(Coeus Black - PoV)
We couldn't just leave after hearing about Iris's clothes and insisted on a bit of a shopping spree. Not much of one, by most standards, as she already had the basics, and showed no interest in dresses, but we at least filled out her wardrobe a little.
She didn't quite decide on a single favorite color but leaned toward black, dark blue, and a shade of green that went well with her eyes. All excellent choices, just need to sneak some more silver in there...
They also went well with Ravenclaw or Slytherin, much to my and Phoebe's satisfaction, and Dora's disappointment.
Luckily we managed to avoid Draco's exit somehow, I assume while we were buried in the girls' section. I feel somewhat bad denying him the chance to speak with Iris, especially when he is doing her a favor, but I don't think he is what she needs right now. No, I believe she is better off with, ah, retail therapy?
"Umm, guys? How am I going to carry all of this?" Iris asks, looking at the pile of clothes at the checkout counter.
"Just put it in your...oh, have you not gotten a trunk yet?" I ask her.
She shakes her head.
"That's fine then, we will make that our next stop."
"Ok, but...how will we get it all there? I don't see any of you..." she trails off as I pull my travel trunk out of my pocket, toss it to the floor, and enlarge it.
"...Oh."
"Shrinking, featherweight, space expansion, and multi-compartment charms. Plus various lock, anti-theft, and durability charms as well. Expensive but, all the space you could want. Brother never goes anywhere without...everything. He is an absolute packrat." Phoebe explains while I load the clothes into my trunk temporarily, Andy pays, and Dora...
"Dora put those back! They are for Iris!" I demand as she walks out of a changing room wearing some of the clothes we just bought. Ones I picked out for her in fact!
"Aww, but they fit me too!" she complains.
"Everything fits you, that's not an argument! I will set them on fire while you are still wearing them!" I warn her.
"Alright, alright," she retreats back into the changing room.
The problem with having a Metamorph in the family is she steals everyone's clothes, including mine. Nothing is safe. Phobe and I had to start keeping most of our clothes in my trunk instead of the wardrobe.
"Umm...it was ok you know...if she wanted them?" Iris says quietly.
"No, no it's not," Phoebe agrees with me. "If you give Dora an inch she will take a mile. She's like a puppy, needs a good smack in the nose every once in a while. Actually..." Phoebe picks up one of the mail order flyers and rolls it up, walking back to the changing rooms.
...
"Ow! Phoebe! What the hell!"
She comes back looking rather satisfied, a disgruntled Dora following behind, still adjusting her shirt, her hair rapidly changing colors.
"Uncalled for!" she exclaims, pointing at us.
No one backs her up.
She pouts.
Andy sighs at the counter. "She is supposed to be the big sister. When I got the twins, I thought she would help me with them. Instead, they are usually the ones that help me keep her in line," she tells Madame Malkin, who nods in sympathy.
Dora dumps the clothes in the trunk and walks away grumbling.
I double-check that she actually returned all of them before I snap it shut, shrink it down, and put it away.
"Anyhow, call me names if you want, dearest sister, but who do you come to when you want something anytime we are not home, whatever it may be?"
She smiles, stepping closer and locking eyes with me. "My dearest brother, of course, who would never deny me anything."
"I...I can tell you no anytime I want to. I just...don't want to." I say, totally not fidgeting.
I choose to ignore the snorts from Dora, Ted, Andy, and Madame Malkin? You stay out of this woman, you are clearly blind or something.
"Of course, whatever you say, brother," she says, backing out of my personal space.
...
"Anyhow, if we are going to the trunk shop, how about we get you one too?" I suggest.
She looks at me puzzled. "Why would I need one?" she asks.
"I...I don't know. For I'm not there I guess?"
"So never. Waste of time and money."
I...
Hmm. On the one hand, I really worry about her. I hate the idea of her being caught in some situation, and not having something she needs, like my emergency potion supplies. On the other hand, I certainly don't want to encourage her to spend time elsewhere...
"At least get a mokeskin pouch?" I plead. "With some healing potions and a bezoar?"
She rolls her eyes, but I can feel her acquiesce.
Good, good. Her safety is a huge priority.
Dora is bad enough. An Auror, really? The girl loves danger. Hmm, actually, this will be her last year at Hogwarts won't it? I will have to get her a nice emergency trunk for Christmas, fully stocked.
"Are you three done?" Andy asks.
"Yup. All good. Right, Iris?" I look at her, she nods.
"Yeah, all good."
"Let's get going then."
We head outside, only to hear a crunch to our right. Looking over we find Hagrid and the broken remains of a bench that was much too small for him. Was he waiting for us?
"Hagrid?" Andy asks. "I thought you were going to Dumbledore to deliver your package?"
"Aye, aye I was, but I fel bad abou leavin Iris liek tha, n then I member tha I didn get 'er a birday presn!" he tells us, before pulling a cage from his other side, with an admittedly beautiful snowy white owl in it.
He steps forth and bends down, presenting it to Iris.
