Author: Along Came the Spider
Part One: To Grandmother's House We Go
"Harry!" Harry jumped when he heard the shout. He quickly looked around before shoving the contents of his hand underneath a chair cushion.
"Harold James Potter!" The voice called again.
"Yes?" He called back tentatively as footsteps approached the room he was in.
The door opened. "What have I told you about playing up here?" Sirius said sternly.
"Always tell you when I'm going to do it?" Harry said to the floor.
"That's right." Sirius said gently. "We worry when we can't find you, you know that."
"I was just wrapping Grandmother's present." Harry looked up at his guardian. "I didn't want her to see it so I came up here."
"You still should have said something to me," Sirius chided.
"Sorry," Harry hung his head. "Does this mean I can't go see Draco tomorrow?"
"Draco?" Sirius asked, confused. "Why would you be going to see Draco?"
"Grandmother was going to take me to see Draco tomorrow," Harry smiled, glad that he wasn't going to get a more thorough telling off. "Because you won't let me invite him to my party."
Sirius pinched the bridge of his nose. "You want Draco to come to your party?"
"Of course!" Harry glared at Sirius. "Draco is my best friend in the whole world!"
"I thought Ron was your best friend." Sirius sat down next to the boy.
"He is." Harry said. "He and Draco are both my best friend in the whole world." Harry smiled the smile of a ten year old logician.
"Right," Sirius smiled back. "You can invite Draco too."
Harry flung himself at Sirius and hugged him hard.
"Are you done with Grandmother's present?" Sirius asked when he had detangled himself.
"No," Harry admitted. "I need help with the bow."
"Okay," Sirius sat down next to him. "Let's see it then."
Harry pulled out some silver ribbons and placed them in front of Sirius before retrieving the gift. He looked up expectantly.
Sirius smiled and waved his wand over the package. The ribbons moved into place and twinkled softly.
"Thank you," Harry grinned at the magic.
"You're welcome." Sirius returned the smile. "Now, dinner is going to be ready soon. You need to be sure to wash up first, we're going to be having guests."
Harry made a face at the reminder to be clean and nodded his understanding, unhappily.
"Miss Parkinson is already with grandmother, and Remus should be arriving soon." Sirius laughed at Harry's antics.
"Uncle Remus?" Harry brightened up, he looked down at the present. "Should I give Grandmother her present at dinner?"
"Yes," Sirius patted the boy's head gently. "That would be the perfect time to present it."
Harry watched his guardian leave the room. "That was close," he murmured.
"What was close Master Harry?" A voice from the shadows made him jump.
"Kreacher!" The boy yelped. "Don't sneak up on my like that!"
The house elf moved into Harry's line of sight. "I'm sorry Master Harry," he whined plaintively. "After serving dinner I will be sure to punish myself. Bad Kreacher! Bad!"
Harry's belief in not hurting other's warred with Mrs. Black's edict that wizards were superior to humans, and the pureblooded were superior to the mudbloods. In her view house elfs were even lower than dogs, so punishment was nothing to be worried about. However, Harry was naturally compassionate, a fact Mrs. Black often contributed -- out of Harry's hearing -- to his 'bad breeding'.
"Kreacher," Harry said finally. "I would rather you didn't hurt yourself on my account."
The house elf eyed him suspiciously, "What does Master Harry want? Does he want sweets after bedtime?"
"No Kreacher," Harry sighed. "I want nothing. "
The house elf nodded his acceptance and disappeared from the room with a pop.
Once he was sure he was alone Harry reached under the chair, he pulled out a slender wand. He stood up quickly and pointed it at the present still sitting on the floor. He frowned in concentration, trying to remember what it was that Draco had said. He moved the wand slowly sounding out the spell. "Wingardium Leviosa."
Remus entered No. 12 Grimmauld Place feeling the same sense of displacement he always did. He didn't belong in a house like this, he was the lowest level of polite society, he shouldn't let Sirius continue the connection. Mrs. Black rarely failed to remind of that fact, but Sirius kept insisting that Remus be by his side.
The portrait at the top of the stairs sneered at him, he ignored it and continued past it to the first floor drawing room. He knocked once, to announce his presence, then pulled the door open. As expected Mrs. Black was holding court, Remus wished briefly that Sirius would just get married. Once he did Mrs. Black would move out of Grimmauld, as custom dictated.
