Secret Wings [Remus Lupin]

Chapter 2: Meeting a Boy

Disclaimer: I own only what I created all other credit goes to the awesome JK Rowling!

Chapter 2: Meeting a Boy

I tip-toed into the living room, where my dad was passed out on the couch. I was heading toward the chimney so I could floo to The Leaky Cauldron.

After I got my letter, I sent a reply letter to Hogwarts, saying that I was coming. I then went back upstairs and got my already packed my bag, which had an undetectable enlarging charm on it- curtsy of my mum who had given it to me as a birthday present.

The living room was worse than the kitchen. It was dark and even more trashed with my dad's beer cans, so I had to watch where I stepped. Plus, to make it worse, the placed reeked something terrible!

I had to resist the urge to gag when I finally reached the chimney. I grabbed a handful of floo powder and took one last look at the house I grew up in. I could vaguely make out my dad's figure on the sofa, as I looked at him I felt anger rise in me.

Part of me was angry at him for all the pain he put me through and for not being there to comfort me like a normal father. And yet......

Part of me felt pity for the broken person in front of me. He lost his wife. I lost my mother. We both feel the same ache from her absence. The only difference is is that I was able to fight the sorrow, the grief from invading. I locked up the hurt deep inside me. I wasn't broken.... at least not yet.

I jumped, my father had stirred in his sleep, breaking me from my thoughts. I took that as my cue to leave, and without another glance I stepped into the chimney, and with a very clear voice I said, "The Leaky Cauldron!" And threw down my floo powder and with that green flames engulfed me, sending me to The Leaky Cauldron.

I stumbled out of the chimney fell on top of an unfortunate bystander.

"Oof!" The stranger I landed puffed out as he hit the ground.

"Sorry!" I exclaimed embarrassed at myself. I quickly got off the poor boy, my cheeks burning.

Great going Stella you managed to incapacitate a boy before you even met him, I thought sarcastically.

He boy got up and brushed himself off and I saw he was about my age with light sandy brown hair with warm brown eyes, but they held a tiredness on them. His face held shiny scars, I felt bad knowing he somehow got hurt. Like I said, I hate seeing people in pain. He looked at me and said,"It's alright, no harm done."

I looked down at my feet and saw a book the boy must have been carrying when I crashed into him. I picked it up and looked at it.

" Hogwarts, A History. I don't believe I've read this one." I muttered to myself. I love reading, but I've only ever had access to the books in our small library so I don't have a very large selection. " Is this yours?" I questioned, holding out the book to him.

The boy smiled and said, "Yes it is, thank you." He gingerly plucked it from my hands. "I'm Remus Lupin, by the way."

Why was this boy being so nice to me? He doesn't know me! But I decided that I best be polite and try to gain him as a friend. Besides it felt nice to have a friendly conversation that didn't involve me being beaten or insulted.

"I'm Stella Frost, nice to meet you." I replied, attempting a small smile while looking at the floor my cheeks still red. I hadn't talked to someone for such a long time that I had forgotten how shy I can be around new people.

"You said you haven't read this book before?" he asked me curiously.

I looked up and met his eyes, they reminded me of chocolate. "Nope, I don't believe I have."

"Oh well that's too bad because it's really quite good. Would you like to borrow it?" he asked with a smile.

I looked back down at my feet as though I suddenly found them very interesting. "I really shouldn't, besides I might not see you again to give it back, anyway." I was happy he had offered though, it made me feel like a normal person.

"Are you going to Hogwarts this year?"

"Erm... Yes I am. I'll be in my first year." I answered.

"So will I, so that means you can just give it back to me when we get there." He smiled at me again and handed me the book. I looked up and smile shyly back at him.

"Thanks, you didn't have to do that. Especially after I landed on you." I said sheepishly.

.

"It's no problem, really. Hey, do you want to go get some ice cream or something? I'm sure my parents won't mind." He asked suddenly.

I looked at him shocked at first before I composed my features again. What harm could it do?

"Sure. I have the time." I said. "But I also have to get my school supplies."

"Would you mind if I came along? I already got mine earlier. But you don't have to let me come if you don't want to!" he added that last sentence on very fast.

I smiled at him genuinely, I haven't done that ever since before my mum died. It would be nice to have some company along with me while I go shopping. So I just said, " I don't mind. In fact I think some company would be lovely. "

" Oh, and by the way you have a little soot on your face." He grinned and ran off to ask his patents if he could come along. I felt a twinge of jealousy, as I wiped the soot off my face. I don't have parents who care about my well being. I could do whatever I wanted to and my father wouldn't care. Heck I could die and he wouldn't notice.

Remus came running back and said, "They don't mind. Now shall we go?"

He stuck out his arm and I laughed at his exaggerated decorum, and linked my arm through his.

"Yes, yes we shall." And with that we walked out into Diagon Ally.