"Ere we go Iris, Appy Birday!" he says with a smile. The effect is somewhat lessened by his breath, which still reeks of alchohol. Please tell me he wasn't drinking while sitting out here waiting?
Iris stares at the owl as she hesitantly takes the cage.
"For...for me?" she asks.
"O course!" he booms. "She's a beaut ain't she? Preddiest one in de place."
"What's her name?"
"Does'n ave one yet. You can choose it later. I'll let you lot et to it then?" he finishes, standing up.
"I...Th...thank you...Hagrid..." Iris says, looking up at him.
Is she...crying?
Hagrid doesn't notice as he ambles away down the street, but I think she is.
I put my hand on her shoulder.
"Uh...Iris?"
"It's...it's fine..." she insists, trying to wipe her eyes while still carrying the cage.
I can't exactly stuff the owl in my trunk.
Ok, well, I can, but I probably shouldn't. I have no idea what would happen to it, I have never tried.
...
Experimentation is needed. Not with Iris's owl, of course, but later.
For now though...how fix?
Dora punches me on the shoulder.
I glare at her, what was that for?
"She's not upset, those are happy tears," Dora tells me.
...I look at Phoebe, who shrugs and nods.
I...guess that's good then?
"So, it's your birthday?" I ask Iris.
She nods. "Y-yes. Sorry, I just." She sniffs, still wiping her face. "Ugh. Sorry. I didn't expect it. I've never gotten a present before."
I twitch.
...
I, I'm tired of this. I'm going to kill them, aren't I?
I look at Phoebe. How bad is it sister? Is it...is it as bad as it sounds?
She closes her eyes and nods.
Yea, we are killing them. Or arranging it at least. I don't really know enough to make it look like an accident right now, so may have to ask grandfather, he will be happy to off a couple of muggles for us, and should be able to get around whatever nonsense Dumbledore set up.
"Well, we are going to make sure this is your best birthday ever! Not that it sounds like that is a difficult feat but, whatever. Come!" I wrap my arm around her shoulder and drag her to the trunk store as Andy repairs the bench behind us.
Let's get shopping.
-
"No."
"But I ha-"
"Nope."
"Look i-"
"Nuh-uh."
"..."
"You may as well just let him have his way when he gets like this," Dora tells Iris.
We are currently debating about who is going to pay for her trunk. Full protection charms to prevent certain people from interfering with it, the default weight, shrinking, and expansion charms, a wide variety of compartments, the works.
Well, not the works, but everything she should need for her first travel trunk at least, one to keep with you. Nothing too fancy for decoration, just a tasteful Potter crest in gold (the fact she did not know her own family crest doesn't fill me with rage, not at all), on simple holly wood. I am not a fan of the wood myself, but she wanted it to match her wand, which made sense.
I told her I would be getting her awesome birthday presents and I meant it, but once she found out the actual price she balked at the idea. I, however, refuse to be budged.
"But...that is...so much money?" she almost whispers.
"Iris, I am a Black. More than that, I am the Black heir. I am one of the richest people in the country, I could buy the entire shop. Don't worry about it."
She blinks, trying to process the idea, but doesn't seem convinced.
I roll my eyes, walk over to the door, open it, take out a fistful of galleons and throw them into the street. "Have at it!" I yell, closing the door.
"That's how rich I am. Seriously, I got this."
"I...ok." she relents.
Dora scrambles over to the window to watch the show while I pay.
"Yeah, go yellow robe! Pull her hair!" she calls out.
"You are going to be a terrible Auror aren't you?" Phoebe asks as she plays with her new pouch.
"What? I'm not on duty." she defends herself.
Ted and Andy shake their heads.
The owner asks if I could throw some more galleons his way instead, so I do. Literally.
"...I deserved that." the man says, as he bends down to begin collecting the coins I threw at him.
"You really did," Phoebe agrees. "I didn't need to be a seer to see that one coming."
Iris glares at me.
"Look, it was a dick move, I know, and it's not the sort of thing I normally do. But come on, with that opening? I couldn't resist."
"Just...get the trunk finished and let's get going, please. No more throwing galleons." Andy orders.
"Oh, I want to watch!" I tell the man.
"You do realize this is going to take several hours right?" he asks. "I have some of the basics done up already, but nothing in holly, and for all of the extras? Even as a priority job it will take a little bit."
...Right, I forgot about that. I don't mind watching for that long normally, but I don't have that long right now, drat.
"Fine, fine, we will be back to pick it up later then, we still have plenty to do." Andy says. "Come one then everyone, books next I think."
I hesitate before leaving, turning back to the counter and placing a stack of coins on it. "Sorry for the whole, you know, throwing stuff at you," I tell the owner.
He blinks. "Hah! If it were knuts I might be annoyed, but Galleons? Keep throwing em, kid. I got family with bills to pay, my pride's not worth that much," he says, taking the coins.
I...try not to think about a master of my intended craft, a man I actually somewhat respect, sinking so low for my pocket change as I hurry out of the shop after the others.