(AN: For those of you who have been reading "From the Eyes of the Werewolf", this fic is the reason why I haven't been updating that fic lately! LOL! Thing1 kept bugging me until this one got finished. It was written for the Werewolf Registry but I thought I would post it here as well. I hope you get a kick out of my "Sirius Smut". And look for more Remus next week or so.)
The Purchase
Sirius looked up from his desk at the sound of a knock at his door. "Come in." It was Liz.
"I'm heading out to the store. Is there anything you need?"
Sirius smiled. "Not really. How long do you think you'll be gone?"
"Not long. Oh – and we're invited over to Remus' and Katie's for dinner."
And then she was gone. Sirius sat back in his chair and looked at the space where his wife had just been. He missed her already but knew if he had asked to go with her to the store she would have just told him he was being overprotective again. And to be fair, even Sirius had to admit that since the escapade with the goblins earlier in the year, he had been almost obsessively protective of his family. Not that he hadn't always been rather watchful of Liz and Griffin, but almost losing his only son so recently had set him to being a persisting and probably rather annoying mother hen.
To make matters worse, this was the second time he had almost lost Griffin – and for weeks now, Sirius had been unable to clear his mind of that first time when Griffin and Liz had almost died. Of course, Griffin didn't know much about that time…he didn't even remember it. How could he? He was just a baby.
When Liz had told Sirius that she was pregnant, Sirius was ecstatic! They had spent so many years trying to find Pettigrew and their lives had been put on hold for far too long. So they didn't waste too much time trying for a family once they were married. The pregnancy had gone very smoothly and Liz had no complications – right up until the very end.
A few weeks before her due date, Liz complained rather vaguely about not feeling particularly well. Katie made a trip to the house and, after an examination, announced that Liz was to stay put in bed until further notice in a tone that brooked no argument. Sirius was ordered to watch her closely and to make sure she obeyed the healer's orders. Katie made daily visits thereafter.
Sirius understood the explanations for Liz' condition and knew what to watch for. Still, when only a few days later, Liz had a slight seizure, he'd never felt so helpless. Katie told Sirius the best decision was to deliver the baby as soon as possible. Labor was induced, but it wasn't an easy labor as Liz was very sick and weak. The longer the labor lasted, the more frightened Sirius became. Liz had difficulty breathing and passed out from time to time. It was only hours after Griffin was born that Katie confided in Sirius how very close both Liz and Griffin had come to not making it through. Sirius couldn't imagine existing without Liz. Or, come to think of it, the perfect, tiny little life that was his son.
As much as Sirius had wanted more children, he was more interested in keeping his wife alive and well. He and Liz had a long talk one night and decided not to have any more children. When Griffin was about three, Liz had expressed a desire to try again. Sirius was livid. He didn't want to go through another experience like Griffin's birth again. They were lucky to have Griffin, and they simply wouldn't have any more. Perhaps that's why Sirius spoiled Griffin as much as he did – he knew it would be his only chance to spoil a child of his own.
But having almost lost Griffin a second time had sent Sirius back into the past. Dreams of what life might have been like had Griffin or Liz died all those years ago over took his sleep. When Griffin arrived home for Christmas break, Sirius wanted to make sure he spent quality time with his son. After all, he only had one more year at Hogwarts and then Griffin would probably move out of the house into his own apartment. Sirius wanted to use this time wisely, but Griffin didn't seem too receptive to it.
He's a teenager – Sirius told himself. When you were his age, did you want to hang around home?
And now that the holidays had past and Griffin had returned to Hogwarts, Sirius really began to miss his son. Truth be told, he was feeling old. With a birthday fast approaching, the feeling of being past his prime was undeniable. He really needed to find some way of bringing some fun back into his life. He had to get out of this slump.
Maybe Liz has something spectacular planned for my birthday that will make me feel all the better.
Little did he know just how young he was about to feel!
***
Griffin wandered from shop to shop aimlessly. He glanced in at the window displays, but nothing caught his interest. Everything looked the same…nothing original stood out and said – THIS IS THE ONE! There simply was nothing interesting that he deemed worthy of giving his dad.
"Hey there!" the cheery, female voice said coming up behind him. "What's up?" She nudged him on his shoulder playfully.
Griffin's heart leapt up into his throat. "Hi, Annie." It hadn't been too long ago that he had admitted his feeling towards her. It had been his belief that this would make his nervous tension go away, but he was wrong – it made it worse. "I'm just shopping."
"Looks to me like you haven't bought anything yet."
"No, I can't find anything really good."
"Well, maybe I can help. What are you looking for?"
"Something for Dad." Griffin sighed heavily and continued his walk down the street. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, gee, thanks! Make me feel welcome."
