Friday 1st August 1975

McKinnon Farm, 10:00

Marlene stood at the back door and carefully looked from side to side. Nothing and, more importantly, no one. The back garden was empty and so was the field, the most important area today, just beyond it. Hopefully it was going to stay that way. With a family the size of hers and being on friendly terms with the neighbours meant lots of people appearing without notice. She wanted nobody to see her right now. Not even that mouse in the kitchen that always foiled her dad.

It all looked clear. There was no one about and she couldn't hear anyone either.

With any luck, she had timed this perfectly. Neither Teagan nor Ciaran should be home right now. Teagan was busy working down at the bakery and Ciaran was at a friend's house. Girlfriend's, Marlene suspected but that wasn't important right now.

No one else was around either but they were also solidly in the "not important" category. The main thing was that Teagan and Patrick weren't here. They were the last two people she wanted to see. Or hear. Or smell. She just didn't want them to be here, okay?

And it looked like they weren't. Which meant she could proceed. Which was a good thing because her hand was starting to cramp on this doorframe.

"What are you doing squirt?"

In shock, Marlene stumbled forward and would have face planted the ground if someone hadn't grabbed her under the arms. That someone being Patrick.

"Don't do that," she grumbled, aiming a kick at his shins.

Which didn't actually work because she was kicking backwards and her aim was crap but it was the intent that mattered.

"I wasn't the one not paying any attention."

"I was paying attention."

"Yes, to out back. Not behind you."

She turned to give him a disgruntled look, folding her arms in a huff.

"I didn't think I needed to pay attention to behind me. No one's supposed to be home."

"Even Ciaran?"

"At a mate's."

"Ah."

Then Marlene squinted suspiciously at her brother. "Aren't you supposed to be helping Da in the fields?"

"Yeah, but we left a screwdriver in here," he waved said screwdriver to prove his point. "I'm to fetch it and then go back."

"Well, then go back."

"No rush teeny tiny."

Marlene sighed. This was so Patrick. A different nickname with every sentence and be never seemed to run out of them.

"Whatever."

"Want to talk about it?"

"No."

That got her a measured look. He really looked a lot like dad when he did that. It was kind of scary.

"Come here," he instructed, pulling out a seat from the kitchen table.

"I want to go outside."

He raised an eyebrow. "And do what?"

Marlene mumbled something incomprehensibly.

"What was that?"

Marlene sighed. "I want to go and practice driving the tractor."

Patrick frowned at her. "Isn't Teagan supposed to be teaching you that? Or Ciaran."

Kicking at the leg of the table, Marlene grumbled, "They're not doing a good job of it."

Patrick sighed and then pointed at the chair.

"Sit."

Marlene sat, knowing that she wasn't going to get anywhere otherwise. Patrick would just lift her and dump her back in the chair anyway.

"Speak."

"Woof." she replied, crossing her arms. "Want me to stay too?"

"Do you want me to help or not?"

"I never asked you for help."

"Marlene."

Sighing heavily, she gave in. Mainly because she wanted to get outside as soon as possible and this seemed to be the only way to make this happen. So that's what she did.

Pouring herself a big glass of milk Marlene explained the good intentions of both her siblings trying to teach her to drive the damn tractor (even though both were crap in their own special way) that just devolved into each of them trying to one up the other. With her in the middle. She had never been so confused about how to operate a tractor before!

"And now I don't even trust myself about when to use the brake," she finished up with a pout.

Patrick put a comforting hand on her shoulder and smiled at her. What was he smiling about? There was nothing to smile about!

"Why don't I teach you?" he offered.

Marlene felt hope rising in her chest but she tamped it down.

"You never have any spare time now," she reminded him.

He did a full day's work on the farm with dad. And was good at it too. He always said it was because he loved it but it meant that he was never out of the fields or the outhouses doing something for the farm. Marlene honestly thought that he didn't like having spare time. Even in the evenings in the living room he was oiling up anything leather or sorting seeds or something.

"I'll make it for you."

Sunday 3rd August 1975

Smith Sett, 10:00

"No. No. No. Yes. Maybe. Yes. No. Honestly, Jiffy, I could do this myself," Alice said with a sigh from her position on her bed.

This was one of the few occasions she was actually permitted in her bedroom during the day. The occasion being clearing out her wardrobe. Oh yes, it was a fun as it sounded.

