The 7th Child

A/N: Hiya! Sorry that this has taken ages to upload, I couldn't seem to get it right! This chapter leads on to the start of the Prisoner of Azkaban, but the dates might be a bit messed up but I think they work with my timeline! I'm assuming Harry was at the Leaky Cauldron fir quite a bit, which is why this takes place in the middle of August as opposed to the end.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

- Eve x

Chapter 4: Fugitives

"ITS MY BIRTHDAY!" Ginny screamed excitedly as she sprinted down the stairs. Mrs Black soon joined in her yelling, but, almost without breaking her stride, Ginny yanked the curtains back across the hellish portrait and carried on into the kitchen. Kreacher looked up, startled, as she came barrelling in, barely avoiding slipping on the floor. "Good morning Kreacher!"

"Good morning Miss Weasley and happy birthday." Kreacher bit out (not too dissimilar to a greasy-haired potions professor). But still a very large grin broke out over Ginny's face at these words. She'd been trying (for the three weeks that they'd been in Grimmauld Place) to get Kreacher to treat them less like scum, and to also cheer up. So far, her efforts had looked to be in vain, but this gave her a little bit of hope that someday, he might actually smile at her.

"It can't be August 11th already, can it?" A jovial voice said. Ginny spun round, and looked up at Sirius, who had a grin already on his face. Three weeks with regular meals, running water and rest had done wonders for him, and he looked much healthier. No longer did he look like a skeleton with skin, Ginny noted with a smile. "Well, if it is, I suppose we'll have to go and get your present then."

"My present? But… But we can't go outside, its too dangerous!" Ginny looked shocked that he'd even suggest such a thing. But still, her heart lifted a little at the thought of going outside, and seeing the world. She had only seen out of the windows and, due to them being in the centre of London, everything looked a little grey.

"With some glamour charms and transfigurations, we should be all good." Sirius grinned cheekily. "Now, hold very still…"

A few charms and discussions later ("Sirius there is NO WAY I'm transfiguring my hair off!"), the two were ready to go out. Sirius' hair was now short and auburn, his face slightly tanned, and his eyes a light blue. Ginny's hair was now blonde, her eyes a muddy green, and her skin exceptionally pale with not a freckle in sight. With a wave (Ginny) and a half snarl (Sirius) to Kreacher, the two stepped out into the sunlight.

- The 7th Child -

"Y'know, if you were nicer to Kreacher he might be nicer to you." Ginny mentioned in an offhanded fashion. Her and Sirius were strolling through London; he evidently had a destination in mind, and Ginny's small legs were struggling to keep up with his long strides. Sirius gave her a sidelong look and sighed.

"Because its working so well for you right?"

"Well, its working slowly, but still its working. Where are we even going?" Ginny was nearly panting due to the punishing pace that had been set. Finally, Sirius rounded a corner and pointed at a familiar looking building.

"Just through there. I have to get some money first though."

Ginny looked at him and, like she had suddenly started doing everytime Sirius did something remotely dangerous, sighed.

- The 7th Child -

"Are you sure its going to be fine?" Ginny whined as they approached Gringotts bank. Sirius just responded with a firm nod. He had given up trying to verbally reassure her after the first 15 times she'd asked, and it was evident that this line of questioning was wearing a bit thin.

"Goblins don't give a shit about who you are. They only care about gold, now, follow my lead." Sirius gave his instructions rapidly and firmly before marching up to the desk and leaning against it, all the while twirling his family vault key. "I'd like to access my vault if you wouldn't mind."

The goblin looked at both Sirius and Ginny suspiciously before holding his hand out for the key. Sirius gave it over and smirked at Ginny, who half-heartedly glared back.

"Name?"

The odd voice startled Sirius into action and he gave it, with nothing to indicate he would have any reason to be afraid that someone would overhear. Seemingly satisfied, the goblin motioned another goblin over, and sent them off to the vaults.

- The 7th Child -

"I've NEVER seen that much gold, like EVER!" Ginny said excitedly as they emerged from Gringotts, pockets feeling nicely heavy. "So, what are we going to do now?"

Sirius looked at her smiling. "Why, we're going to get your present of course!" Ginny began to bounce on her heels at those words, and Sirius began to lead her down Diagon Alley, which was as lively as Ginny remembered. She looked around, entranced by everything, as it felt like she had been here a lifetime ago. Suddenly Sirius stopped, causing Ginny to barrel into him, before she looked at what shop they were at.

"A wand? But Sirius, I wouldn't be able to use it because of the trace, and Mr Ollivander won't serve us, he doesn't need faces to know who is in his shop! And anyway, they are much to expensive…" Ginny rambled on nervously, looking around the alley, her head whipping back and forth so fast, it looked like she was having a minor fit.

"Ginny, calm down, there are ways to get wands without the trace."

