Saturday was a Hogsmeade visit, and Remus was very excited. Especially since he had enough money to buy some books, from what happened over the holidays with Slughorn. He also had a letter from his mother weighing him down with guilt… but he wasn't going to let that get in his way for the time being. He'd reply to her later.

"Come on, I'm sure you look fine," James shouted at the bathroom door, where Sirius was taking ages to get ready due to his date with Tanaka later. "I want to get to Honeydukes and Zonko's as quick as possible." He pounded at the door. "Hurry up!"

"You could always sneak in next week if they're out of anything," Remus said dryly.

James turned to face him. "I know, but it isn't the same. This is… a territory thing. Showing them that I can and will buy all the pranks and sweets."

"You are really weird."

"I know." He turned back and shook the doorknob. "Bloody moron's gone and locked it. Come ON! I'll unlock it if you don't—finally!" He stepped back as the door opened and Sirius emerged looking more or less the same that he did every day, only in his casual weekend clothes.

"Well?" He spun around and struck a pose. "How do I look?"

"Gorgeous, let's go." James grabbed Sirius and dragged him down the steps. "Next time we're leaving you, mate."

They arrived in Hogsmeade only half an hour after the first carriages did, and James acted like it was the end of the world. He wanted to go to Zonko's first, since that was the most important, however Peter mumbled out that they should probably go to the camera shop first since it may take them a while. He wanted to get the new camera's insides put into his old camera's shell. James hopped from foot to foot but reluctantly agreed, brimming over with impatience the entire time. The wizard at the camera shop said it would take a few hours and to come back at around three.

James let out a huff of annoyance as they left, and began running down the street to Zonko's, forcing the others to run too. Remus tried not to roll his eyes, and was glad when they passed through the doorway into Zonko's so James would shut up. Instead of bells ringing, a kooky sort of laugh announced whenever the door was open.

As usual, they had a list of everything they needed to refill and then James stopped in front of a new display case that wasn't there last time.

"LADS!" he shouted across the store, ignoring it when someone told him to stuff it.

"I'm right beside you," Remus complained, rubbing his ear.

Sirius and Peter appeared. "What is it?"

James waved his hand at the case. "Look! It's… beautiful!"

It was a 'new and improved' potion called Insta-Beard. Guaranteed to give anyone a beard, regardless of age or gender. The picture on the front showed a toddler taking a sip and then sprouting a goatee.

James and Sirius immediately began taking all the bottles off the shelves, piling them into their baskets. Peter was told to go get another basket. Remus voiced his concern over buying the entire stock, and James scoffed, promising it'd be fine. He had big plans for the potion, which he hoped to use for Valentine's Day.

"Imagine all the girls sprouting whiskers on their dates," he giggled.

The exhausted clerk stared at everything when they took the baskets to the counters. "I don't know if I can sell all of this to one person," he said, picking up one of the Insta-Beard bottles.

"Four people," James corrected.

The clerk blinked a few times. "I… I think I should get my boss…"

"There's a line," Sirius said smoothly. "You don't want to have so many customers waiting, do you?"

"Besides," added James with a grin, "your boss will be happy you sold out. Tell him you convinced customers to buy it. You don't need to say you sold it to only four people, do you? In fact, I'll tell him next time I see him you're a terrific employee. I've been here loads, he knows me."

"I don't think I care," the clerk said. "About him knowing you. Or about the bottles. Hmph." With that he began ringing everything up and Remus's eyes almost popped out of his head when he gave the total. The clerk seemed rather smug as he said it, then frowned when James counted all the galleons out. I guess he didn't expect some kids to be able to afford it all, Remus thought as they left, the heavy bags bumping against their legs.

James and Peter went to take the pranks to the passage under the stump, since Sirius refused to. He didn't want to risk getting sweaty or red-faced before his date. So Sirius and Remus went to Honeydukes to wait for their friends. Or at least that was the plan. Almost as soon as they stepped in, Sirius yanked Remus behind a big display of Kaboon Choco sweets.

"Ouch!" Remus yelped and then Sirius put his hand against his mouth. "Mph?"'

"Shh!" Sirius hissed, trying to peer around the cardboard display. "What in blazes? She's—I don't believe it. I just don't believe it!"

Remus pushed Sirius's hand away. "Believe what?"

"Look!"

Remus did and it took a second but then he spotted Cassie talking to someone. "Cassie?" he asked and Sirius nodded. "Er. What about her?"