"Mistress' orders," the creature squeaked at her, pulling out another dress from the wardrobe. "What about this one, Miss?"

It was that horrible pinafore she used to have to do her schoolwork in before she went to Hogwarts. Why she ever had to wear such a horrible thing was beyond her. Alice shuddered and looked away. She couldn't even bear to look at it.

"Oh, it can definitely go. Nasty thing."

"Very well, young miss."

Thankfully, it vanished with a soft 'pop'. The advantages of House Elves. She supposed it was going faster with one but still. It was pretty boring just to sit here and just say yes or no. She would rather be doing something but of course she couldn't do any sort of manual labour. Oh no, mother would definitely not approve. Even if it only involved moving clothes. No, it wasn't going to happen. Hence, Jiffy.

But it made everything longer when it really didn't need to be. Though, distasteful workaways did take longer in her opinion. Like getting rid of clothes, she didn't wear anymore. What a boring task. If she didn't wear it of course it meant she didn't want to see it. It was just common sense. Which was why those clothes were always pushed to the back. Out of sight and out of mind.

Though, it did take up valuable space. Space that could be used for more clothes. Newer clothes. Ones that were more in style. That was important after all. She was very much a young lady now. It was important that the wardrobe reflected that. Soon, her dresses would be allowed to go to mid-calf! That would make her look very grown up. But until then, she would have to settle for ones they reached her knees in the latest style. It was something at least. If she ever had room for more clothes.

Jiffy held up another dress.

"No, no, no, that stays," Alice said vehemently. "Don't you know last year's dress when you see it?"

Thursday 7th August 1975

Cokeworth, 12:30

"Told you, you would like it," Lily said smugly, taking a lick of her ice cream.

"It's delicious," Marlene agreed, crunching through her flake. "So soft."

A whipped ice cream from the ice cream van was definitely the stuff summers were made of in Lily's opinion. Especially when they were covered in chocolate sprinkles and strawberry sauce.

Well, Marlene had played it safe with just strawberry sauce but Lily was sure that she would be able to convince her before she had to go back home.

"We can get another one tomorrow," she promised.

"Cool."

The two of them focused on eating their ice creams before they melted in the summer sun. They weren't going anywhere in particular, just walking about the shops, slowly making their way back to Lily's house. It was just one of those lazy days where they hadn't planned anything. Which only meant the day was theirs for the taking. As long as it didn't take much planning. It was too hot for that.

"Hey, isn't that Snape?" Marlene asked, pointing her ice cream across the street, the top off it dripping off onto the pavement. "Aww."

Lily squinted, the sunlight was reflecting off shop windows, and saw the long, black hair. There was only one person with hair like that around here.

"Yes, it is! Hi, Sev!" she said that last but as a shout and waved vigorously.

Thankfully, it got his attention and he waved back. She tried to make motions indicating that he should cross over and join them but it didn't work.

Marlene's, "Get over here, Snape!" on the other hand, did.

"What have you been doing?" Lily asked him.

She knew he didn't usually come into town. The Snapes did all their shopping in their local shops on their estate. She thought so anyway.

"You mother said you'd be here when I called over," he replied with a shrug. "Thought I would catch up with you."

"Well, you need to catch up on the ice cream eating," Marlene said eagerly, thrusting her half-eaten sandwich into his face.

He screwed up his face and pushed her arm away. Probably a good call as hers was dripping all over the place.

"The machine is fixed," Lily told him. "So, you can get ninety-nines again. Though the flakes are a bit soft."

"We'll wait while you get one," Marlene offered, catching some ice cream from dropping off the cone with her tongue.

Severus screwed his nose up in disgust which was odd because Lily knew he liked ice cream.

"No, thank you," he said stiffly. "I'm not hungry."

"You don't eat ice cream when you're hungry. You eat it because you want ice cream!" Lily exclaimed.

"That makes absolutely no sense."

Lily shrugged, unconcerned about that because she was eating ice cream and you couldn't feel anything but happy when you were eating ice cream in her opinion.

Sunday 10th August 1975

Lupin Home, 20:00

Remus lay across his bed, his head hanging off the edge. He had absolutely nothing to do and he was bored. School lists hadn't arrived yet so there were no new textbooks to read and be bad already read last year's ones multiple times. He could still quote while sections if he tried. And his novels just didn't interest him today. He had tried to read Pride and Prejudice (always funny to read the sheer shallowness of the Bennett sisters) but he just couldn't get into it. Argh. He was bored. And that wasn't a good thing.