"Mr. Lupin," Mrs. Black said coldly. "How nice of you to join us tonight. Sirius hadn't mentioned that you were coming."
Remus bowed, ignoring the accusation, and held out the bouquet he had brought. It was an old custom, and one not much followed anymore, but he liked to believe that his willingness to adhere to outdated standards were part of why Mrs. Black hadn't flat out banned him from the house. "Milady," he murmured as she accepted the flowers. "I wish you well on your birthday."
"With flowers?" Mrs. Black raised an eyebrow. "Are you so poor that on today you can't offer me more than your normal gift?"
Mrs. Black's guest, a pug faced young woman who looked extremely inbred, giggled at the statement. The giggle trailed off as Mrs. Black sent her a repressing glare.
"No Milady," Remus bowed again. "The flowers, as always, are to show my appreciation of your beauty."
Mrs. Black snorted, but waited quietly as he drew something from his pocket and resized it.
"This is for your birthday," Remus smiled as he held out the carved box. Once it was in the receiver's hands he moved to sit on the couch opposite Mrs. Black and her guest.
Mrs. Black nodded approvingly as she turned the box so she could view it at all angles. She set down the box on the table in front of her. "Very good Mr. Lupin. You, like any dog, are infinitely trainable."
"Mother!" Sirius said sharply as he entered the room.
"Son!" she responded. "I would like to make Miss Marigold Parkinson known to you."
The girl in question lowered her eyes demurely. Sirius caught Remus's eyes and rolled his own. "A pleasure I'm sure."
Miss Parkinson blushed, which caused Sirius a great deal of amusement, an amusement that Mrs. Black didn't share by the look she threw her son.
"Mother," Sirius said again, this time without the bite.
"My son?" Mrs. Black inquired.
"My ward would like to make his bow."
"He may enter," Mrs. Black smiled slightly. Next to her Miss Parkinson sat up straight and looked expectantly at the door.
Sirius opened the door to admit Harry who immediately crossed to Mrs. Black. The boy bowed correctly and held out his present.
Mrs. Black smiled gently and took the gift. "And how is my grandson?"
Harry smiled at her, a smile that seemed to melt some of the prim and proper from a women who was only that. "I am well my grandmother, I hope that you enjoy the same health."
"I do," she reached out to touch his hair briefly. "Now make your bows to Miss Parkinson and Mr. Lupin."
Harry obediently bowed to Miss Parkinson, who clapped in delight. The boy looked slightly startled by this reaction but he turned to Remus anyway. He gave Remus a bow that held a slight imploring look to it. Remus smiled as he straightened himself and held out his arms for a hug which Harry was more than happy to give.
When they separated Remus noted the icy looks that both Mrs. Black and Miss Parkinson were shooting his way. Miss Parkinson's look swiftly changed as Sirius and Harry took the seats next to Remus. 'Where did she expect them to sit?' He wondered briefly.
"Will Harry be going off to school next year?" Miss Parkinson inquired of Sirius. She leaned forward slightly to do so, putting her chest forward.
"Yes," Sirius told her, ignoring her posture. "He's been down on the Hogwarts list since birth."
"We could still get him into Durmstrung." Mrs. Black said. "That way he wouldn't be contaminated by those Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers."
Miss Parkinson smiled. "My brother went to Durmstrung, they are the only school these days."
"I went to Hogwarts," Sirius said simply. "As did Mr. Lupin and both of Harry's parents."
Miss Parkinson shrugged. "I am sure that it was a good school then. These days the standards are slipping so much." She smiled winningly. "Not that they can help that, what with Albus Dumbledore being a crazy old fool and there being enough Weasleys there to start up their own house."
"Sirius?" Harry piped up. "Isn't Ron a Weasley?"
Mrs. Black stiffened.
"Yes he is," Sirius didn't glare at Miss Parkinson, but his tone betrayed his annoyance. "I am sure that Miss Parkinson meant no insult in her comment though."
Miss Parkinson was pale, she glanced at Mrs. Black for support but the matron was looking over the bouquet that Remus had brought her. "No insult," she said weakly, "of course not."
The dinner bell saved the group from further disaster in the way of conversation. Remus stood and offered his arm to Mrs. Black, he assumed that she would want Sirius partnered with Miss Parkinson. Mrs. Black took his arm with only a small shudder of revulsion, which confirmed his theory. Mrs. Black was putting up with Remus so that Sirius would put up with Miss Parkinson.
