"My dog mom?" Shay asked questioningly. He was quite sure he had left the dog at home.
"Shay…the dog is your father." Shay looked at her questioningly. "He can change himself into an animal. Don't ask questions I will explain it all when we get home but now is neither the place nor the time. People are staring let's get moving." She put the leash into her son's hand. "Hold tight you know how he gets excited…" Aradia said chuckling to herself.
Upon entering the Leaky cauldron Shay still with a look of amazement on his face lagged behind his mother, trying to catch a glimpse of everything magical going on around him.
Aradia whose nerves were high sped through the bar hoping no one would recognize her. She kept her head low and her path steady. Not only were these her first steps back into the world she left behind over ten years ago, she also had a known murderer with her. The day was not looking to be an easy one.
Once through to Diagon Alley Shay's eyes were wide open in amazement. The crowded street was busy with shoppers laughing, talking, there were children running by with toy brooms in hand, people with packages of all shapes and sizes. Sirius barked loudly bringing Shay back to his senses.
Aradia handed what few wizard coins she had to Shay and pointed to an ice cream shop. "Get yourself an ice cream and stay with your dog in the patio until I get back."
"Where are you going mom? I want to go!"
"Not now Shay." She said disapprovingly. "I've got to go to Gringots, the bank. I have to get us the right currency or we'll be without a hope. Now…Ice Cream, you two now!" Aradia looked at the dog, whose excited eyes and ceaselessly wagging tail screamed freedom. "You behave or you leave. I mean it." Waving a finger of caution at the dog.
Once out of the Gringots, Ari escorted her son, and the dog, who had ice cream all over his muzzle into Fourish and Blotts to get all of Shay's books first. The man at the front was extremely busy helping other students find their books so Aradia bypassed him and went straight to looking herself.
Behind one of the dusty shelves, his nose stuck in a book Remus heard a familiar bark. He turned just in time to see a large black dog lunge toward him and for the second time in less than three days was on his back being attacked by a sloppy wet and now sticky tongue.
"Siri- NO!" Ari cried in a hushed yell so as not to attract too many onlookers. She smiled with a sigh when she realized it was Remus again. "I am so sorry, again." She said helping him up. " I have no control over this one. He has a mind of his own."
"That's not-?" Remus began but was interrupted by an enormous bark. "Ari, no, It's not safe."
"Tell that to him Remus. I tried! But he wanted to be here with Shay. I couldn't say no."
"I'm sorry but if you can't control that dog it will have to stay outside." Said a young gentleman rounding the corner. His voice was firm and the tone demanding. His gaze shifted from Ari to Remus and his eyes finally locked on Ari.
"It's okay, nothing is hurt!" Ari said smiling gently. She advanced towards him. "You see, we just got back in town and the dog saw our friend Remus here and got overly excited." She said sweetly brushing her hair out of her face. "I am really very sorry, but no one was hurt and your bookshelves are just fine, nothing knocked over apart from Remus there. We're just about done here…Jacob." She tugged playfully at his nametag. "Just one more book, Standard book of Spells Grade one, and I can't find it for the life of me…" she said airily.
The young man a bit nervous showed them where to find the book, and took the money for their purchases with a shaky hand. Ari being sure to let her hand brush his as he did so. "Thank you Jacob, See you around." She winked and led the group from the store.
"I cannot believe it Ari!" Exclaimed Remus when Shay and Sirius were out of earshot. "You are still able to dance your way out of trouble like that? After all of these years? I mean not that you've aged a lot, but that was pure talent. You've still got it. You even practically announced to the guy that you have a son, and he still wanted you."
"Honey you're talking to the girl that wore Sirius Black's engagement ring. He was a hard one to nail down if you know what I mean."
"You speak the truth. I still don't know how you did that one."
"I had help. A good friend, I left him behind a long time ago, though. I just wish I could tell him how sorry I am for abandoning him like that."
Remus stopped walking and turned towards Aradia. "Ari, you did what you had to do to get away. I don't blame you. I'm just glad you're back."
Ari took Remus into a huge hug. "I missed you Remus. You were the only one left after everything happened. I shouldn't have pushed you away."
"I already told you, I don't blame you. If you want me to say that I forgive you it would be a lie. I never held anything against you. I was never mad at you. I can't forgive you if I was never mad at you." He kissed her gently on the forehead as he had so many times before in their younger years. "Just don't do it again." He whispered wiping a tear from her face.
A loud bark drew their attention to Olivanders Wand Shop. Aradia smiled.
"It's time…" she whispered. "My son is going to be a wizard." She and Remus linked arms and strode down the street together Sirius barking and Jumping along side of them happily.