Boredom meant his thoughts could wander. Wandering thoughts meant that he thought too much. And thoughts that arose from thinking too much were never good in his opinion.

Something glinted and caught his eye by his trunk. Huh. Weird. He had practically scrubbed his room clean the other day. There shouldn't be anything on the floor.

Well now it was on his hand. It was that medallion thing James gave them a year or so ago. The one with the Potter crest in it. Remus spun it around in his hand, there was quite some weight to it. Not enough to weigh you down if it was around your neck but definitely enough for you to know it was present.

What metal was it even made out of? It was such a shiny silver but it wasn't silver. It didn't burn him, for one. Remus wasn't sure how to go about identifying metals except silver. And it wasn't exactly professional the way he went about identifying it. Remus doubted that burning yourself and giving yourself immense pain was an official way of identifying silver.

Either way, it wasn't silver but Remus didn't know what it was. Not that that was the most pressing matter. No, it was the fact he didn't know what it did.

Because it had to do something, didn't it? James had made it seem like it was kind of a big deal. Being under the Protection of a House really was. But what did it mean? All the books he had read on it had stressed the political ramifications of such a thing and possible conflicts of interest but none of them had mention medallions like this. Yes, the House doing the Protecting normally gave a token to symbolise the bond and agreement but those didn't sound as extravagant or elaborate as this. And he was pretty sure such a thing was meant to be given between members of families who had Alliances drawn up between each other, not random people. Something to ask James about. Or maybe Sirius as he seemed to know more about these sorts of things.

Thursday 14th August 1975

Potter Manor, 14:00

Okay, the 'few days' he was supposed to stay at the Potters turned into two weeks. Two weeks! Not all at once, obviously. He and James just kept asking for extensions and the first time Mr and Mrs Potter were the ones to suggest he stay on for a few more days. And it worked. He stayed for two weeks. It was the best two weeks ever.

He and James (and Remus and Peter, of course) had had so much fun. They had run around (both inside and outside), swam in the lake (naked nonetheless), played Quidditch on the half-sized pitch and generally had the best time ever. Not to mention the nice evenings by the fire where everyone just sat together an enjoyed each other's company. Something Mr Potter insisted on. Sometimes there were games involved and sometimes there weren't. They always involved hot chocolate however. With this weird foamy cream on top! It came in a can that you squeezed it out of and it was delicious. The only downside was that there was no way, in his short experience, to eat it without getting it all over your face. It was sticky. And Sirius Black did not do sticky. Which the Potters all found hilarious. The frustrating thing was that none of them seemed to get a face full of foamy stuff. They just got a moustache of it around their lips. Easily licked away. There had to be some sort of technique to it. Which would mean more hot chocolate drinking but that couldn't happen now.

No, there would be no more fun times at the Potters as he was going home. And Sirius used that term loosely. Was somewhere really home if you were dreading going back to it? Maybe it was better if he just didn't think about it. It wasn't like anything was going to change anyway. Blacks didn't do change. And that was a fact. A stupid one but still a fact.

"Goodbye, dear," Mrs Potter said, pulling him into a hug before he stepped into the floo.

That was the third hug in almost as many minutes. Not that he was complaining. Mrs Potter's hugs were very nice.

"Let the boy go," Mr Potter told her but didn't sound like he meant it, weirdly enough.

"I can't help it that I'm going to miss him!"

"We all are."

And now Sirius was feeling uncomfortable. He still wasn't used to how the Potters showed emotion. You always knew if they were happy or sad or angry and Sirius, well, Sirius didn't know what to think of it. It was useful, sure but it was also a bit weird.

"Do you really have to go to France?" James asked.

"James!"

"Oh, come on, mum! He'd have tonnes more fun here!"

That was very much true. But family obligations were family obligations. Unfortunately.

"Nonetheless, Jimmy, it's not our place to decided such things."

That had to be the sternest tone Sirius had ever heard Mr Potter use and it was more like a mild rebuke.

"Yes, sir," James sighed then turned to hug Sirius again. "Make sure you wrote and I'll see you at school."

"I will and you will."

"Good."

Mr Potter then caught him in a hug as well.

"You stay safe," he was told quietly.

Sirius felt a warmth go through him.

"Yes, sir."

