After introducing themselves, the three children wandered through Diagon Alley together, exploring every interesting shop they came across.
Magic was on full display throughout the bustling street.
For most of the afternoon, Lily was the one talking nonstop, her boundless energy filling every quiet moment.
Remus, on the other hand, remained noticeably reserved, speaking only occasionally.
But as they tried one amusing magical novelty after another, the awkwardness between them gradually disappeared.
Before long, genuine laughter replaced polite smiles.
Even Remus, who had seemed so timid at first, slowly relaxed, and an honest smile finally appeared on his face.
Severus quietly watched everything unfold without saying much.
According to the future he remembered, after arriving at Hogwarts, this gentle boy who longed so desperately for friendship would eventually become one of the Marauders.
Among the four of them, Remus was the only one who could truly be called kind from childhood to adulthood.
James Potter had been arrogant and self-centered in his youth.
Sirius Black had willingly joined him in tormenting others, often treating bullying as entertainment.
Peter Pettigrew eventually betrayed his closest friends and became a Death Eater.
Remus alone had always sympathized with those who suffered.
Perhaps because he had experienced rejection himself, he understood loneliness better than anyone.
If there was one flaw in his character, it was that he treasured friendship too deeply.
Even when he witnessed James and Sirius bullying other students, he rarely found the courage to stop them.
Not because he approved…
But because he feared losing the friends who had accepted him.
Even so, Severus still believed Remus was someone worth befriending.
Knowing Remus’s future better than Remus himself, Severus naturally had no intention of missing such an opportunity.
His own relationship with Lily had already changed significantly from the original timeline.
Once they entered Hogwarts, he would most likely still be Sorted into Slytherin, while Lily would almost certainly become a Gryffindor.
If events unfolded as they had originally, conflict with James Potter and the future Marauders would be almost inevitable.
The Marauders had not yet been formed.
But there was nothing wrong with preparing in advance.
If James still chose to target him as he had in the original timeline, then Remus would eventually find himself caught between two groups of friends.
Would he remain silent as before?
Or would things turn out differently this time?
It was only a precaution.
Still…
A worthwhile precaution.
Pointing toward a brightly decorated storefront crowded with fashionable witches entering and leaving, Severus smiled.
“That’s Rainbow Beauty Shop.” “The owner is an old business acquaintance of mine.” “Come on.” “I’ll show you around.” “I think you’ll find some interesting things inside.” The moment they stepped through the doors, Lily and Remus both widened their eyes.
The glass display cabinets were filled with every sort of magical beauty product imaginable.
There were creams that could gradually reduce body fat.
Magical cosmetics that temporarily changed the color of a person’s eyes.
Hair tonics that altered hairstyles with a single application.
Even Lily, who wasn’t particularly interested in cosmetics, couldn’t help stopping in front of several displays.
It was easy to understand why Madam Lavinia’s business had become more prosperous with each passing year.
“Oh?” A charming voice drifted over from the upper floor.
“Look who’s here.” “My dear Severus.” A beautiful witch with unmistakable Veela ancestry descended the staircase gracefully, her smile as captivating as ever.
“Have you invented any new beauty potions lately?” “If you have, your big sister certainly won’t be stingy with the payment.” “Good afternoon, Madam Lavinia.” After two years of acquaintance, Severus no longer found himself momentarily distracted by her supernatural charm.
Lily and Remus, however, were experiencing it for the first time.
For a brief moment, both stared blankly before hurriedly looking away in embarrassment.
Madam Lavinia merely smiled.
She had clearly grown accustomed to such reactions.
In fact, unless someone informed her that Severus had arrived, she rarely appeared on the shop floor precisely to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.
After exchanging a few casual words, she leaned closer and whispered mischievously into Severus’s ear.
“I’ve already asked my little sunflower to look after you once school begins.” “Don’t disappoint your big sister.” Severus raised an eyebrow.
During their correspondence over the past two years, he had learned that Madam Lavinia had a daughter who would be entering her third year at Hogwarts this autumn.
Although he doubted he actually needed anyone looking after him, he still accepted her goodwill politely.
“Thank you.” His courteous response made Madam Lavinia smile even more warmly.
“If there’s anything you like, just take it.” “Consider it a gift.” With that, she affectionately ruffled Severus’s hair before gracefully departing.
She had no intention of lingering long enough to become the center of attention.
After receiving her permission, Severus didn’t stand on ceremony.
He first picked up the slimming cream and the eye-color quill that Lily had been admiring earlier.
Then, while listening to Lily’s increasingly excited suggestions, he selected several other items that had clearly caught her interest.