"She's with Poseidon Vasileiou!" Sirius leaned around the display again, practically on top of Remus. "Are they on a date? I think they're on a date."

"So?"

Sirius ducked back down, dragging Remus with him. "So?! She can't be!"

"Why not? You're going with Tanaka later, aren't you?"

He looked furious. "Yes but that's to make Cassie mad and regret dumping me! She isn't supposed to go with someone else! Ooooh!" He peered again. "She's flirting with him. She's probably saying the same things to him that she's said to me. Oh! I know, you have good hearing—"

"No."

"Go listen in!" Sirius gave Remus a little shove.

"No!" he said again, trying to make himself heavier somehow as Sirius kept shoving. "Stop it! I shan't eavesdrop!"

Sirius gave him puppy dog eyes. "Please? Only to find out if they're going on a date or not. Pretty please?"

Remus wavered a bit, those eyes getting to him. Finally he caved in. "All right! I'll find out." He stood up and crept around to the other side of the aisle that Cassie and Vasileiou were in. He could hear them clearly on the other side of the shelves. Cassie was flirting, or at least he thought she was. It sounded like flirting.

"Hi Remus."

He jumped, his head knocking against some boxes of ice mice, sending the boxes to the floor.

"Oh, hi Alice," he said, blushing as they both bent down to pick the boxes up.

"What are you doing? I'd expect you'd be with your friends," she said as they put the boxes up.

He was about to answer when he saw Cassie standing on tiptoes to look over the shelves. "Remus?" she asked, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What are you doing there?"

"Shopping," he squeaked out, grabbing one of the boxes. "Hi Cassie. I, er, didn't see you there."

Her eyes narrowed even more. "I'm sure. Where is he?"

"Um, who?"

"Don't give me that." She began looking around. "He's here somewhere, isn't he?"

"Maybe we should go," Vasileiou said a little nervously, tugging at his collar.

Her eyes snapped back to Remus. "Or is he off with Tanaka already?"

"I—"

"Well! You can tell him I said I hope he has a lovely time. Come on, Poseidon." She took Vasileiou's hand and dragged him out of the shop.

Remus and Alice stared after them then exchanged looks. "I hope I never go that mental over a boy," she finally said, pushing her glasses up.

"Me either," Remus said without thinking. Alice raised her eyebrows. "I mean, over a girl. Ah—you know what I mean," he fumbled, hoping he didn't sound too panicky.

"I do," she giggled. "It just sounded funny. Where are your friends, by the way?"

Remus looked over towards the Kaboon Choco display but couldn't see Sirius. He probably took off to spy on Cassie, or abandoned Remus. "Honestly, I haven't the faintest. Is… Lily around?"

Alice shrugged. "She said she might come into Hogsmeade later. Do you want to have lunch together? I don't like eating alone."

He shifted from foot to foot then put the box of ice mice back up. He didn't have much money for food, only a butterbeer really. He planned on stealing from the other Marauders. If he spent his… leg… money… he could afford food, plenty of it, but… he really wanted to go wild in the bookshop.

He also felt bad about telling Alice no.

"I'm not very hungry but I'll have a butterbeer, if you want."

"All right."

They left Honeydukes (after Remus made sure Sirius was really gone) and headed to the Three Broomsticks. He kept his eye out for any of his friends, hoping to be rescued, but none of them showed up. However, a few shops down from the Three Broomsticks there was a crowd and it sounded like there was a fight going on. For a split second he was worried Sirius was involved but then he spotted the bobbing head of a much older boy in the middle of the circle. Not Sirius, thankfully.

He and Alice were about to cross the road when there was a roar of approval, and then the crowd backed up quickly. Remus didn't even think as a boy backed into Alice, his elbow nearly clipping her face; he simply grabbed her hand and yanked her back. The two stumbled and ended up on the ground.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you." She stood up, brushing her skirt off before offering her hand to help him up. "Thank you," she said again as she pulled him to his feet. "I really appreciate that."

"C-come on."

They crossed the road and hurried into the Three Broomsticks. Or would have, if someone wasn't opening the door and standing in the way. It was Magpie and Nettle, and for a brief second Remus was worried she might slap him too, like Lily had James and Cassie did Sirius. But then she looked down to where he and Alice were still holding hands then back up. Their hands sprang apart, but it was far too late.

"I told you I saw them through the window holding hands," Magpie said in a distant sort of voice before running off, sobbing.

Nettle glowered at them. "Too tired for a girlfriend, eh?!" she demanded, poking Remus hard in the chest before running after her friend.