And with a lot of waving on the Potters' part, Sirius vanished into the floo.

McKinnon Farm, 15:00

"See? I told you, you could do it."

Marlene carefully brought the tractor to a stop before giving her own cheer. She had made it around that stupid tree with not even a scratch on the tractor. Not that it would have mattered as it was pretty beat up as it was but it mattered to her. For her pride.

"Thank you!" she called down to Patrick's grinning face.

"It was all you, Tiny."

"Well, you helped."

"True."

Making sure everything was turned off and the brake was on, Marlen jumped down from the seat feeling very proud of herself. She had done it! She had sort of driven the tractor! Patrick raised his hand for a high five which she happily gave.

"What are you doing?" came a very loud accusation that was more than a little shrill.

Which could only mean one person.

"Uh, hi, Tea!" Marlene greeted her sister nervously. "How come you're home so early?"

She was supposed to be at work. It looked like she had come straight from there as she was still covered in flour.

"He found out that six sacks of flour didn't get delivered so we can't do any more baking. I left him having g angry words with the supplier. None of them suitable even for shipyard workers."

Patrick and Marlene winced at that. Marlen couldn't imagine their calm and easy-going baker get worked up like that but then again, this was his livelihood.

"But that doesn't matter," Teagan said, hands now firmly on her hips. "Does it?"

"Well, I'd say that the baker not getting the right amount of flour as was his due really does matter," Patrick said nervously.

Yeah, that definitely didn't help. Huh, Marlene hadn't realised that Teagan could go that shade of purple. That couldn't be healthy.

"Shut up, Patrick."

"Shutting up."

He even made a zipping motion with his hand.

Teagan prowled around the two of them, a not so happy look on her face. It made Marlene feel on edge.

"I'll ask again," she repeated. "What. Are. You. Two. Doing."

"Um, enjoying each other's company?" Marlene said nervously.

"With the tractor out?"

"Of course!" said Patrick. "Hanging out in the tractor is our thing!"

Marlene nodded fervently in agreement.

"Oh, is it?"

"Of course, it is," Marlene tried to say convincingly.

"Of course, it is," Teagan mocked. "I don't think so."

"You don't?"

She spun around so she was jabbing a pointy finger in Patrick's face.

"No, I don't. Know what I think it is?"

"I bet you're going to tell us," Marlene muttered.

Not quietly enough if the glare she was currently receiving was anything to go by.

"I think you're teaching Marlene to drive the chapter!" Teagan all bit shouted.

"Of course, I am!" Patrick burst out. "Because you and Ciaran aren't teaching her anything!"

"Excuse me, I taught-"

"No, you didn't!"

"You are just-"

"-impatient and too quick and-"

"- don't even know what you're talking about!"

"QUIET!" Marlene shouted, unable to stand the bickering.

Surprisingly, they did so. But now they were staring at her and she hadn't anything else to say.

"Who's teaching Marlene to drive the tractor?" Ciaran asked, suddenly appearing in the field.

Marlene threw her hands up in exasperation.

"No one now."

Could you be done with your own siblings because she certainly was.

Saturday 16th August 1975

Paris, France, 14:30

France was so cool! Dora grinned widely as she tried to look everywhere at once, much like she had when she first went to Diagon Alley. Only this was even better because her mum didn't get any weird looks - bad or otherwise. Nope, no rumours followed them here. It. Was. Awesome. And it was so cool hearing all the French accents and people speaking French. She was so glad her mum had taught her the language. She could actually understand the people around her! It was so cool!

And that was just the Muggle part! Which was cool and awesome and wicked and all - they had got so much good food from cafés there - but there was also the magic side. The magic side, well, the magic side (Paris' equivalent to Diagon Alley, she forgot the name) it was a bit underwhelming. Dora wasn't sure what she had been expecting but it wasn't a cleaner and fancier version of Diagon Alley, she could tell you that. Except for newer and fancier looking shops, it was just the same. Apothecaries, Robe shops, a wand shop and lots and lots of book shops. Like, a lot of them. At least four. Maybe five. There were even weird gadget-y shops with spinning planets and stuff. Interesting enough but not amazing. She definitely preferred the muggle side for that. This was still fun though.

"Having fun?" Mum asked with a smile.

Mum seemed to really like being here. She spent ages in some shops. And she seemed particularly happy when she came across them too. Like she hadn't expected them to be there.