"…WHAT?"

- The 7th Child -

"Ah Miss Weasley, Mr Black, so glad to see you two back in my fine establishment. Such a pity about the wands they snapped, they were rather wonderful, although yours wasn't really yours was it Miss Weasley?"

Ginny and Sirius exchanged glances as the odd man began inspecting the wands on the shelves. Sirius then spoke up, although he looked a little nervous himself.

"Umm actually Mr Ollivander, we were hoping for some of your special wands, given our rather precarious situation."

The old man looked up, appraising them both. "I thought you might. They are a little more expensive though, but that's what you get when the ministry doesn't interfere with wands."

"Money is not an object."

Ginny's head swung back and forth between the two men. She was utterly clueless as to what they were going on about. Special wands? Without the trace? She'd never heard of such a thing. 'It must be illegal if its kept so quiet.' She thought, as she attempted to puzzle out the situation.

Almost as if he could read her mind, Ollivander changed his pale eyed gaze to Ginny. "I deal in these types of wands Miss Weasley, as I do not believe the wand should be punished for the caster's crimes. They should be kept until the end of the sentence, and then given to the prisoner, if they live. I also disagree with the strict regulations upon their usage, young witches and wizards should use them often, in order to form a stronger bound with the wand and generate more powerful spells." Ollivander spoke as though he was at a political rally, passion bleeding out of every word he said. Ginny was transfixed by this odd man and his undeniable passion for wandlore. Sirius' slight cough bought the attention back to the conversation at hand.

"We'll need two of the special wands then please Mr Ollivander, sir."

"Why of course! Let us start with the young lady." Ollivander then sprang into action, before he returned with a box which he opened a thrust the contents of at Ginny. Ginny had barely begun to wave the wand before he was snatched right back out of her hand. "No, no, not that one." Ollivander muttered as he headed back towards the shelves holding the many wands. This pattern continued for what felt like forever to Ginny, until she picked up a wand, a soft glow began to emit.

"Yes, yes, I do believe we have found your match." Ollivander said, as Ginny waved the wand, causing gold sparks to fall from the tip. "Larch wood, 12 3/4 inches, Dragon heartstring, a very powerful wand, for a powerful caster." Ginny looked up sharply at those words, her brow furrowed. "Yes Miss Weasley, you are the 7th child and the first girl in 7 generations. With that much association to that number, we should expect great things from you."

Ginny felt exceptionally overwhelmed, and it was with much gratitude that she noticed Sirius had began to talk to Ollivander in order to receive his wand. It seemed to take much less time for Sirius to receive his wand (Oak, 11 inches, unicorn hair) and after paying Ollivander ("100 galleons?!" "Its because there's no trace Ginny"), they headed back out to Diagon Alley.

- The 7th Child -

Nearly 5 hours after they'd left Grimmauld Place, Ginny and Sirius almost fell through the door laughing. After heading to Ollivanders, the two had gone around nearly all the shops in the alley, picking up potions ingredients, some books and some other bits and bobs.

"So Sirius, why did we have to get all these books?"

"Because, I've decided to teach you what magic I can. Can't have my fellow escapee incapable of casting anything higher than a first year spell, can I?"

Ginny smiled. "Thank you. That's… that's amazing of you."

"Don't mention it kiddo."

"…Could you cancel the transfigurations now?"

"Oh shit, yeah."

- The 7th Child -

After Ginny had gone to bed, Sirius had apparated to a small street in Little Whinging, near Privet Drive. Transforming into his animagus form, Sirius began to head to number 4 Privet Drive, before he clocked a small dark haired figure running away from the house, dragging a rather large trunk and a squawking owl behind him. Ready to ignore the boy, Sirius suddenly span round when the boy walked into the light. For a split second, he though it was James, but common sense caught up to him, leading him to realise that this was -

'Harry' Sirius thought, and began to follow him.

- The 7th Child -

Harry Potter was absolutely furious as he marched down the street. Aunt Marge had to be the most foul, disgusting person he'd ever met, with the probable exception of Voldemort. Sitting down near a bush, he attempted to figure out what he was going to do next. If the ministry caught him, it would be an expulsion for sure. He couldn't believe he'd blown up Aunt Marge. It had been exceptionally funny though…

A sudden noise caused him to spin around, and a large black dog appeared to be approaching him from a bush. Shocked, Harry stumbled back onto the road, and suddenly a large purple bus appeared.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor for this evening." A young man said from the entrance to the bus. "What'chu doing down there?"*

"I fell over."

"What'chu fell over for?"

Annoyed, Harry got to his feet. "I didn't do it on purpose!"

"Well come on then! Lets not wait for the grass to grow!" With that Stan Shunpike stepped aside, and Harry boarded the Knight Bus.

(The conversation above is from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film))