"Oh, dear," Alice said, watching them go.

"Bloody hell."

"I'm sorry, I was in such a rush to get away from the crowd I didn't even realize we were still—"

"No, it's—it's okay." Remus held the door open for Alice, feeling nauseated. He wanted to explain to Nettle and Magpie what happened! They weren't holding hands for… hand-holding reasons, it was—it was—

Suddenly his armpits grew damp as he stared at Alice's curly head leading the way into the pub. She wanted to go out to eat with him and she kept hold of his hand. Did she…? No, of course not, that was silly. He was reading too much into it.

Right?

"Perhaps we should go somewhere else," Alice said and Remus looked around, realizing the pub was very full. There weren't any free tables or spots at the bar.

He had been in the act of removing his hat but he put it back on, intending to leave when he heard his surname being shouted. He turned to see Weasley waving at him, motioning. "Hold on a moment." He went over to the trio who looked like they had only just started eating.

"Heya," Weasley said brightly. "You can join us if you want."

"Oh, my friend…"

"We've got room," Longbottom said, stealing two chairs from another table.

"Are you sure? I don't want to… p-put you out."

"It isn't anything to worry about," Longbottom said. "We've got space and this place is nutters today." Remus motioned for Alice who came over, tugging her scarf off. "Oh, er, if you're on a date—" Longbottom started.

"No!" They chorused, both of them going rather pink. Bloody hell!

"No," he mumbled as he sat down. "It's—we're friends, that's all."

"Thank you for letting us join you," Alice said as she took her seat. She was between Longbottom and Remus who was beside O'Kelley; O'Kelley's face was flushed a little and he seemed extraordinarily pleased about something.

After a round of introductions, since none of the trio knew Alice, Longbottom grabbed his empty tankard and stood up, offering to get Alice and Remus whatever they needed. They handed their money over, Alice wanting a plate of chips, Remus only wanting a single butterbeer. He felt bad putting a large pile of k'nuts in Longbottom's hand, but he couldn't carry sickles.

"Was that a fight going on out there?" Weasley asked, jerking his thumb towards the window. "I saw a crowd."

"Yes, though I'm not sure what started it, or who was involved," Remus said, tucking his hat into his satchel along with his gloves and scarf. With all the people in the pub it was really warm. He ended up tugging his jacket off, too. Underneath he was wearing Sirius's jumper again. The silly boy still hadn't noticed yet.

Soon Longbottom returned. "Madame Rosmerta misheard me and gave me a fish and chips plate," he said, setting it down in front of Alice along with a glass of water. "She didn't charge for the fish, though, said it's fine. Here you go." He put a tankard of butterbeer in front of Remus and then sat down with his own.

Alice wrinkled her nose at the plate.

"She didn't charge anything extra," Longbottom repeated.

"It isn't that. It's… well, I don't eat meat." She poked at the fish with a fork. "Remus, do you want it?"

"Erm, yes if you're sure you don't," he said.

She nudged the fish onto a pile of napkins and pushed it over to Remus. "Definitely not."

"Is it a religious thing? Should I get a new plate of chips that hasn't touched the fish?" Longbottom asked.

"No, it's all right," she said, picking up one of the chips and popping it into her mouth. "Not religious. I just find it distasteful to eat meat of any kind. I'm a full on vegetarian. Oh," she added when Remus paused, a fork full of fish halfway to his mouth, "I don't care if other people eat it, don't worry. I've never said anything before while eating with you, have I?"

"No," he said, realizing then that he had never seen Alice eat any meat. "Sorry, I g-guess I never—never noticed."

"Do you use dairy products?" Weasley asked, very curious. "I've never met a veggietarian before."

Alice smiled. "Vegetarian. Some do. I… I'm fine with milk products. I don't really like eggs, though. I don't know. I suppose it's weird. I just… don't like the idea of hurting animals."

"It isn't weird," Longbottom promised. "It's noble. Though… how do you get through Potions?"

"It makes me sick," she said and Remus hunkered down in his seat, feeling bad for never knowing this about her. She had spoken up about using animals as test subjects for spells before, and had gotten riled up over the ashwinders in their first Comc lesson. "I'm debating whether to drop it as soon as my sixth year comes, though I don't know what I want to do with my future. I might need to take it."

"If you keep taking it, maybe you could find vegetarian options for some of the potions," Longbottom suggested.

Alice giggled. "Vegetarian potions, that sounds funny. But you're right. Maybe. I'm not the best at Potions though."