Dora and Ted were quite happily going along for the ride. The weather was good, they were all in good spirits, they had done plenty of exploring and shopping. It really was a good holiday. And it could only get better. Especially when Tonks spied a particular something.

"Oh, is that an ice cream shop?" she asked, rushing ahead.

It didn't matter how many times he visited it; Paris was still incredibly boring. Like, extremely so. There was absolutely nothing of interest to him here. The clothes shops were just torture, they never spent enough time with the food and it was always far too hot. What Sirius wouldn't give for the opportunity to lose his robes this afternoon. Not that that would ever happen. It just wasn't proper. Well, sod being proper. He was too warm. Of course, this was all said in the safety of his own head and he would never do that in public but it was nice to think. Actually, what was stopping him from taking his robe off? His parents weren't going to discipline him right in the street, were they? Of course, they wouldn't! Family matters were always private. Public appearances were important and they wouldn't dare ruin that. Even in a foreign country.

So that's what he did. He dared to take his robe of and almost immediate he felt much better. Sirius hadn't realised that there was a breeze blowing! It was very nice. He got frowns from his mother, father and Regulus, the little suck up. Not that Sirius cared. Nope, no way. Not right now anyway. He probably would later but that would be later. Now was now and now he wanted to be comfortable. Which he was. Because he had no robe on. He waved his arms to and from to get full appreciation of that breeze. Oh yes, that was nice.

Thankfully, his parents' attention was no longer on him. Good. That was how he preferred it. Very much so. Then he looked ahead and his stomach plummeted.

Or not so good, rather. Sirius would actually prefer their attention to be on him rather than what it was on right now. Which was a girl with bright blue hair. Like, bright like the sky overhead, bright blue. Which only meant one thing.

Nymphadora Tonks.

Which meant her parents as well. Sirius looked around in panic to see if he could see them. It wasn't hard, Andromeda was tall and slim just like Bellatrix and Narcissa were. She stood above many in the crowd. Her husband, Ted, wasn't nearly as imposing but very few could measure up to the Blacks in that department.

A weird choking noise came from behind him. It was mother. Of course, it was mother. She sounded and looked like she was about to have a conniption or something.

Sirius suddenly found himself wishing that Tonks would go down a side street or even fall down or something. Something that took her off the main street. Anything was better than her bumping into his parents.

Thankfully she stopped but that meant her parents caught up with her. And now there was a trio of Tonks'. Great. Well, maybe his family would just take a detour and - oh, Mother was walking straight for them.

"You."

"Auntie, we don't want any trouble," Andromeda started carefully.

Sirius winced. Even he knew that that was the wrong thing to say.

Wednesday 20th August 1975

Evans House, 11:00

"Hi, Petunia!" Chryssie greeted her eldest sister as she came into the living room.

That just got her a suspicious look in return. She hadn't even done anything. Yet, anyway. Not that she was planning something.

"What do you want?"

"I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out today? We haven't done that in ages."

Years, actually, if Chryssie thought about. Being with the whole family didn't count. Maybe the last time the two of had played or just been together read been before Chryssie started Hogwarts. Petunia never really played with her anyway - Chryssie was always the baby to her.

"You want to do something with me? What happened to Lily?"

Chryssie shrugged. "She said something about bringing Severus to the cinema."

"So, I'm your last choice?"

"No!"

Well, maybe a little but Petunia did not have to know that.

"Okay, fine. At least you don't try to make things blow up."

"Lily didn't mean to make her Potion overflow."

It was tricky getting the right temperature on their gas stove.

"Whatever. It was disgusting. And nearly ruined my shoes."

Chryssie bit her lip, knowing that Petunia's shoes had been easily cleaned. There wasn't even a mark on them.

"So, what do you want to do?"

It was better to get Petunia to decide, less complaining that way.

Friday 22nd August 1975

Madam Malkin's Robe Shop, 10:30

"Elsie, come do these orders!" came the demanding voice from the store room.

Elsie sighed and started to fold up the material she had been cutting. No point in leaving it out where something might get set or spilled on it. She would never hear the end of it then.

"Elsie!"

"I'm coming!"

"Watch your tone, girlie!'

She had finally got her grandmother to call her Elsie. Finally. It just took her sixteen years. And endless correcting. And then just giving up. She just started calling her in out of the blue but Elsie was not complaining. Not when there was plenty of other things to complain about.

