Wow, I feel awful for not updating, but I had a weeklong camp and writer's block and stuff, so hopefully you'll forgive me.
This chapter's sort of a two-parter. I hope you enjoy!
"And McGonagall swerves dramatically! Passes Weasley and Weasley, still clutching the Quaffle-Oh Merlin that was close! This all-houses-versus-Ravenclaw game could be dangerous for-"
"Aura, would you kindly stop messing around and get dressed to go to Diagon Alley?" called Minerva in an annoyed voice.
"I shall not!" shouted Aurelia back. "I would like to stay home!"
"Maybe you'll see Fred there," sang Harry mischievously from downstairs. Aurelia responded to this by racing down the stairs in her pajamas and telling Harry to go Floo to Antarctica and freeze to death. Harry rolled his eyes and watched her hurry back up the stairs to comb her hair for the fifth time before turning back to the Prophet. He'd taken to reading it now and then, mostly because Remus talked about the news a lot and he wanted to be able to carry on an intelligent conversation.
Minerva hurried in with a large bag slung over her shoulder and her hair in a slightly loose bun. "Harry, I've packed a lunch-"
"Could we go out for ice cream?" asked Harry excitedly, carelessly tossing the Prophet onto a coffee table.
There was a scuffle from upstairs, then a loud thump (presumably Aurelia tripping over her own feet) and finally Aurelia, fully dressed, came hurtling downstairs with a demand of, "Yeah, Mum, could we?"
Minerva smirked. "I rather enjoy the looks on your faces right now. Yes, since it is Harry's first time shopping for school supplies, we shall go out for ice cream."
Aurelia gave a shriek of delight and Harry grinned broadly. Minerva and Remus caught each other's eye and grinned a little.
"Ooooh, owls! Mum, does Harry get an owl?" giggled Aurelia, pausing by Eyelops' Owl Emporium.
Minerva tugged her daughter along, responding, "Aurelia, not right now. We are starting with his spellbooks."
"Quality Quidditch Supplies! Dad, can I get that broom compass?" cried Harry happily, hurrying over to the other side of the street to press his nose against the shop window.
"Harry, we're going to Flourish and Blotts first. Hold off on that until later, can't you?" replied Remus, gently towing the boy away from the store.
"Fred!" gasped Aurelia, her hands flying to her mouth.
The Weasleys were hurrying up to them, Fred with a dizzy smile on his face and Ron looking slightly crestfallen and clutching a slumbering rat.
Fred hurried over to Aurelia and hugged her, letting go with a grin. "You're almost as tall as me!"
Aurelia punched him in the arm, a sparkle in her eyes. "You stupid bugger, I'm two inches taller than you."
"Wishful thinking," replied Fred with a smirk before giving her a daring kiss on the cheek. When he pulled away, there was a rosy blush dusting Aurelia's cheeks and a happy little grin on her face.
Minerva turned to Mrs. Weasley. "We were just heading over for schoolbooks, maybe you'd like to join us?"
"The more the merrier!" replied Mrs. Weasley happily. "Arthur and I haven't bought Ron's books yet either."
Harry grinned at Ron, then tugged on Minerva's sleeve. "Min, can Ron and I go into Quality-"
"Later," replied Minerva a little waspishly. "You need your books, your wand, and an owl."
"YES!" shouted Aurelia in response, punching the air. "I LOVE Eyelops! It's wicked to look at all of the owls!"
Fred laughed and grabbed her hand. "Come on, I bet you haven't seen, they've got a new Hester Prime book out!"
He then took off at a run, ignoring Aurelia's halfhearted protests of "Slow down, Fred, I can't keep up!"
Minerva's eyes twinkled slightly.. "It's rather odd to see Aurelia like this."
"I know what you mean," sighed Mrs. Weasley. "Fred's never had a girlfriend before, and I suppose this means he's growing up."
The two women got into a long conversation about raising hyperactive thirteen-year-olds, and Remus lagged behind to talk with Harry and Ron.
"Ron," he began, intending to chat about the Cannons (who, incidentally, were still ninth in the league), but suddenly he stopped and stared incredulously at the rat.
"May I see that rat?" he asked, a strange feeling in his stomach.
Peter's dead. It's impossible. There's no way it could be him.
Ron shrugged. "Yeah, sure. Scabbers was Percy's, but now he has his owl 'cause he's a prefect and I get him."
"Ron-how long have you had Scabbers?"
"I dunno-ten years, I think, Percy's had him since I was real small."
"Ron, I need to borrow Scabbers for a bit," said Remus distantly. "I need to see something."
Ron shrugged. "I guess. Don't know what you'll want with him. He's pretty boring."
Remus forced a laugh, and then examined the rat. Same markings, same everything, but a toe missing. A toe. Why was there something off about that?
"Aurelia?" he called. All of the Marauders had transformed sometimes to play with her when she was small, and if anyone would recognize Peter than it would be Aurelia.
Aurelia, who was standing outside Flourish and Blotts, hurried over with a bewildered look on her face.
"What is it?" she asked. "I don't think I did anything wrong-"
Her eyes fell on the rat,and Remus knew that he wasn't just imagining things. Aurelia smiled broadly.
"Wormy!" she squealed. The rat gave a terrific jump and stared at Aurelia with Peter's fidgety gaze.
Remus swallowed, and muttered, "Petrificus Totalus," freezing the rat before it could attempt to escape.
"Oi!" said Ron angrily. "What d'you think you're doing with my rat?"
"That's just it, I don't think that he is a rat," replied Remus very fast. "I need to go to the Ministry."
"What is he, then?" demanded Ron, his eyes narrowed. "Why'd you go and hex him?"
"I need to go to the Ministry," echoed Remus distantly. "And Aurelia needs to come with me."
"Wh-" began Aurelia, but Remus cut her off with a, "Minerva, you have the school list. I need to do something. Aurelia has to come with me. Happy shopping."
He then grabbed Aurelia's arm and Disapparated.
"What on earth?" gasped Minerva.
"My rat!" howled Ron.
Aurelia staggered away from Remus, nearly bumping into one of the fireplaces set up for witches and wizards to come through into the Atrium. "What the hell was that all about?" she snapped. "I know it's nice to see Wormy, but-"
"That's not it, Aurelia, he's supposed to be dead," Remus responded. "We need to talk to the Minister. There is an innocent man in Azkaban, and it may very well be my fault. I presented the evidence, I told what I knew, I-"
Aurelia held up a hand. "Hold on. Who exactly is the innocent man?"
"Sirius Black."
YAY SIRIUS YAY! So excited to see him soon!
-The Eclectic Bookworm (who is really sorry she couldn't write more for this chapter, but promises a new one soon!)