Griffin looked over at her with an open mouth. "That's not what I meant. I mean…I thought you and some other Ravenclaws were having a get together at the Three Broomsticks
Annie rolled her eyes. "We did…but I wanted to spend some time with you, too. Isn't that all right?"
That lump in his throat made itself known again. He really did want to spend time with her, but he had to get his shopping done before he could just have some free time. "Thanks, but I don't want to waste your day out. I have to find a present for Dad's birthday and I'm not sure how long this will take."
"You idiot boy – what do you think friends are for? What did you have in mind?"
"Something…well…I know this is going to sound strange, but I want something that will help Dad feel better."
Annie looked puzzled. "Has he been sick?"
"No, he's been…I don't know how to describe it. He's just not himself." That didn't seem to clear up Annie's confusion. "This will be his sixtieth birthday and I think it's really starting to get to him that he's not…young anymore."
"Oh – that. Well, maybe you could cheer him up by reminding him that he still has some black in his hair, where Daddy's hair is totally white!"
They chuckled a bit and kept looking for that "perfect" gift. Their conversation and demeanor was casual and normal for long time friends, but from time to time Griffin would catch a sideways glimpse at Annie and be instantly reminded of whom he was with and how he felt about her. It was an adjustment he figured he would be getting used to for some time to come.
Annie was in the middle of explaining what had become known as "The Incident", in the Lupin home, when something caught Griffin's eye. "So then, before anyone even was expecting it, Roarke announced that she's seeing someone new. As my mum and dad have been pestering Malcolm to get a move on things, I thought for certain that they wouldn't be upset by this news. But, we both know how they took to the news. I could have told her that Daddy would freak out over something like that. Why Roarke was so surprised is beyond me. I mean, you know how Daddy feels about – Griffin? Griffin? Hey – are you listening to me?"
He wasn't. He was looking past her at a shop on the corner. A shop he had never seen before. In the window was a black sweater hanging on a mannequin. His brows furrowed as he walked towards the shop. Why would an ordinary sweater catch his eye like that?
"Where are you going? Griffin – don't go in there!" Annie warned, but again he didn't hear her.
He opened the door to the shop and was over taken with the thick aroma of incense. The shop wasn't a clothing shop as there were very few articles of clothing to be found. There were all sorts of odds and ends in here that seemed ordinary, but Griffin had the feeling that nothing in here was exactly what it seemed. There was a misty quality to the shop that made the air seem heavier than normal.
"May I help you, young man?" said the witch behind the counter. She had long, dark hair that was almost black. Her robes were a deep purple with decorative trim at the edges. Her face was etched with wrinkles that worsened when she smiled, showing off yellowed teeth. She looked like one of those typical witches Muggles imagine for their spooky movies.
"I was curious about the sweater in the window."
"Now why would someone so young and full of life be interested in that?"
The door to the shop opened again and a very tentative Annie Lupin entered. "Griffin, we need to get going."
"Hold on." He said and turned back to the witch. "What do you mean? I just wanted to know how much it was."
She walked over to the window where the sweater was. It appeared as if she was floating, but Griffin wasn't surprised. "This is a very special sweater. I don't think it's appropriate for one so young as yourself."
"I don't want it for myself. It's for my father."
"Griffin," Annie hissed at him, "Come on! Lets get out of here!"
"And how old is your father?"
"He'll be sixty in February."
The witch smiled a strange smile and ran her fingers over the material of the sweater. "Ah…yes…and he's feeling not quite himself?"
"Exactly. You said the sweater was special – how?"
"It is enchanted." The witch's eyes opened wide as she looked down at Griffin. Her voice became very soothing. "A healer cast a spell upon it to help the wearer of the garment feel younger, feel vitality – energy radiates from it."
"How much does it cost?"
"No, Griffin!" Annie said behind him.
"Five Galleons."
"I'll take it."
Annie stomped out of the shop leaving Griffin to finish up paying for the item. Once the gift was wrapped up and placed in a bag, Griffin joined Annie out side. "Come on, let's go home."
"Griffin, you can't give that to your father."
"Why not?"
"Did you even notice where you bought it from?"
Griffin turned around and for the first time got a good look at the shop he had just been in. It was a dark magic supply shop located on the end corner of the street. Students weren't allowed in this shop. "How did we end up here?"
Annie shook her head at him. "I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't listen to me. Now, march right back in there and return that sweater."
"Annie," Griffin said with a sigh, "I've been looking all day. I'm sure there is nothing wrong with the sweater. The woman said it would make Dad feel younger. Where's the harm in that?"
"It's probably enchanted with dark magic. You don't think that could be harmful?"
"Look, it's not like he's going to wear this every day of his life. I really don't see how this could be such a big deal."
Annie wasn't convinced, but she pursed her lips and said, "All right, but if something goes crazy in your house and it can be linked to that sweater, don't come crying to me."
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