A/N Hello, everyone, huge apologies for the lateness of this, everything has been really crazy lately.
Thanks to all Reviewers!
Dedication: To Direwolfy, thanks for reviewing. :) They will find out his scores eventually. I have it planned out. Haha.
Disclaimer: I own nada.
You managed to persuade Sirius to leave Potter Manor and go to Diagon Alley with you and Remus; it is your dearest hope currently that you can manage to make it through the day without anything bad occurring that will send Sirius running back to his room and refusing to come out again.
You took the Knight Bus to Diagon Alley, Sirius wore a hat and practically hid behind you and Remus while you paid the fare for the three of you and fended off all attempts at conversation by the conductor. You then ushered Sirius all the way to the third level of the knight bus where few people ever went before anyone had time to do more than glance at him.
"See, Sirius, this isn't so bad, is it?" Remus remarks encouragingly when you're all seated on the third floor which thankfully turns out to be completely empty.
"Not yet." Sirius remarks morosely.
"Now there is that optimistic attitude, I've always admired." You remark sarcastically. He glares at you but the corner of his mouth twitches for a moment as though he is going to smile, so you think it's worth it.
"Diagon Alley," The conductor calls up the stairs and the three of you make your way towards the stairs, you first, then Sirius, then Remus.
You catch sight of a Daily Prophet showing a picture of Walburga, Orion, Sirius and Regulus Black, one of the yearly forced family photographs Sirius was forced to participate in every year. You can see that his smile is fake in the image. You wonder if anyone else can.
You save that thought for another time and hurry Sirius off the bus, desperately hoping he didn't catch sight of the image.
The three of you head through the Leaky Cauldron without stopping to say hello to the innkeeper as you otherwise might have. Remus taps the brick with his wand while you search through your pockets frantically in search of your book list.
"I can't find my book list," You complain.
"I have it," Remus says rolling his eyes at you. "I have yours, too." He says with a nod at Sirius. "I didn't trust the two of you to remember them, being that you never seem to be too concerned with your book lists."
"That's true, enough." You agree with a sideward glance at Sirius who has remained silent throughout this exchange, actually he has been largely silent since you left the house this morning. Hopefully, a few hours in Diagon Alley will improve his mood.
"Where to first?" Remus asks as the three of you stroll down the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley. "Do we want to get books first? Or just look around?"
"Books." Sirius says succinctly glancing worriedly around them as though expecting one or more of his family members to pop up out of nowhere.
The three of you head mostly in silence over to the bookshop; you don't think the three of you have ever been this quiet. Ever.
"Hello, boys come to get your school books?" The proprietor asks when the three of you enter the shop. You see his eyes widen slightly when he spots Sirius, but thankfully he doesn't comment. "Sixth years, right?"
"Er, yeah." You agree for all three of you.
"What classes are you taking?" He inquires.
"I think I'll drop History of Magic and Astronomy, I would drop Care of Magical Creatures but Kettleburn is too awesome for that. But keeping it will cut into my free periods considerably." You complained.
You and Sirius had always been fond of Professor Kettleburn who was renowned as the Professor most often placed on probation by the Hogwarts Board of Governors.
"You still have nine classes with that schedule," Remus pointed out. "Most people take six."
"I'll get rid of Arithmancy, then, I heard it's going to be a double period on Friday mornings, with Double Potions Friday afternoons." You resolve.
Remus rolls his eyes at your decision making. "So, I guess I need books for Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Muggle Studies, Potions, Transfiguration." You inform the proprietor.
"What about you two?" He says turning to Sirius and Remus.
"I need books for Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Muggle Studies, Potions, and Transfiguration." Remus answers immediately.
"You're dropping Care of Magical Creatures?" You demand. "I love that class."
"Yes, well, not all of us enjoy shielding our belongings and wondering what Professor Kettleburn will blow up each lesson."
"That's what makes it exciting." You insist. "Right, Sirius?"
Sirius starts at the mention of his name; he has clearly not been paying much attention to the conversation. "Er, yeah." He agrees.
"What classes are you taking?" The storekeeper now turns to Sirius.
"Er, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Muggle Studies, Potions, and Transfiguration."
"Sirius, that's ten N.E.W.T. level classes," Remus points out. "The only thing you dropped is History of Magic."
"Yeah, I know." Sirius agrees. "I can't go abandoning my professors; they'll be positively bereft without me. Besides you and James are both quitting Astronomy so someone has to stay in it with Peter, it's his favorite class.
"You don't seem to have a problem abandoning Binns." You counter.
"Yes, well, I'm pretty sure there isn't even an N.E.W.T. level History of Magic class." Sirius replies.
"I thought we established that there is one and it's just made up of people who didn't pass anything else." You answer.
"Oh, I dunno, I wasn't really paying attention." Sirius admits. You and Remus exchange a worried glance.
"Alright, I guess if you want to take all those classes, it's up to you." Remus says doubtfully. "But I don't think you'll have much fun."
"What can be more fun than pranking all my professors?" He replies with false cheer. You begin to wonder if his happiness act is really going to pot or if you were just really, really unobservant prior to this summer.
"So, all three of you will be needing The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six, Advanced Potion Making, Advanced Rune Translation, A Compendium of Common Curses and their Counter-Actions, Flesh-Eating Trees of the World, and the Guide to Advanced Transfiguration, Quintessence: A Quest, and Advanced Muggle Analysis." The proprietor led them around the shop shoving various books at them as they went along. "You two," He said nodding at you and Sirius. "Will also need Magical Creatures of the World, the unabridged addition."
"And here is a copy of the Advanced Theory of Numerology for each of you." He continues handing over an extremely heavy looking tome to each Sirius and Remus, making you extremely glad that you decided to discontinue with that class. "And you also get 'Exploring the Cosmos: Advanced Astronomy.'" He said piling yet another heavy book into Sirius' arms.
The three of you pay for your books and leave a 'good luck,' called after you by the shopkeeper. You think this was more directed at Sirius than you and Remus. Grateful to have reached your Ordinary Wizard Levels you bewitch your bags full of books to be feather light and continue onward. "Where to next?" You inquire as the three of you walk along.
"Wherever." Sirius answers helpfully.
"Why don't we stop for some ice cream?" Remus suggests obviously hoping that some ice cream and listening to Florean talk would cheer Sirius up.
"Yeah, alright," Sirius replied even brightening a bit, he did like to listen to Florean talk and of course it helped that the man gave him free ice cream all the time.
You and Remus exchange a relieved grin behind Sirius' back; things are finally beginning to look up. You should have known that couldn't last…
A/N Yes, I am in fact a cruel and evil person who will end a chapter like that. :P
Of course the real reason I torment you like this is really more that I prefer to write the action from Sirius' Point of View than anything else.
Owever,
On a positive note, since it took me so long to update it's practically time for the next chapter already. :P
Review and I will update on Sunday.
