Thrust From the Shadows

They had been friends first. That was the way it had always been. He noticed her all the time, she and Lily Evans, huddled together doing their homework in a corner by the fire, very nearly touching. Lily's short red hair, and Mina's long, dark brown mixing together as they giggled over something, did their homework, or whispered.

Around their fifth year, James had begun to notice too, only, thank goodness he noticed Lily, and not Mina. Remus would have died if Mina had been looked at, or taken by James.

James and Sirius admitted that she was pretty, but to Remus she was more than just another pretty face, she was beautiful. He had been watching her for almost six years when one night, the others started to notice.

Remus, James, Sirius, and Peter were playing Exploding Snap the night before summer vacation started, and their fifth year at Hogwarts drew to a close. They were feeling quite triumphant, having finished with their O.W.L.s and Final Exams. This particular evening, Sirius was yelling at Peter, who was accused of cheating, James and Remus took this opportunity to gaze longingly at the silhouetted images of their heart's desire.

"Ahem! Calling Misters Remus J. Lupin, and James H. Potter back to the Planet Earth, with their lolling tongues and yearning eyes back to normal if you please?"

The few in the common room who heard this (including both Mina and Lily) laughed, while James, ever the girl-crazy youth shook it off, and Remus blushed and looked away. Now this was suicide and they all knew it. When confronted with Sirius, you shouldn't ever, EVER let him know you like someone.

Remus mentally kicked himself.

Remus ignored them, he hated it when the voices in his head held a conversation while he was trying to think. Especially when he was trying to think about how to get out of the Marauders' interrogations.

Remus cut them off with an abrupt shake of his head.

"Well I'm tired, and we go home tomorrow so, I'm off to bed!" he informed the Marauders, a cheerful, fake smile plastered on his face.

There was bitterness in his eyes, James noted, bitterness and sadness. He immediately jumped to his friend's defense.

"Yeah, I'm beat too, see you guys."

And without another word to the others, or to each other, the boys each ran up the steps to their dorms, and closed the red curtains surrounding their bed, falling asleep and dreaming of their loves.

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Casually, Remus made his way to Flourish and Blotts, knowing that he was a good forty-five minutes early. Eagerly, he realized that there was a chance he would see Mina. Like Remus, most people came to Diagon Alley to shop for school supplies the weekend before the start of school.

He was in luck! There she was coming out of Quality Quidditch Supplies right at that very moment. He would be able to say hello.

Poor Remus was too shy to do more than say hello. Sometimes, when paired up with Mina in class (though this rarely happened) Remus stumbled over spells, and fudged up Potions ingredients.

Suddenly, the bolder side of him took over. "If I could just plan it so that..."

It didn't quite go as planned. Remus had tried to "accidentally bump into Mina, but instead he hit smack in the middle of both girls. Sending both of the girls' parcels flying.

"Oh no! Your present!" Were the first things Lily managed to gasp out.

"Ah yes," thought Remus, with a bitter shake of his head. That was another thing. He had bought a present for Mina for every one of her birthdays since Second Year. Her birthday was in two days, on September the First. The day they took the Express to Hogwarts.

Remus shyly gave Mina a hand up while Lily scrounged around for Mina's present, and made sure it wasn't broken or hurt.

"Listen," he told the girls, "I'm really sorry. Would you to like to join my friends and me for lunch?"

Lily and Mina exchanged a glance that clearly said, "James Potter!" and Remus sighed. His friend was always getting the girls. But he knew that Prongs would be happy if Lily came to lunch, and would be pleased to know how courageous Remus had been with Mina today.

"Yes, James will be there," he informed them.

The girls looked at him in astonishment, how did he know?

Remus almost laughed at their expressions. "It's been six years, I can recognize the symptoms of Potteritis by now you know."

His face wore a wry smile. He knew Mina didn't like James, but the heat escaping from Lily was about 1000° .

"Come on!" he told them cheerfully, "Or we'll be late!" Of course, this wasn't true at all, he was still half an hour early, but the girls didn't need to know that.

Once seated in the Leaky Cauldron alone with the girls, Remus realized that his newfound confidence was only temporary. With the girls seated on one side of the long booth, and him on the other, he suddenly felt very, very alone, and very, very nervous.

"So," he started out cautiously, "where are you from Mina? I heard you came from a magical family, but I haven't ever heard of the Chants."

She smiled at him. She SMILED at him. SHE SMILED AT HIM !!! But of course this only made Remus blush, and Lily grind her elbow into Mina, who also blushed. Lily, who was obviously holding back laughter chose that moment to say

"Oh no! I think I left one of my parcels at Flourish and Blotts! I'd better go back now and fetch it. You two stay here and I'll be right back!"

As she left, she winked at Remus.

Remus, still astonished, prompted Mina for an answer.

"Where are you from?" he asked, his shyness returning

"Er, Wales."

"Really?" He asked, curiosity taking over him. "Why? What ever do your parents do there?"

"My father is Chrestomanci."

"Chrestomanci?"

"Yes, it's the title of the Enchanter who balances magic throughout the Related Worlds."

"Related Worlds?"

"Yes, there are twelve. Well, probably more, most likely hundreds, but no one can prove it."

This left Remus thoroughly confused.

"Oh I see," he said, but he didn't.

He was saved soon after that by an explosion of people. Lily and James, talking together, along with Sirius, Peter, Frank Longbottom, and Mundungus Fletcher following close behind.

They had a wonderful lunch. Remus and Mina talked throughout, and became fast friends (or more...) When lunch was over, they all made plans to meet at King's Cross early and snag an empty compartment (or two).

Outside it had turned from a slightly overcast day, to a horrible storm quite quickly. Remus and Mina wandered out to the protected alleyway to wait for their parents to take them home.

Just as it was time to say goodbye, Remus asked Mina, "So, when's your birthday then?" Knowing full well when it was.

"September the First, the day we get on the train," she replied, smiling shyly at him.

He tried to give what he hoped was a dashing smile, in return, while saying, "Well I'll have to get you something for it then, won't I?"

"It doesn't matter," she said, smiling prettily at him.

Remus ignored the rest of the conversation the voices were having and replied quickly, so as not to ruin the moment.

"Of course it does! A friend's birthday always matters!"

"I'm a friend?" Mina asked

"Absolutely," Remus replied.

"Well, bye Remus!" Mina said, upon seeing someone in a carriage Remus assumed was her mother.

"Bye Mina! Remus said, leaving him shivering and giddy with joy.