Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
A/N: I'm sorry it took so long for getting this new chapter out, but I didn't quite know how to continue. Besides, my beta-reader seems to have a few problems, because she hasn't sent my chapter back, so this version has not been beta-read yet, you've been warned. Hope you like it.
Free.
The old lady turned to Hermione and smiled fondly at her. "Hermi, dear, why don't you lead your friends downstairs? I'm sure you still remember the way down."
The girl nodded happily, but remembering who she was going with, she turned to the Weasley twins. Looking at them sternly she said. "You two better behave, no pranks down there."
The two boys looked a little startled at the fierce determination in the girl's eyes but nodded humbly. After having been reassured by Mrs. Weasley that she would keep a sharp eye on them, Hermione turned around and walked to the stairs that had been slightly hidden by the counter. Sirius, seeing the steps of the stairs were fairly high, picked Harry up in his arms and walked down after Hermione. When they came down, they were stunned at what they saw. Hermione had been right, it was a huge place, but it was arranged in a way that didn't look like they were in a store. Along the walls were several racks full of toys, Sirius noticed they were not the new toys you could find in any muggle shop, instead they were old, even if they were kept in a good state. In the middle of the room, there were a few couches, ready for customers to sit there.
Hermione smiled at their surprised faces. "Amazing, isn't it? Miss Starnle is a real toy-maniac, she wouldn't need to have this store, because her family has always been very well off, but she really enjoys selling toys. This store is somewhat hidden and she doesn't get many customers. But that's ok with her, she believes that every toy belongs to a certain child, that's why she built this area, the children that come here have the chance to play some with the toys, trying to find the one they really enjoy." She looked up at her friend, still nestled in his godfather's arms and asked, "Want to look around, Harry?"
The child nodded. Sirius put him back on the ground and the boy hesitantly walked to one of the shelves, beginning to examine the toys there. Hermione and Ron soon joined the kid while the twins went to another side of the room and the adults sat down.
After half an hour of going through toys, Harry's attention was drawn to a small doll. Frowning he wondered why he had looked at her, he liked stuffed animals, but he didn't particularly care for dolls. While Ron and Hermione bickered over some puzzles, Harry came closer to the doll. He looked her over once again, she was very beautiful, her face was finely drawn, a bright expression etched on her features. She was wearing a pale blue dress that reached down to her ankles and small white boots covered her feet. Carefully, he picked her up and held her close to his chest. Noticing her eyes had opened, he was somewhat startled to see she had bright emerald eyes, very much like his own. Suddenly his arm brushed against something. Looking closer at the doll, he noticed there was a small piece of parchment sticking inside the dress. Slowly, he pulled the paper out as much as it would go, seeing it was attached to the dress. He could see faint writing on it, and even if it had faded through the years, he could still read it. After reading it, he nearly let the doll fall. The message was short and to the point:
For my Lily for her seventeenth birthday, Prongs.
Harry could feel himself begin to tremble, even if Lily was a common name, he doubted there were much people going around with the name Prongs, and much less the two names together. Suddenly he was not able to contain his emotions any longer, cursing the potion in his mind, he slid down to the ground and began to sob. Crying for the lose of his parents and the life he could have had with him, all the while clutching the doll close to his chest, letting his tears fall on her blond hair.
Sirius had been talking comfortably with Ms Weasley when they were all startled out of their conversations by Harry's cries. Sirius was immediately on his feet and even before Hermione and Ron could have approached Harry, the man was at his godson's side. Kneeling in front of the boy, the first thing Sirius did was to make sure the kid wasn't hurt. Not seeing any apparent injuries, he gently drew Harry to him. "Harry? What's wrong sweetheart? Why are you crying?"
The kid didn't answer him, he just buried his head into the man's chest and continued to cry, his sobs muffled by Sirius's robes. The man was about to ask again, when Remus hissed sharply in surprise. Looking up at his friend he saw him looking, not at Harry as he had expected, but at the toy the child held in his arms. Looking down again, he studied the doll closely, and then he saw what had startled his friend.
