Chapter ten! Soon we will be finished with the summer and straight into the second year at Hogwarts...

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Chapter 10:

Sirius had finally given up arguing with his parents about muggle-borns and had asked them if it would be ok for him to spend the rest of his holiday at the Potters'.

"If that's what you want, Sirius." Orion had said.

"With Blood-traitors?" Walburga had spat.

"My dear, they are not the worst of the blood-traitors. They're not exactly Weasleys are they." Orion laughed. "They still live like pure-bloods and they are very respected within society. I mean, we haven't removed Dorea from the family tree…"

"Not yet," Mrs Black muttered. "Good riddance. Go be with your friend. See what I care."

"Thank you," Sirius smiled.

"Do you have enough money to last the year?" Orion asked.

"Erm," Sirius looked in his money bag which was considerably lighter than it was at the beginning of his first year.

"I will take you to the Potters' tomorrow and on the way we will go to London. You need to get your school books and equipment and no doubt some new robes anyway."

"Thank you father," Sirius said before heading up the stairs to bed.

"You spoil him," Walburga said to her husband.

"No, I don't." Orion replied, "I merely fulfil my responsibilities as his parent."

Walburga snorted, "responsibilities my arse. If he is unwilling to respect the rules of this family then he doesn't deserve…"

"Walburga, you forget that he very rarely expresses his opinion except when asked. He is cautious not to offend even though he disagrees. I can't ask him for more. I do wish that he were in Slytherin and that he agreed with our values but alas. At least he is respectful."

That night Sirius wrote a quick letter to James telling him to expect him later, before jumping into his bed.

The next day Sirius got up early and packed his trunk before breakfast. At the table his father asked him, "are your things all packed?"

"Yes sir," Sirius responded.

"Very well," Orion smiled, "I think it would be logical to send them ahead of us. Kreacher!"

"Yes Master?" Kreacher asked.

"You will escort Sirius' trunk to the Potters' this morning so that it is waiting for us when we arrive. Thank you."

"Yes, Master."

The family finished their breakfast quietly before a rushed goodbye. Regulus merely commented that he would see Sirius at Hogwarts whilst Mrs Black said "goodbye son."

Sirius and his father walked out of number twelve, Grimmauld Place, "you know your mother loves you, don't you?"

"Yes sir," Sirius lied.

"She just struggles with the fact you are so different from us."

"Yes, father, I know," Sirius replied sadly.

"But you are still our son," Orion concluded.

They walked into the city centre and walked into the Leaky Cauldron. Orion said a quick hello to a few people before they made their way towards Diagon Alley. "So what do you need?"

"The standard book of spells, grade two, and A Compendium of Common Curses and Their Counter-Actions. That last one must be for the new defence against the dark arts teacher. Did I tell you Professor Kilmont became an auror?"

"No Sirius, you didn't. Is that all you need? Other than new robes obviously. You have shot up!" Orion smiled.

"I think so, Sir." Sirius replied.

They looked for the books in Flourish and Blotts, "have you considered trying out for your house Quidditch team?"

"Well – I'd like to," Sirius replied.

"You'd make a swell beater," Orion encouraged.

Sirius' eyes lit up. "I'll tell you what, I'll get you a new broom if you promise to try out. Just don't tell your mother."

"Really?" Sirius smiled.

"Sure, why not." Orion laughed. They bought the books and made their way to Madam Malkin's for Sirius' new robes.

Madam Malkin looked at Sirius, "my dear boy! You have shot up!"

"Yes, Mam." Sirius replied, nodding his head gently.

"Very well, I'll take your measurements and then you can go finish your shopping whilst I finish off your robes." Sirius was quickly measured before Sirius and his father made their way down the street once more.

"Do you need new quills and parchment?" Orion asked.

"Probably," Sirius smiled.

"I thought you might. You and your friends are constantly passing owls back and forth." Orion laughed leading his son into Ananuensis Quills. They quickly bought Sirius several new quills and Orion decided to buy a new peacock feather quill for Walburga, "A little gift" as he put it.

They then made their way to Quality Quidditch Supplies to buy Sirius a new broom. "So son, what model would you like?"

"Erm," Sirius said looking around the store at the wide range of broomsticks. "Well.."

"Oh don't be silly – of course you want the Nimbus 1000, everyone wants the Nimbus 1000!" Orion guffed.

"But – But…"

"But nothing, you're a Black and Black's demand excellence amongst other things." They quickly grabbed a nimbus 1000 and made their way to the sales clerk.

The rest of the morning was spent buying parchment from Scribbulus Writing Implements and some new pots of ink. Orion was in a particularly fun mood and chose several different colours for Sirius to take to school. They also bought Sirius some new potions ingredients before making their way towards the Leaky Cauldron. Orion stopped outside of one shop and sighed, "I don't suppose we can go to Diagon Alley without going to your favourite shop."

Sirius smiled as his father led him into Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop. By the time the father and son left the shop, Sirius had fully stocked up for a year of pranking. "Your cousins tell me you have a name for yourself as something of a prankster?"

"Yeah, me and my friends are called the Marauders!" Sirius laughed.

"My friends and I, Sirius," Orion corrected his son, "I don't know what they teach you at Hogwarts, but your understanding of the English language certainly hasn't improved." Sirius laughed at his father's teasing. "Do you want to have lunch at the leaky cauldron or do you want to go straight to the Potters'?"

"We could have lunch first?" Sirius was actually really enjoying spending time with his father.

"Of course, we can!" Orion smiled.

"I've enjoyed today, dad."

"Me too, son. Me too."

They ate their lunch together, talking about Sirius' friends and the different pranks they had pulled on the rest of the school throughout the last year. Sirius even told his dad about some of the ideas he had for his second year at Hogwarts. Orion laughed gently and even gave a suggestion here and there. After their lunch they made their way out of the leaky cauldron and Sirius took his father's arm preparing for side-along apparation. They twisted on the spot and found themselves looking up at the large Potter mansion. "Well, son. I'll help you take your stuff in but then I'll have to be off."

"Thank you, dad. Today has been a great day and thank you for my new broom." Sirius smiled.

Please review... let me know what you think.

Next chapter will be the last of the summer... so it will be about the girls' weekend together.