Finally…
As they passed the display dedicated to Scar-Removing Paste, Severus stopped.
He quietly picked up the finest gift box on the shelf before walking over to Remus.
Without another word, he gently placed it into the bewildered boy’s hands.
“I don’t know how you got those scars.” “And I won’t ask.” “But…” “I don’t think anyone truly wants scars like these to remain forever.” “I may not be able to help with whatever happened in the past.” “But I can at least give you this.” He smiled faintly.
“I hope it helps you leave those painful memories behind.” “And whatever happens after we start Hogwarts…” “Remember this.” “You already have two friends.” “You won’t have to face everything alone anymore.” Remus lowered his head and stared silently at the small box in his hands.
It was only a simple gift.
Yet…
His vision gradually blurred.
“…Thank you.” His voice caught in his throat, barely louder than a whisper.
The kindness shown by his new friends filled Remus with a warmth he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
His eyes gradually reddened, and he had to fight to keep the tears from spilling over.
Lily noticed his unusual reaction immediately.
Without the slightest hesitation, she set down the beauty products she had been admiring moments earlier and quietly walked over to his side.
She didn’t ask any questions.
She simply offered him a gentle smile and softly comforted him until he gradually regained his composure.
Once he had calmed down, Remus looked at Severus and Lily with eyes full of gratitude.
“…I’m sorry.” “And…
thank you.” Although only a few words were exchanged, the invisible distance between the three of them seemed to disappear completely.
By the time they left Rainbow Beauty Shop, they already felt like genuine friends.
The rest of the day passed in laughter.
The magical shops of Diagon Alley never ceased to amaze them.
Every storefront seemed to hide something new and fascinating, and every strange magical invention left Lily and Remus wide-eyed with excitement.
Even Severus occasionally found himself pausing to admire an ingenious magical creation.
Before they realized it, evening had arrived.
The golden light of sunset gradually faded, and the streets slowly emptied.
Only then did Severus and Lily reluctantly say goodbye to Remus.
Standing nearby, Lyall Lupin quietly watched his son’s bright smile.
It was a smile he hadn’t seen in a very long time.
Relief washed over his tired face.
Meeting Severus’s eyes, he offered a silent nod of heartfelt gratitude.
…
After returning to Cokeworth through the Floo Network, Lily and Severus walked home together.
Unable to hold back her curiosity any longer, Lily finally asked, “Does the Lupin family have some kind of problem?” After a brief pause, she added, “Is there anything we can do to help?” Severus glanced at her before calmly replying, “You should worry about yourself first.” “Hogwarts starts soon.” “Instead of worrying about everyone else, why don’t you spend that time learning a few more spells?” Lily puffed out her cheeks.
“…Hmph.” “If you don’t want to tell me, then forget it.” She wrinkled her nose unhappily.
Her instincts told her that Severus definitely knew something.
Unfortunately…
She had long since learned that once he decided to keep a secret, no one could make him talk.
Not even her.
Still feeling slightly dissatisfied, Lily pushed her cart of newly purchased school supplies back toward her house after waving goodbye.
Severus watched her leave before turning toward Spinner’s End himself.
…
Back home, Severus placed his purchases aside and picked up a well-worn copy of The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection.
It was a book he had already read countless times.
Even so, he calmly opened it once again.
Although he was confident that his magical foundation far surpassed that of any other first-year student, he had no intention of becoming complacent.
Reviewing familiar knowledge one more time might reveal details he had overlooked before.
Preparation was never a waste of time.
Outside the window, a silver crescent moon quietly climbed into the night sky.
Its gentle moonlight fell impartially upon the earth, illuminating every corner of Britain.
Beneath that same moon, a red-haired girl rested her chin in her hands, quietly wondering how she could help the friend she had met that day.
A black-haired boy sat beside a lamp, calmly turning one page after another of an ancient book filled with defensive magic.
A lonely child carefully held a jar of Scar-Removing Paste in trembling hands, gently applying it to the faint scars on his face.
Elsewhere, a beautiful young witch absentmindedly listened to her mother’s endless reminders before the new school year, her thoughts already drifting toward Hogwarts.
And in another corner of Britain, two boys with dreams just as bold as each other’s excitedly spoke through a pair of Two-Way Mirrors, imagining the adventures awaiting them at Hogwarts and confidently declaring that one day every student in the castle would know their names.
The moon silently watched over them all.
It neither judged nor favored anyone.
It simply illuminated every life equally.
And so, amid the hopes, excitement, and anticipation of countless young witches and wizards, the final month before the start of the new school year quietly slipped away.