It couldn't be.
Gently he tried to get the doll out of the kid's arms but it only caused Harry to roll out of his arms and curl up on the ground, crying harder. Sighing, Sirius came closer and picked the kid up into his arms. "Harry, Kiddo, I need to look at the doll for a moment, I promise I will not take her away from you."
Harry's cries softened a bit and reluctantly he handed the doll to his godfather. Sirius gave the toy to Remus, noticing Harry's tear filled eyes followed the doll's every movement. Remus looked at the dress and Harry saw him drew out the piece of parchment he had been reading before. Not wanting to see the man's reaction, Harry curled up in Sirius's arms and buried his head in his godfather's chest again.
Remus had gone even paler, drawing a slow breath he nodded to Sirius. "It was the doll James bought Lily for her seventeenth birthday."
Soft gasps ran through the room and Sirius turned his attention to Harry, who was trembling in his arms. Stroking his back reassuringly, he exchanged a quick glance with Remus, who immediately left the room with the doll in his hands.
Putting Harry in a more comfortable position against him he looked at the others, smiling sadly. "I think it would be better if we went back home, we can order something to eat on the way there."
Sirius noticed Hermione was looking guilty and quickly went over to her. Giving the girl a half hug he reassured her it wasn't her fault this had happened, and that they were even happy it had. Finally they left the room, and went back upstairs where Remus was waiting for them, a package in his hands.
Quietly, they made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron. Sirius noticed Harry had become very quiet, the child was still clutching his robes tightly, his bright green eyes were dull.
Making a quick decision he stopped. Looking at the adults he said, "you go ahead, I'm going to apparate with Harry. I'll see you at my place, remember to bring something to eat."
Before the others even had the chance to nod, Sirius walked away, looking for some safe place to apparate.
To be continued…
A/N: Thanks for all reviews.
A/N: I'm sorry it took so long for getting this new chapter out, but I didn't quite know how to continue. Besides, my beta-reader seems to have a few problems, because she hasn't sent my chapter back, so this version has not been beta-read yet, you've been warned. Hope you like it.
Free.
The old lady turned to Hermione and smiled fondly at her. "Hermi, dear, why don't you lead your friends downstairs? I'm sure you still remember the way down."
The girl nodded happily, but remembering who she was going with, she turned to the Weasley twins. Looking at them sternly she said. "You two better behave, no pranks down there."
The two boys looked a little startled at the fierce determination in the girl's eyes but nodded humbly. After having been reassured by Mrs. Weasley that she would keep a sharp eye on them, Hermione turned around and walked to the stairs that had been slightly hidden by the counter. Sirius, seeing the steps of the stairs were fairly high, picked Harry up in his arms and walked down after Hermione. When they came down, they were stunned at what they saw. Hermione had been right, it was a huge place, but it was arranged in a way that didn't look like they were in a store. Along the walls were several racks full of toys, Sirius noticed they were not the new toys you could find in any muggle shop, instead they were old, even if they were kept in a good state. In the middle of the room, there were a few couches, ready for customers to sit there.
Hermione smiled at their surprised faces. "Amazing, isn't it? Miss Starnle is a real toy-maniac, she wouldn't need to have this store, because her family has always been very well off, but she really enjoys selling toys. This store is somewhat hidden and she doesn't get many customers. But that's ok with her, she believes that every toy belongs to a certain child, that's why she built this area, the children that come here have the chance to play some with the toys, trying to find the one they really enjoy." She looked up at her friend, still nestled in his godfather's arms and asked, "Want to look around, Harry?"
The child nodded. Sirius put him back on the ground and the boy hesitantly walked to one of the shelves, beginning to examine the toys there. Hermione and Ron soon joined the kid while the twins went to another side of the room and the adults sat down.
