(A/N: So this is the next chapter. I do have to apologize because they are going to come more slowly in the future. It isn't that I don't have inspiration; it's that I have too much. I have to keep myself from letting the story run away from me, so I am taking it more slowly. Don't worry though; I'm certain that I will be working on other things in the meantime. I don't own Harry Potter. Yes this story does have a Remus/Sirius pairing, if you haven't noticed yet then I will assume that you don't care too much, but if you do then I am sorry you don't like it.)
Chapter 10—Arrangements for Diagon Alley
They had been in their new home for two months, Eric's birthday had been celebrated three weeks after Anne's and Harry's two more after that. Their checkup with Poppy had revealed a need for Nutrient Potions all around and Growth Stimulant Potions in the case of Anne and Harry, Eric's growth was found to have been permanently stunted. Poppy was only sorry that she had never been required to look after the boy during the early years of his schooling.
Severus cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, letting out a sigh of relief, he had been brewing potions almost non-stop to make sure that all three of his adopted children would have enough to make it through the school year should something happen to him. And he was fairly certain that something was going to happen to him, likely because Dumbledore was not happy with him.
"Uncle Severus?" Harry knocked lightly on the door to his lab and waited for Severus to respond.
"Yes Harry? You can come in," the Potions Master said and began to bottle the most recent batch of Growth Stimulant. He figured that he already knew what was going to be said, but having Harry confirm it for him made the little boy feel better.
"Mrs. Granger is here with Hermione. I thought that you might want to know. I mean, Hermione hasn't ever been to Diagon Alley and neither have Anne or I…we were wondering if maybe you could take us there for lunch? That way Grandmum and Grandpop don't have to cook for everyone," Harry said softly. Severus smiled at the boy and filled the last of the phials before standing up.
"I think that's a wonderful idea Harry," Severus said with a smile and lifted his newest nephew up into his arms. Harry grinned and put his arms around Severus's neck. He had never gotten any such affection from the Dursleys and while he was still light enough to be carried around he indulged in it. It was Severus though that insisted on granting each of the children the affection they'd never really had. So even Eric was regularly given piggy back rides and Severus was no stranger to games of catch in the back yard. But it was Harry, who had been alone in a cupboard under the stairs for so long that he spent the most time with. Anne was content to pester Eileen and Eric was Tobias's shadow, Harry who looked at the world with Lilly's eyes, who raced into play with James's ambition, was never far from Severus.
"The Blacks will be here soon, won't they?" Harry asked with a hopeful smile. At the nod Severus gave him the 11 year old, who now looked like a 9 year old due to all of the potions he had been taking, let out a little cheer and did a back flip out of Severus's grip. The Potions Master smiled indulgently before nudging Harry off in the direction of the living room where he could see Anne and Eric showing a large stack of books to Hermione. His visit to the little girl and her family had gone well, mostly well. Mrs. Granger was now a single parent and Hermione missed her Father, but spending every other day with Anne, Harry, and Eric seemed to chase that from her mind.
"Jean, lovely to see you again," Severus said when he walked into the kitchen. Eileen and Tobias were getting ready to chaperone a rather large trip to Diagon Alley, both knowing that Severus, when left around his old school friends, tended to become a little more childish than normal.
"And you Severus. Thank you again for escorting Hermione and me on this trip. She's excited and that can get her a little out of hand. I'm not exactly fighting off the butterflies myself. I still can't get my head around how magic can be real. Or for that matter how my husband can fault Hermione for having it," Jean said and Severus recognized the deflation of a rising sense of panic from the woman. He was polite enough to make sure that he didn't accidentally pick up too many of her thoughts, but her tension was so obvious that he could feel it in the air.
Tobias glanced at Eileen over the top of his coffee cup and smiled secretively at her. Eileen made a shushing motion with her hand but smiled anyway, it had been quite a long time since Severus had made a new friend and even longer since that friend had been a woman. Both had hopes that Severus would make a habit of making friends, he had been letting the past haunt him for far too long.
"Kids!" Sirius's voice boomed from the living room followed by the overjoyed shriek of three of the four kids in the house and an 'oomph' from Remus as they toppled the first man backwards. It had become almost ritual at this point, only Hermione remained conservative enough to politely greet the Blacks whenever they came over. She was more Remus's speed, eager to learn everything that she could about the Wizarding world via one of its lawyers.
"Well it looks like it's time to go," Tobias said and rose from the table, extending a hand to help Eileen to her feet. Severus and Jean were already heading through the kitchen door into the living room. Today was going to be Jean and Hermione's first time traveling by the Floo network and Severus was trying to coach the muggle woman on the proper technique. Hermione would have to toss the powder and issue the command since a muggle would have no ability to affect the flames.
The living room was crowded more so than it had been in ages, chiefly since Severus was in school. And judging by the chatter that had already started—for Severus, Remus, and Sirius seemed determined to make Jean a part of their group of friends—it was definitely going to be left to Eileen and Tobias to be the serious ones. And indeed it took Eileen with her commanding tone, not used since Severus's childhood, to silence the group.
"Everyone to the fireplace, stand with your travel partner," Eileen said firmly and waited while the group paired off. Harry stood by Severus, hand firmly wrapped in the older man's robe. Hermione of course stood with her mother, silent and perhaps a little nervous. Eric was with Sirius, silently measuring his roughly 13 year old sized self against the tall lanky Auror. And Anne with Harry the bear had her fingers wrapped around Remus's hand. Tobias noted the bear and also noted that Harry had brought his blanket, just concealed under his shirt. He knew that the bear and the blanket would have followed them anyway, but he still smiled slightly to see the totems with the children. Although he wasn't sure what the eventual purpose of the magical objects would be, he did know that it was very important.
"Alright, Remus, you and Anne first," Tobias said and held out the canister of Floo powder. Taking a pinch Remus tossed it into the fire, stated his destination, and with his arm wrapped firmly around Anne, stepped into the fire. Jean and Hermione went next, Hermione was able to speak loudly and clearly enough and they traveled with Hermione's arms wrapped around her mother's middle, face buried in her stomach. Then went Eric and Sirius in a completely strange sort of backwards leaping maneuver that made the remaining group members laugh. Severus took Harry through next, the boy once more on his hip because he hadn't once managed to exit the Floo by himself without falling face first. Tobias and Eileen stepped through last, smiling at the thought of the day ahead and what insanity might ensue.
(A/N: I don't know when the next chapter will be up, but it will consist of general shopping, the wand buying and other shenanigans. I'm sure that some of you think that Jean and Severus should be a couple; I have not decided this yet. So if you don't like the idea, I will listen, and if you do, then I will take that into account as well. Until next time folks, and remember, I love reviews.)