"Alright, girls. Here's fifty quid." James patted the stack of notes on the kitchen table. "Make sure to not wander too far from the flat, okay? I mean it, Ryan."
She nodded. "I won't this time. Daph and I are just going to go shopping for her vacation to Italy."
"We do need to go to Diagon Alley, though, Mr. Evans." Daphne said sweetly. "My parents are letting me withdraw some money to exchange."
"Alright, that's fine. Be careful." He smiled at his goddaughter and her best friend before he shut the door behind him.
The girls quickly dressed, wearing matching denim skirts. Ryan braided her hair with a blue ribbon that nearly matched her eyes and Daphne chose a pink bow for her high ponytail. "Gringotts first?" Ryan asked, tying her trainers.
"Yes, please." The girls pocketed their wands and left.
After a visit to Gringotts and to Florean's for some ice cream, the two headed to downtown London. "Oh, let's go in here." Daphne pulled her in, looking for a couple cute outfits for her upcoming family trip. "What do you think?"
Ryan looked at the brightly colored short-sleeve dress. "I think it's cute! Try it on!"
Around noon, the girls headed to a little restaurant for a lunch break in their shopping. Lucky for Ryan, the restaurant they picked happened to be close to her favorite shoppe in London, Turn the Page. Daphne and Ryan headed there, walking in, and Ryan made a beeline for the fantasy section, her best friend trailing behind. "I hope I find a couple cute outfits in Italy. I heard we've got visits to Hogsmeade coming up this next year."
"Oh?" Ryan's fingers stopped on an ornately bound copy of Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Volume.
"Yeah." Daphne shifted her bags from one hand to another. "Do you think Elijah will ask me to go?"
Ryan glanced at Daphne. "I mean, maybe, if you can get him away from Oscar."
"True. They spend more time together than you two do."
"I hope Harry asks me."
"I'm sure he will."
Ryan picked that book, along with an equally ornate copy of the first six Wizard of Oz books. "There's another boutique about two blocks from here. I'll still have almost forty quid left."
"Oh good, I still need some shoes."
As the girls exited the last boutique, both having spent most their money, Ryan spotted a large, mangy looking dog in the alleyway. "Oh, Daphne, look." She handed her friend her bags and knelt down. "Oh, poor baby, are you hungry?"
The dog slowly approached the girls, tail wagging slowly. "I'll go get something to eat." Daphne took off to the bakery across the street.
Ryan kept petting the dog, her heart breaking for how matted his fur was. "You poor thing." Ryan said soothingly.
"Here, they gave me some old bread." Daphne dropped a napkin filled with bread scraps.
The dog eagerly ate, scarfing down the stale bread. "I'm taking him home."
"Isn't James allergic to dogs?"
Ryan huffed, still petting the dog. "Yes. I'm sorry, sweetie." She spoke to the dog. "My godfather's allergic to you."
The dog cocked his head, seemingly understanding what she said, and woofed quietly before padding away. The girls started back toward Ryan's apartment, surprised to find Elijah and his dad waiting outside. "Is James with you?" Mr. Lupin asked, his voice wary.
"No, sir." Ryan answered politely. "He's at work, but he should be home soon."
"Will you just give him this?" He handed Ryan a copy of the Daily Prophet, carefully folded. "Please. And tell him to owl me when he reads the article."
"Yes, sir."
"It's probably a good idea for you two girls to get inside."
Ryan unlocked the door, sticking her tongue out at Elijah. He responded in kind and she grinned. "See you at school."
"Yeah, whatever."
"Bye, Eli!" Daphne called, smiling sweetly as they went inside.
"That was weird, right?" Ryan asked, locking the door behind her.
"I didn't know James knew Eli's dad."
"Oh, yeah, I guess they do." Ryan thought back to their accidental encounter last year. She sat down in her armchair, curling her feet up under her, the newspaper still in her hand. She unfolded it, almost dropping it. Staring up at her from the front page was her father. She only recognized him because of his name underneath the picture. He looked half-crazed. "Bloody hell, Daphne. Apparently Lockhart wasn't lying last year. Look."
"That's your dad?" Daphne looked between the photo and Ryan. "Weird."
"Very. Oh Merlin, does this mean he really did betray the Potters?" Ryan dropped the paper in horror. "Harry's going to hate me when he finds out."
The door unlocked and James came in, nodding at the friends. "Why's Harry going to hate you?"
"Because of this." Ryan handed him the paper. "Mr. Lupin came by to see you when we got back. He said to owl him when you read the article. And I'm guessing it's this article."
James' face paled as his eyes scanned the paper. "Daphne, you should Floo back to your parents tonight."
"Yes sir." Daphne sighed and started to gather all of her things.
"I need to talk to Remus. Ryan, you're coming with me. I can't risk leaving you here alone."