After half an hour of going through toys, Harry's attention was drawn to a small doll. Frowning he wondered why he had looked at her, he liked stuffed animals, but he didn't particularly care for dolls. While Ron and Hermione bickered over some puzzles, Harry came closer to the doll. He looked her over once again, she was very beautiful, her face was finely drawn, a bright expression etched on her features. She was wearing a pale blue dress that reached down to her ankles and small white boots covered her feet. Carefully, he picked her up and held her close to his chest. Noticing her eyes had opened, he was somewhat startled to see she had bright emerald eyes, very much like his own. Suddenly his arm brushed against something. Looking closer at the doll, he noticed there was a small piece of parchment sticking inside the dress. Slowly, he pulled the paper out as much as it would go, seeing it was attached to the dress. He could see faint writing on it, and even if it had faded through the years, he could still read it. After reading it, he nearly let the doll fall. The message was short and to the point:
For my Lily for her seventeenth birthday, Prongs.
Harry could feel himself begin to tremble, even if Lily was a common name, he doubted there were much people going around with the name Prongs, and much less the two names together. Suddenly he was not able to contain his emotions any longer, cursing the potion in his mind, he slid down to the ground and began to sob. Crying for the lose of his parents and the life he could have had with him, all the while clutching the doll close to his chest, letting his tears fall on her blond hair.
Sirius had been talking comfortably with Ms Weasley when they were all startled out of their conversations by Harry's cries. Sirius was immediately on his feet and even before Hermione and Ron could have approached Harry, the man was at his godson's side. Kneeling in front of the boy, the first thing Sirius did was to make sure the kid wasn't hurt. Not seeing any apparent injuries, he gently drew Harry to him. "Harry? What's wrong sweetheart? Why are you crying?"
The kid didn't answer him, he just buried his head into the man's chest and continued to cry, his sobs muffled by Sirius's robes. The man was about to ask again, when Remus hissed sharply in surprise. Looking up at his friend he saw him looking, not at Harry as he had expected, but at the toy the child held in his arms. Looking down again, he studied the doll closely, and then he saw what had startled his friend.
It couldn't be.
Gently he tried to get the doll out of the kid's arms but it only caused Harry to roll out of his arms and curl up on the ground, crying harder. Sighing, Sirius came closer and picked the kid up into his arms. "Harry, Kiddo, I need to look at the doll for a moment, I promise I will not take her away from you."
Harry's cries softened a bit and reluctantly he handed the doll to his godfather. Sirius gave the toy to Remus, noticing Harry's tear filled eyes followed the doll's every movement. Remus looked at the dress and Harry saw him drew out the piece of parchment he had been reading before. Not wanting to see the man's reaction, Harry curled up in Sirius's arms and buried his head in his godfather's chest again.
Remus had gone even paler, drawing a slow breath he nodded to Sirius. "It was the doll James bought Lily for her seventeenth birthday."
Soft gasps ran through the room and Sirius turned his attention to Harry, who was trembling in his arms. Stroking his back reassuringly, he exchanged a quick glance with Remus, who immediately left the room with the doll in his hands.
Putting Harry in a more comfortable position against him he looked at the others, smiling sadly. "I think it would be better if we went back home, we can order something to eat on the way there."
Sirius noticed Hermione was looking guilty and quickly went over to her. Giving the girl a half hug he reassured her it wasn't her fault this had happened, and that they were even happy it had. Finally they left the room, and went back upstairs where Remus was waiting for them, a package in his hands.
Quietly, they made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron. Sirius noticed Harry had become very quiet, the child was still clutching his robes tightly, his bright green eyes were dull.
Making a quick decision he stopped. Looking at the adults he said, "you go ahead, I'm going to apparate with Harry. I'll see you at my place, remember to bring something to eat."
Before the others even had the chance to nod, Sirius walked away, looking for some safe place to apparate.
To be continued…
A/N: Thanks for all reviews.