"Aw, Lupin can help you," Weasley said.

Alice blinked then burst into loud laughter. Remus glowered at her. "Him!?" she shrieked. "Only if I want to blow myself up!"

"Shut up!" he muttered.

"Wait, is he not good at it?" Weasley looked surprised. "I thought he was a genius."

"With anything but Potions," she said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "He's bloody awful at that! Stop glaring."

"I'm quite good with the theoretica-cal side, thank you very much!" he protested, shoving the last bit of fish in his mouth, regretting sitting with the trio even if he did get some free food out of it.

The conversation shifted to other things and O'Kelley finally started talking; he had been so quiet, barely saying two words that Remus would have thought he was furious or depressed if he didn't look so exuberant. The reason for the happiness was revealed shortly later when a young, sandy-haired witch approached their table.

"Cadhla!" O'Kelley cried out, leaping up and hugging the girl. It was pronounced 'Kye-luh' but Remus later found out the spelling; like O'Kelley's name was Cathal, pronounced Cah-hall. He did wonder why O'Kelley's nickname was Cath then, but didn't want to ask.

"Hello!" The young woman smiled at the four kids at the table, her eyes sparkling brightly. "I'm so sorry to tear Cathal away from you."

"Tear away," Longbottom said, getting up and offering his hand. "And congratulations!"

Her smile couldn't get any bigger as she took Longbottom's hand. "Thank you!"

Weasley got up and shook her hand too, congratulating as well. Then O'Kelley introduced Remus and Alice. "This is my sister," he said. "She just got engaged!"

Miss O'Kelley proudly showed off the sparkling engagement ring which Alice admired. "The wedding won't be for at least a year." Then her voice dropped low. "Plus I need to talk my parents round, you know."

"They won't come 'round," O'Kelley muttered.

His sister shrugged. "I'll make them. You know me, I'm good at convincing. Well, ta!" She linked arms with her brother and took him out of the pub.

"She's marrying a Muggle," Longbottom whispered.

"They're not sure how their parents will react," added Weasley as he pulled O'Kelley's uneaten food towards him. "Plus I think they're gonna wait to see if this all dies down."

"What dies down?" Alice asked.

"All the anti-Muggle stuff going on," Longbottom said, his voice still low. Remus realized he was talking that way so nobody else in the pub could overhear unless they were purposely listening in. "Like what happened yesterday."

"Did something happen yesterday?" Remus asked, frowning.

"Didn't you read the paper?" Weasley asked and he shrugged, shaking his head. "Someone littered Diagon Alley with hundreds of threats demanding any Muggleborn or half-and-half owned business needed to leave."

"Jenkins put out a statement last night about it," Alice added.

Remus ducked his head, feeling stupid for not knowing or really paying attention to the news. Maybe he needed to. Except he couldn't really afford the Daily Prophet, and he didn't particularly like listening to the news on the radio. "What did she say?"

"Oh, that if there was any indication of the threats being followed up on, she'd deploy Aurors into Diagon Alley to protect the businesses," Longbottom explained. "I don't know how well that will work. I mean, if she sends people in after…"

"But the thought of Aurors patrolling the Alley might deter whoever is doing this," Weasley pointed out. "Maybe. Oh, there's your friends."

Remus glanced over as James and Peter made their way through the crowd. "There you are!" James cried out. "We've been looking for you and Sirius everywhere! Where is he?"

"I haven't the faintest, he ran off after trying to spy on Cassie's date," Remus said then clamped a hand over his mouth, turning to stare at Alice. "Oh. Oh, I—"

"I won't say anything," she promised, rolling her eyes. "I think it's all silly anyway. Cassie's only going out with him to make Sirius mad."

"I think Sirius is going with Tanaka to make Cassie mad," James admitted, taking O'Kelley's seat. Then he stood. "Here, Petey, you sit down."

"What about you?"

"It's fine."

Peter sat down, and then James sat in Peter's lap to his embarrassment. "They should just kiss and make up," James said, leaning back against Peter.

"Girlfriend trouble?" Weasley asked.

"Sirius does, yeah," James sighed. "It's all far too dramatic for me. Hey, I'll go get some food. What do you two want?"

"Meat pie, please," Peter said.

"Erm, I already ate," Remus said, tugging his drink closer. "Honest, I had some fish," he added as James stared blankly at him. "Stop staring! I ate, and I can't—I don't—fine, a small order of chips is all."

