head at his friend. He suddenly realized he'd been rude as he watched Remus eyeing Victoria warily. "Where are my manners?" He asked. "Victoria, this is my best mate Remus Lupin. Moony, this is Victoria Knight, she just moved here from the States."

"Pleased to meet you." He extended his hand to her.

"You too." She smiled taking his hand as she noticed the book in his other, "What are you reading?"

"Oh this? Nothing really." He said trying to shield it from her.

He was just a little too slow for her, she grabbed it from him and turned it over reading, "The Wolf Within," she looked over the title again and then back to his appearance. The hair torn out in places, the bruises that had now made an appearance that weren't there the night before, the fresh cuts, her eyes shot back up to his, "Are you… I mean…" She wasn't sure how to ask.

"Yes my dear, Moony here has a 'little furry problem'." Sirius answered for his friend, waiting to see her reaction.

She considered him for a moment, "That is…" a smile spread across her face, "awesome!" She watched as he looked at her in amazement. She shrugged, "I've never met anyone with lycanthropy before."

Sirius grinned down at her, "See Moony, it's not a big deal."

Remus shook his head dumbfounded, "You mean you don't care?"

"Why should I?" She asked smiling. "You don't plan on eating me do you?"

"No." he answered honestly. "But you mean you really don't mind?"

She took a step closer to him, forcing him to look at her, "Remus, all of us have skeletons in our closet, some people just can't hide theirs as well."

He smiled at her, "I guess you're right."

She stepped back, turning her attention back to the book, "So what is this thing about? Just a handbook on how to be a werewolf?"

"Not exactly." Remus opened the book, leaving it in her hands, "This is one of the few books containing the Wolfsbane Potion. It's a new invention to... help in the transition of turning."

"That's great! When did they come up with that?" she asked looking over the pages.

"Just a few years ago. I was hoping to learn how to brew it, but I'm not the greatest at potions."

"What are you talking about Moony," Sirius asked, "You got an E on your O.W.L.s."

Remus blushed a little, "That may well be," he said turning his attention back to the book, "but this is extremely complicated. I don't know if I can do it even if I can afford all of the ingredients."

Victoria finally looked up from the book, "It really doesn't look that bad."

Remus looked at her shocked, "You're serious?"

"No I'm Sirius." Sirius laughed at his lame joke.

She rolled her eyes at Sirius, turning back to Remus, "Yeah, I'll tell you what, you buy the ingredients and I'll make it for you. It should only take a few days."

"Are you sure? It looks quite difficult?" Remus asked, but she could still see a certain amount of hope in his eyes.

She smiled, "I live for challenge."

He laughed, "Why would you do this for me? We just met."

"That's true." She nodded, "But I can always use another friend."

She handed the book back to him watching the smile spread over his face.