Like people leaving robes in a puddle on the floor. Or people complaining how long it took to measure them. Or squirming little kids that parents insisted needed made to measure robes. Yeo, there was definitely enough to complain about without adding to it.

"Is there any service in here?" came an impatient voice.

"Keep your voice down dear."

"I'll say what I please."

"Elsie!"

Elsie didn't know who to go to first, her grandmother (who was very obviously not in a good mood) or the customer (who was also not in a good mood). Thankfully she didn't have to make that decision as a sister of hers helpfully appeared.

"Faye, go help that customer."

Her blonde-haired sister frowned at her.

"But I don't want to."

"Elizabeth!"

"Too bad," Elsie gave her a shove. "I'll get Linda or Sophie to help you."

"Oh fine."

Great to know she was a team player.

"Elizabeth Malkin!"

That was most definitely her cue.

"Coming!"

Monday 25th August 1975

Gringotts, 14:15

"I'm telling you; gold is worth far more than what we just handed over."

"Oh, give it up dear and just be happy that the exchange rate has improved this year."

Kingsley shook his head at his parents and Hayden rolled his eyes while scoffing- his younger brother being firmly in teenagerhood. If that was even a thing.

"Can we go to the Potions shop first?" he asked. "I heard that they have these rare worms that-"

"Boring!" Hayden rudely interrupted.

"They aren't! They glow!"

"That's stupid. I want to go to the Quidditch Shop."

"We can go to both," dad diplomatically intervened. "We'll get Potions ingredients first because you both need them..."

"Ha!" Kingsley said triumphantly, earning himself a paternal cuff around the back of the head.

"... and then we'll go to the Quidditch shop," dad finished as if he hadn't done anything.

Friday 29th August 1975

12 Grimmauld Place, 15:30

Urgh, it didn't matter how close the countries were, international portkey travel always made Sirius feel a bit woozy. Give him the floo or broomsticks any day. Actually, flying could be cold so floo was really the optimal way to travel for him. Until he could apparate anyway.

But that was their annual trip to France over. Too much shopping, too many cousins with numbers in front of them and too much Family. Urgh. Not that being back home was much better because now he couldn't disappear while pretending, he had been with cousins. Now he couldn't avoid his parents. Great.

Well, he could. Sometimes. Rarely. Like now when Mother was overly involved in directing the House Elves how to unpack and Father was in his Office taking care of Business with the Ministry. Regulus was in the library studying, of all the useless things to do. Normally, Sirius would be trying to bug him but not now. Not when this was the perfect opportunity to leave the house.

No, he wasn't running away (though that was a tempting thought). He just wanted to go back to that bookstore. The one where he got Remus' replacement book and, more importantly, where the motorcycle magazines were.

So that's what he did. Pretty easy too. Not that he was going to dwell on that when there was a shop to get to. Sirius actually ran down the street in his eagerness to get there.

He came to a skidding halt outside of it and paired himself down to make sure he definitely brought the muggle money he had exchanged for in Paris. Good. It was there.

The shop was just a dusty as he remembered it. Sirius almost grinned in delight.

"Hey, little man, Mr Lewes (the owner) greeted him as he walked in. "You back for more?"

"Yes, sir," he replied eagerly. "Do you have new ones?"

"Always do. Always do."

He pushed over at least half a dozen magazines across the counter. Wow! That was more than last time.

Sirius was just counting out his money when the door opened again, making dust dance in the sudden sunlight. A great, big, hulking man walked in. His shoulders were so broad that Sirius didn't think he would fit down the cramped aisles. But he did.

That wasn't what caught Sirius' attention though. It was what he was wearing. Sirius had never seen something like it before. Never ever.

"What's that?" Sirius asked in amazement, staring at the newcomer.

"Huh?" Mr Lewes replied. "Oh, you talkin' about Hairy Joe?"

"Hairy who?"

"Hairy Joe. Wait a second and I'll call him over for you."

Sirius went wide-eyed in panic. "No, that's okay, I don't want to bother him-"

"Hey, Joe! This kid here likes your jacket!"

How did Mr Lewes know that he was admiring this Hairy Joe's outerwear? And that was a jacket?

The large man loomed over him and suddenly Sirius felt really, really small. He tried to be a Gryffindor and not cower but he was pretty sure he was trembling.

Then, from underneath the rather large moustache, a smile appeared. The teeth were very white.

"You like leather jackets, kid?"