"Righty-o." James whirled on his heels and took off to the bar. When he returned he had three meat pies and the biggest basket of chips, which he said was for everyone to share. Then he deposited one of the meat pies in front of Remus.

Weasley took a couple of chips but then he and Longbottom headed off. As soon as they were gone, James asked why Alice and Remus were sitting with them. Alice nodded towards Remus.

"Er, we talked over the holidays," he explained, staring down at his pie, being both angry at James and grateful. "I know them a little bit. Not much."

"Ohhh, I should have gotten you something too, Alice," James said, frowning. "I wasn't thinking. I could get you something if you—"

"It's all right, I need to go anyway," she said, taking a few more chips before getting up. "Thank you for sitting with me, Remus. Er, good luck with Sirius." She took another chip, munching on it as she went.

"So where is Sirius?" Pete asked.

Remus told them everything that happened and James groaned. "Honestly. There are more important things than girls. Like pranks. Specifically, giving everyone beards. I do think Valentine's would be the best. Are they doing a dessert this year?"

"No one's said anything," Peter answered. "Didn't we talk about this before?"

"It's still two and a half weeks away," said Remus. "When did they announce the dessert last year? I can't remember."

"I can't either," sighed James. "Well, if they don't, then we'll do it to the feast. I wonder what it'll do to the older students and the teachers who already have beards. Maybe make them bigger?"

"Double beard," giggled Peter. "Imagine Dumbledore with two beards!"

"His beard will have a beard!" James laughed. "I wonder what I'll look like with a beard?" He began rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I bet Sirius will be bloody put out about it."

"About what?" All three jumped as Sirius popped out of seemingly nowhere and took one of the empty seats. He spun it around so he was straddling it, arms resting across the back of it. "What are we talking about?"

"Beards," Peter said. "Where were you?"

"None of your business."

"Spying on Cassie?" James asked.

Sirius looked murderously at Remus who shrank back in his seat. "It doesn't matter," he snapped, reaching over and stealing the rest of James's pie. "I was doing important business. Why were we talking about beards? Prank? Why would I be put out about it?"

"You're so fussy about your hair, I imagine you'd throw a fit having a beard," said James, trying to get his pie back and failing.

"I'd look bloody sexy with a beard," Sirius huffed out. "When are we doing it?"

They continued discussing it until all the food was gone. James wanted to get more, but Sirius begged them to leave since Tanaka was going to show up soon, and since all the tables in the Three Broomsticks were taken he was hoping to keep the one they were at. James grouchily agreed and they helped move all the chairs except for two, wished Sirius good luck on his date, and then James, Peter, and Remus left.

"He drives me mental," James complained, wiping his hands off on his trousers. "All the girl drama. I hate it. Let's prank his date with Tanaka." He turned to Remus and grinned. "Like a bubble belch thing."

Remus elbowed him, but giggled a bit. "No, he's already got enough trouble. See?" He jerked his chin towards where Cassie and Vasileiou were walking towards the Three Broomsticks, and from the other side came Tanaka. "I don't think this will be pretty."

"Maybe we should stay and supp—" Peter began but James cut him off with, "Let's stay and watch the fight!"

Remus grabbed both their sleeves, pulling them off away from the pub. "Let's let them settle this themselves." He did sort've want to stay and watch, but he also didn't want to see Sirius getting into a fight over girls or even be on a date with Tanaka if that's all that happened. He eyed Tanaka as she reached the door first, and several feet away Cassie stopped in her tracks, glaring at the Hufflepuff with murder in her eyes. She lifted her chin, grabbed Vasileiou's arm, and practically dragged him into the pub.

"Let's at least wait and see if they're kicked out," James pleaded, and Remus released their sleeves. They stayed across the street for about ten minutes and when nothing happened, they began walking, James grumbling.

They went into the Quidditch shop for James, and then Remus waited outside while the other two went into the owl place since Peter wanted to get some treats for Cocoa. Remus didn't want to go in for two reasons. One, he hated upsetting the birds, and two… he missed Arthur too much and didn't want to see any snowy owls.

Instead, he sat on a bench facing away from the shop and reached into his bag, taking out his mother's letter. He ran his finger across his name on the front then quickly stuffing it back in his satchel when he heard familiar voices. Mulciber, Avery, and Bulstrode turned a corner, laughing about who-knew-what; probably hexing some innocent student. The three stopped when they saw Remus but before they could torment him, James and Peter came back outside.

"Problem?" James asked.

