"So why the visit?" Remus asked.

His boss wasn't around today, since there were little to no customers. Because of that I had moved off of the stool and was sitting on the desk, so that Remus could reclaim the stool as his own.

"I just wanted to come and see you." I smiled.

I didn't know whether to tell him about the letters I had finally read. I didn't know if he'd be embarrassed by it or not.

I was swinging my legs back and forth a little as remus tried to catch my feet every now and then as they threatened to kick his knees.

"So, Sonny told me you guys always go to the pub at least once on the weekend. Can I come?" I asked, letting some chocolate melt in my mouth instead of biting it.

"Oh yeah, you're more than welcome to come along!" He said enthusiastically.
"So you had fun then, the other night?"

"I did! I just have to get used to being a big group again. It's different than just being with you. Louder!" I said with a laugh.

"I did notice you were a bit more quiet than when you were just with me, Sonny and Sirius." He replied.

Do I tell him about Peter? I feel I can't complain about someone he's so close to? Someone who's been consistently in his life for years.

"Not everyone's the same, that's all. It's like getting to know new people. You three felt the same." I said, deciding against saying anything outright.

"I get that." He nodded.

We sat in a moment of silence.

"Friday? Saturday? What night do you have free then?" I spoke up. My heart beginning to race.

"What for the pub? I think they're all going Friday." He said nonchalantly.

"So you have Saturday free? Do you want to do something with me? Just us?" I tried not to mumble.

"Like a date?" He looked up from the now empty packet of chocolate that he was folding neatly.

"Like a date." I confirmed and ball of anxious butterflies racing around my stomach.

"I'd love that but-" he began.

Oh Merlin. The ball of anxiety had started a fire that began to burn through my chest. Had Remus realised he actually didn't want to be more than friends? Was that just a heat of the moment, thing?

"Can we do it next weekend? I'm busy this weekend. I won't even be going to the pub Friday. You can still go though!" He said, as if it was nothing.

Thank Merlin. The fire inside was put out.

"Merlin, I thought I was about to be rejected!" I laughed and let out a big sigh of relief, placing my hand across my beating chest.

Remus' eyes widened with sympathy.

"No! No, don't be silly!" He reached his hand out and placed it comfortingly on my knee and sitting up from the stool, stepping closer so that he stood in between my swinging legs.
"What did you want to do?" He asked.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him, the tall counter feeling rough underneath me. He was tall enough for us to still be looking eye to eye. Even though I was sat down on the desk.

"We could grab food or we could cook, or?" I trailed off, not really knowing what options there were for a date.

"I like cooking." He smiled.

"It's a date." I laughed lightly, feeling giddy.

He leant in and kissed me, his arms still wrapped around my lower back and my legs either side of him. His mouth tasted of the cinnamon chocolate we had polished off. Warm and comforting.

"I can't wait." He said after he pulled away.

I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and embraced him in a gentle hug.

"I'm a rubbish cook." I laughed into the hug.

-

I didn't stay with Remus for his whole shift. Eventually wandering back home after hanging about for roughly two hours.

I helped him reorganise some of the shelves, but mainly we just messed around and Remus allowed me to actually skim through some of the books, since his boss wasn't around to micromanage everything. Only one person came in to buy a book during my time pretending to be an employee. Which was quite fun, although I can imagine it being mind-numbingly boring for eight solid hours.

The rest of the day and evening went by slowly. Nothing happening other than Dorcas coming round to ask if I had two eggs they could steal.

As I was just getting ready for bed, still achey and tired from the emotional late night, so attempting to have an early one; the phone began to ring.

"Hello?" I picked it up, holding the chunky plastic to my ear.

"Arty, it's Sirius." He said down the phone.

"Oh, hi! You alright?" I asked, not expecting a phone call from him and his voice not sounding as upbeat as usual.

"Remus said you saw Reggie today."

Ah.

"You there?" He said.

"Yeah, sorry. I nodded." I laughed a little.

"How long has he been around Bella? You know what can I just come round?" Sirius asked.

"Sure, come round." I replied and we said short goodbyes.

I did a quick tidy of the flat, throwing my empty glasses and mugs in the sink and just generally straightening up the place a little. Hiding the letters, specifically.

Within half an hour, there was a knock at my door. Sirius knew the code to get into the building.

I opened up the door to him and he came up with no hesitation, kicked off his shoes and went straight to the living room to take a seat.

"So Bellatrix came and saw him on his birthday." I said, putting the kettle on.

"So about two months ago now?" He nodded.

"She's part of some pro purist group I think. Adult bullies in my opinion, though I don't think it's anything to worry about I've been told." I started to explain.

"The Knights of Walpurgis, Arty. That's something to worry about. Something to really worry about." Sirius looked at me like I was mad.

"Huh?" I questioned. I didn't know what he was talking about.

"You don't know about the knights? the death eaters?" He looked genuinely confused.

I shook my head, it didn't sound good.

"It's not just a gross but harmless club. They attack people Arty, for not sharing their views. Life altering attacks. Untouchable criminals. I swear the ministry protect them somehow." He stressed.

"But, why would?" I began, struggling to understand why I had never been told this before.

"Why would your parents allow Bella and Reggie to associate themselves with something like that? Because they're a powerful group of people who preach the importance of purity and hierarchy. It's all conspiracy, rumours that they act upon their ignorance but most of us know it's true. It doesn't need to be proven. They're a political gang."

"Regulus is only sixteen. What would they want with him?" I said.

"Bellatrix was also sixteen when she started to hang around with some questionable people. He's intelligent and going to inherit most of our families fortune. It makes sense." Sirius said.

"But Regulus-" I was cut off.

"Reggie isn't like Bella, I know but the longer he spends around her, the more trouble he's getting in." He sighed.

I handed him a cup of tea.

"Narcissa told me it was nothing to worry about?"

"She probably believes that the rumours are just rumours. I wouldn't be surprised if she's just trusting the shitty people in her life that tell her it's nothing, just like you." Sirius stated.

"How do you know they're not rumours?" I wondered.

"I...I've met, I know people who've been affected by those who are members. They're not good, so it's very believable. People go missing, mutilated and it all comes back to that group."

"I don't think I'm the best person to come to." I said truthfully.
"I wasn't ever allowed to read the news back at home. I don't know anything that's going on politically. I haven't adjusted that much yet to being on my own. Haven't caught up. I was never told anything other than it was nothing to worry about and I have no way of contacting Regulus if that's what you're asking? So I don't know what I can do to help." I explained.

"He hasn't spoken to me since his birthday." Sirius said sadly.

"I'm sorry. I know how much he means to you." I sat down next to him and looked at him sympathetically.

"He's been strange lately, did you notice anything? Before you left?" He asked.

I shook my head no. Regulus has always been quiet but kind. With each year he got older, he just became taller in his frame and way he held himself. More confident. That was never a reason to worry or keep a watchful eye on him.

"I don't think he knows what he's getting into and I'm worried about him." Sirius sighed.

"I'd speak to Narcissa if you're comfortable...I can't go back to that house, or close to it. She can be quite helpful if you approach her in the right way." I said in a small voice, the idea of stepping foot near that house making me feel anxious.

"I just don't want him to become one of them, I don't think our relationship would ever recover from that."

(Shortish chapter: lemme know what you're seeking from this book. Any predictions? Anything you really want to read? I obviously have a plan but I'm open to anything, if I feel it works.)