Harry, alone, entered the dinning room behind them. The group took their seats and looked toward Mrs. Black. Mrs. Black clapped her hands and the first course appeared on the table. Harry waited until Mrs. Black had tasted her plate before falling on his own with a vigor known only to the young or gluttonous.
Remus was on one side of Harry with Miss Parkinson on the other. This had the effect of separating Remus and Sirius, and giving Miss Parkinson a chance to prove herself with Sirius's ward. The dinner proved to be a rather silent affair, with Mrs. Black sending the occasional glare at her son, which then rolled off his rather impressively bland demeanor.
Finally Mrs. Black stood and led Miss Parkinson from the room. When the door had closed behind the ladies Harry flung himself at Remus for another hug.
"Heya cub," Remus hugged him back. "You appear to be glad to see me."
"Yeah!" Harry enthused. "You are a much better guest than Miss Parkinson."
Sirius grinned as he handed Remus a glass of wine. "I agree, Mr. Lupin is a much more interesting person than Miss Parkinson could ever be."
"She doesn't like Ron or Aunt Molly," Harry stated.
"I doubt very much that Miss Parkinson has ever had the opportunity to meet Ron," Remus reassured the boy. "As for the rest of his family, she said that she meant no insult by her remark."
"She was lying because Sirius made her lie." Harry complained.
"I am glad you chose not to mention that little observation in front of Mother and Miss Parkinson." Sirius ruffled Harry's hair. "You are a little to perceptive sometimes."
"But Miss Parkinson knows she lied." Harry's brow creased.
"Yes," Sirius shrugged. "But we don't admit that we know in polite society."
"Must I be polite?" Harry asked.
"Unfortunately, yes." Sirius sighed. "It is the price we pay."
"The price we pay for what?" Harry asked.
Sirius paused, unsure of how to answer. In that pause Kreacher popped into the room. "Mistress says that it is time for Master Harry to go to bed."
"Do I have too?" Harry gave Sirius a pleading look.
"Do you want to go to Draco's tomorrow?" Sirius raised an eyebrow. "I am sure that Mother would not be pleased if you are cranky due to lack of sleep."
Harry pouted at Sirius; Remus was surprised to note that it had little effect on his friend.
"Bed." Sirius reiterated.
Harry sighed then bowed. "Good night sirs."
"Now say goodnight to Mother and Miss Parkinson," Sirius instructed.
Harry made a face but left the room only a small amount of heel kicking.
"I must say," Remus took a sip of his drink. "I am amazed at how good of a father you are."
"Some of it has been that I can't be uncle Sirius - the fun one." Sirius shook his head. "Harry needs a strong male figure, otherwise he'll end up like Regulus."
Remus gave a small laugh. "So how does Miss Parkinson rate?" He changed the subject.
"Ugh." Sirius groaned. "I wish Mother would lay off on the matchmaking."
"The House of Black needs an heir," Remus reminded him.
"But with that cow?" Sirius said dramatically. "Can't I at least marry a good looking girl?"
"Looks aren't the only thing that matters," Remus said mildly. "I seem to remember you saying that a lot in school."
"Are you really going to tell me that Marigold has an original thought in her head?" Sirius demanded. "It'd be like living with Mother, only worse because she'd probably ask the old bag to stay here." Sirius downed his glass. "And no fair throwing all those platitudes back in my face. I was only saying them to make Peter feel better about his dates."
"So go out and find your own wife," Remus suggested. "Do that, find someone acceptable that you like and you won't have this problem."
Sirius stood up to refill his cup. "I can't."
"Why not?" Remus crossed the room to stand behind his friend.
Sirius's shoulder's dropped. "It is hard to explain, but I just can't do the parties and what not. I certainly can't invite a young lady over by myself, so that leaves Mother to do what she will."
"Think of it this way," Remus touched Sirius's arm gently. "You only have to attend the events until you get a wife. After that you'll be free to go and hide out in the country if you want."
Sirius reached up and clasped Remus's hand. "I just wish I could stomach them." He than glanced over Remus's shoulder and groaned.
Remus followed Sirius's gaze and sighed. The clock clearly stated that it was time to join the ladies.
End Notes:
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