"Only with the fact they allow half-dirty-bloods in this town," said Avery, shooting looks at Peter and Remus before the three of them walked off.

James gave them a rude gesture while Peter clutched the paper bag in his hands. "I hate them," he said, his knuckles going white while his cheeks went red.

"They're not worth the energy," James said, putting a hand on Pete's back. "Come on, let's go to the bookshop."

"Bookshop?" Remus asked incredulously as he rose to his feet. "You?"

James sniffled. "I do know how to read, you know."

"I do know, but I also know you hate reading."

"I do not! I just hate doing homework, there's a difference. Besides, there's a book I need to look for."

Remus folded his arms, unease rising up inside of him. "What book?"

James hesitated. "I, er, don't know the title. Potion stuff."

"What sort of potion stuff?"

"You're in a nosy mood!" he laughed, linking his arm with Remus's. "Aren't you excited to go look at books anyway? Come on." He grabbed Peter and dragged them both down the street to the bookshop. Peter looked a little nervous, which made Remus suspect that it was either a big, dangerous prank they were waiting until the last minute to tell him, or another stupid idea of how to help his lycanthropy. Either was bad, though he hoped for the former.

Once inside, his mind was too buzzy to really focus on finding a book and he mentally cursed James. Peter was in the comic book section the whole time, while James flitted around to multiple sections. When they finally left, Remus had three books for himself as well as a book on runes as a present for Lily, Peter had two comic books, and James had three books. Remus craned his neck to see their titles. One was obviously a book full of hexes, however the next was an extremely thick tome about chronomancy and magic pertaining to it.

Chronomancy?

What in Merlin's name was James doing with a book about time-related magic?

The third kept looking at him, squinty eyes peering out from behind a curtain and blinking. Remus couldn't see the title but when they left the shop and he asked, James gladly showed him. It was a book for budding detectives.

"There are some great tips in here about sneaking around and stuff," James said, opening the book to show Remus instructions on making potions that quieted one's footsteps. "That's the one I want the most, the main reason I bought the book."

"And the chronomancy book?"

"The whatamancy?" Remus tipped his head towards the bag and James put the detective book back in and tried to get the chronomancy one out; it was so thick that he nearly dropped it. "This?"

"Yes."

"I thought it'd be helpful for our pranks too," he said, lifting his leg so he could balance the book on his thigh to flip through it. "Like the spell to delay spells, that's in here, and it talks about other stuff like that."

"So… is that for me?" Remus asked.

"No, it's for me… though…" James put the book back in the bag before looking guiltily up. "I might need your help. Do you want to inspect the other book too, Mr. Snoop?"

Remus muttered an apology, glad that the books were more for pranks than anything else. He wished James had told him that in the first place! Of course, it really wasn't his business.

"We still have a coupla hours till my camera's done," Peter said after looking at James's watch. "What should we do?"

"Potion ingredients," James said, holding up the bag. "I wanna get the ingredients to make that footstep-muffling potion. Oh! Hold on. Remy, do you have paper? Can you write the stuff down so I don't have to keep the book open?"

They found a bench and Remus scrawled out all the ingredients needed. Once done he looked over the list. "We have plenty of bergamot seeds from out kits already—"

"Last time I told Sluggy I was out of one of the ingredients he got very suspicious," James admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "Best buy more."

"Baliwog eggs are hard to get this time of year, they only lay eggs during warmer months," Remus said. "They might be on the pricier side right now since they'd have to be imported…"

"No worries about that. Anything else?"

Remus shook his head so the three of them headed to Eye Of Newt, hoping the owner wouldn't immediately throw them out, since James hadn't been back since the leech incident. Thankfully no trouble was to be had, except for James cackling evilly when they passed the squids and Peter giving a slight moan.

"Don't," Remus warned.

"Please don't," added Peter.

"I won't," James promised, looking angelic.

It didn't take too long to hunt down all the ingredients. The baliwog eggs actually weren't too bad, though James spent more than he needed to since he got a lot of everything. He pointed out they'd probably be making this potion often enough to make it worthwhile buying loads now. He also bought other ingredients that had nothing to do with the potion and when Remus asked, James said he had other plans.

Next, the three of them went to Honeydukes, where Remus bought a small chocolate bar and got into an argument with James over him trying to buy Remus more sweets. They argued all the way back to the camera shop, hardly even noticing the skip in Peter's step when they left. He began snapping pictures left and right and even one of them arguing. James had his hands on his hips and Remus had his finger in James's face.

"—wrong with buying my friends presents!"

"You don't need to spend money on me!"

"Need and want are two different things, Remy! And maybe I do need to. My money is too much. It's drowning me. If I don't spend it I might die." He flung his arm across his forehead and staggered.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Don't be so dramatic, you—oh, hullo Lily."

Lily had appeared, eyes cutting to James. "What's he going on about?"

"Remus is being mean to me," James pouted.

"Good. You deserve it. Can I talk to you for a moment?" She grabbed Remus's arm without waiting for a response and dragged him off into an alleyway, away from prying ears. "I need advice and I know you're not the best with this sort of advice but I don't know who else to ask." She paused, biting her bottom lip. "There isn't anyone else to ask."

"Is it about relationships?" Remus asked, and Lily nodded. He tried not to groan. "I'm really—"

"I know!" She grabbed his hands. "But it's… about my crush. I don't know who else to ask about this. Cassie and Alice would pry about it, and… and if I go through with it, I can't risk them finding out…"

He raised his eyebrows. "Go through with… what?"

Lily looked around then pulled a flower out of one of the bags she was carrying. "I got this for her. For… Valentine's."

It was a pretty rose enchanted to stay fresh and smell good. He touched one of the petals, knowing it was rather pricey. "You're giving her something?"

"Anonymously." She looked at the flower nervously, as if it might bite her, though there was a longing sort of look deep within her eyes as well. "I don't know if I should or not. Should I? It'd be completely anonymous, I'd try to write the card as if I were a boy so she wouldn't suspect. Would that still be too risky? Would you do it?"

Remus swallowed, wrapping his arms around himself. "Are you asking me if it's something I would risk, or if I would do it for you?"

She gave a sharp intake of breath. "If you do it, she'd probably think it was Potter."

"James? Not Sirius?"

She shrugged. "Sirius would have the gall to do it himself. He'd never do anything like that anonymously. No, I don't want you doing it. But would that be something you'd, in theory, do?"

No, he thought immediately. It was too risky. It made his skin crawl imagining himself buying something for Sirius and sending it. Even anonymously, it seemed too risky. "I don't know," he forced out, hoping he didn't look as pale as he felt. "I'm not you, though. You're braver than I am."

She finally smiled. "You're brave, silly. All right, not when it comes to this sort of thing…"

He knew perfectly well she was referring to the Magpie incident, and he flinched remembering the look on Magpie's face when she saw him and Alice holding hands. He hoped there wouldn't be a storm from that.

"I don't know what to do!" She flopped back against the wall, cradling the rose in her hands. "I feel stupid giving this to her. I feel—I feel like a coward if I don't."

He reached out, resting his hand on her sleeve. "Valentine's is still over two weeks away. You have time to think about it. You—you don't even need to add a card, though, if you don't want. You could just send the flower and nothing else."

"You're right. Maybe a card would be too suspicious. My handwriting probably looks too feminine. Unless…?" She raised her gaze to meet his.

He shook his head. "My handwriting is too recognizable. Anyone in our year would know."

"She… isn't in our year."

"Oh. Well. Still. It's awful and would probably put her off. 'I'd never be with someone who would lose a handwriting contest to a toddler'," he said in a high-pitched voice, making Lily laugh so hard she nearly dropped the flower. "If you change your mind, could you return the flower?"

"I dunno. If I change my mind I could just keep it myself, it's very nice." She brought the rose to her nose, inhaling deeply. "Or I could send it to my mum. An enchanted flower. She'd love it."

"I say wait a little bit, think about it. You've got time."

Lily nodded and tucked the present back in the bag. "You're right. I'll think about it. I want to, I mean—I really do. But it's also scary. That makes sense, doesn't it?"

"It does to me," he promised, not adding that that seemed to be half his existence.

"How would you feel if you got an anonymous Valentine's present?" she asked.

He rubbed his forehead. "I did, last year. Which now that I think about it was probably Magpie. It made me feel weird since… it was… I don't know." He let out a sigh, not sure how to explain it. "I didn't… I wasn't so sure yet, about myself, but it felt weird getting the card from a girl. It made me uncomfortable. But I don't like attention, I don't like people noticing me. Is the girl you like shy?"

"Oh, definitely not."

"Then she'd probably be fine getting that," he said, wondering who she was. "Better than me."

Lily tilted her head. "What if a boy sent you some—"

"Shh!" He clamped his hand over her mouth, looking around wildly while his heart nearly exploded out of his chest. "Don't s-say that sort of thing so publicly!"

She shoved his hand away. "I've been talking about me liking a girl!"

"That's—" He shuddered, shrinking back, huddling over, wanting to disappear. "It's different."

"How so?"

"You're more… con—confident about it. I don't—I can't—I'm not—" He stumbled over his words and gave up.

Lily studied him for a moment. "Have you read that book yet?"

"What book?"

"The alchemy one, the one Potter got you," she said, and he gave another shake of his head. "Remus. You said you would! You promised me! You owe me, and that's one of the things you said you'd do for that!"

He held his hands up defensively. "I will!" he lied, having no intention of going back to that book anytime soon. "I've been busy with schoolwork and… planning things with the others."

"Pranks, you mean," she accused and he gave one shoulder a slight lift to indicate she was right. "Well. You should read it, I think it would be very good for you."

You said that before. "Yeah," was all he said in return. Then, before she could go back to her question about a boy that he interrupted, he took her arm. "Come on, James is going to start wondering why we're taking so long and will probably start trying to snoop. Let's go."

"But you—"

He dragged her back to James and Peter without another word, releasing her arm once they were there. Despite the cold, sweat was dripping down his back and soaking into the armpits of his shirt. He was certain nobody had overheard their conversation, however he kept imagining someone, somehow, hearing her blast it out to the open air that he liked boys. Maybe not in so many words, but it had been close, and he felt very sick now, and wanted to get back to Hogwarts where he could hide under his bed until the scratchy feeling all over his body went away.

And he did return to Hogwarts not long after, before any of his friends, not really feeling up to spending much more time there. James gave him most of their bags, which Filch searched when he tried going back to the castle. After they were deemed all right, Remus took them to the dorm, deposited them on James's bed, then flopped back on his own.

After several minutes he grew too hot and got back up to remove his jacket and layers of clothing. Before he lay back in bed, though, he stared at it for a moment. Slowly, he lifted his mattress and felt the slight ribbing where he had cut into the fabric and shoved the book in. He knew why Lily wanted him to read it. But part of him felt too sick to even think about it… yet half of him was curious. Mostly he was curious about the author. Writing a story where two boys fell for one another and—and kissed.

He put the mattress back, kicked his shoes off, and climbed under the covers. His brain was spinning wildly out of control, thinking about the book, thinking about the film Some Like It Hot… thinking about how his mother had called David Bowie degenerate.

Suddenly, he sat back up. How did she know? He tried to remember… he pictured standing in front of the cellar door… his mother's hand around his arm… her face twisted in anger. She had given him a slight push to get down the stairs and then she said she had heard it from the knitting club. That's right. But… how did they know? How did anyone? Did someone see David Bowie with another man?

He got up and began pacing around, chewing at his thumbnail, wanting to know. Needing to know. Bowie's songs were still being played on the Muggle radio but if a knitting club in rural Wales had heard he was like that, then surely it was public knowledge. But the stations kept playing his music. Did they not care? Some probably did.

Nobody's perfect, whispered a voice in his head.

Remus spun around and clutched his head, bending forward. Muggles made that movie. Men dressed as women. A man falling for another man and not caring he was a man. Muggle stations played songs from a man who was like that. What had Lily said about Muggles?

It's worse in the magical world since it's backwards. She had said Muggles cared, but not as much as wizarding society. Though the author of the book was wizarding. Magical. Half-and-half, if he remembered the little bio in the back correctly And it was a magic book, for the magical world. Maybe magical America was a little less…? Though Fawley said the shop she had seen in James's memory was down a narrow alley and next to a place that sold dangerous items. It sounded tucked away, to be hidden.

What if there's something like that in Hogsmeade?

He went over to the window and peered out at the snowy grounds, towards the forest. If there was someplace like that in Hogsmeade he could never go, never risk being seen going in. But even just knowing something existed might be nice…

What does it all matter?

It didn't. Of course it didn't. There really wasn't any point dwelling on this part of him. It'd never… mean anything. Just as a secret hidden deep inside of him to keep from the world, one only Lily and Miss Fawley would ever know. Because as much as he wanted to know what it might be like to kiss a boy… it was never going to happen. He'd never hold hands with a boy or go on a date or have anything remotely like that in his life.

It was all so pointless.

He paced around again then got out the Elton John album Fawley had given him for Christmas, his fingers brushing across Elton's face. He put the record onto James's player and then curled up in bed, losing himself to the song Rocket Man for the millionth time and wondering why he was crying.