Chapter Four: The Solitary One in the Serpent

At twilight, Lucille woke up.

"I had sleeping on the ground," she grumbled. "Sirius, hey, Sirius…Sirius?" Lucille stood up and looked around. Buckbeak was still with her, chomping down on a leftover squirrel, but she didn't see Sirius anywhere. Lucille moved closer to Buckbeak and pulled out her wand, glancing about nervously. How dare Sirius leave her alone like this!

"Ah, you're awake; good." Lucille jumped at the voice, which was coming from above. She narrowed her brows at Sirius who was seated in the tree above her, grinning at her.

"Did you get scared, Love?" he asked as he jumped down. Lucille smacked him harshly in the arm as soon as he was on the ground.

"Don't you ever do that again. And don't call me 'Love,'" she said angrily.

"Aw, c'mon pigeon, I didn't mean to scare you," he pleaded, holding his arms up in defense.

"Don't call me that either! Call me just Lucille."

"Okay fine…Just Lucille," Sirius answered, a playful grin on his lips. Lucille swatted at him again, but he dodged just in time.

"You know what I mean!"

"Okay okay!" He started stamping out the fire and walked over to Buckbeak.

"Hey, where are you going?" Lucille demanded. For the briefest second she prayed he was taking her back to Hogwarts.

"We're going to Hogsmeade. You're going to have to get food, and a few supplies I'll need before I leave tomorrow night," Sirius said. "Don't worry, I've money for you to use." Lucille rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, because I was really just about to volunteer my own," she said sarcastically.

"You don't have to be rude," Sirius said.

"I'm not," Lucille said loftily. "I'm just getting a bit bored with this whole hostage thing. You're not very good at it, you know."

"You know, the way you talk, one might think you'd enjoy being kidnapped properly, with abuse and the possibilities of death or rape."

"Are you kidding me! I just want to go home!" Lucille cried out. "Let's get one thing straight, mister. First of all, I was scared out of my mind when you caught me, and you pressing that knife in my neck sure as hell didn't help, especially when you drew blood. Secondly, you're making me confront all my worst fears; being kidnapped, being out alone at night, being the forest, and getting raped," she told him, poking him in the chest at every fear she mentioned. "I hate that stuff, and it's being shoved in my face every waking moment," she said tears fighting to pour from her eyes. "And you don't care one bit."

"Why would you think you were going to be raped?" Sirius asked skeptically.

"Oh, well, let's see. Maybe it's because I'm a girl, and you haven't had any for the very least of twelve years?" she retorted cynically, then turned slightly. "Not to mention you were a bit of a playboy," she added under her breath.

"Hey, I heard that!" Sirius said angrily, "And for your information, whenever I have sex with a girl, there has to be pretty strong feelings. I may have had a lot of experiences, but I still had a relationship with the girls I've shagged!" Lucille snorted.

"Real nice, to refer to them as the 'girls you've shagged'," she said sarcastically. "But I guess you've forgotten about Stephanie Whitby then, did you? And, I suppose, Tina Quirke, and the same for Samantha Evargard? And what about Mallory Brocklehurst?" Lucille accused. Sirius's jaw dropped.

"How do you know about all of them?" he asked, his voice hushed by his shock. Lucille looked away from him and her own lips parted in surprised. She couldn't believe she'd let all of that come out.

"I just do," she snapped. "Are we going to Hogsmeade or what?" Sirius winced.

"Right away," he answered quickly, as though he was afraid of getting another verbal lashing. Lucille crossed her arms over her chest as she watched him as he hurriedly put out the fire.

"What are you supposed to be doing while I'm shopping? I suppose you will be watching me to make sure I don't run off," she said boredly.

"I'll be in my dog from. But it's not that I don't trust you"

"It's just that you don't."

"No, Lucy; c'mon now"

"I told you not to call me Lucy!"

"I just forgot, you don't have to jump down my throat. It was only out of habit."

"Then you must be pretty dumb."

"Not as dumb as the name Lucille! That's dumb," Sirius sneered.

"My name is beautiful, you great big stupid oaf! At least I'm not named after some mythical dog."

"I'm not even arguing about this with you. C'mon, we're Apparating."

"I can't Apparate!"

"What! Are you kidding me?"

"I failed three times, you mangy git. After the third time, I was a bit scared away from it. Get over it. We can just use Buckbeak," she said angrily.

"Yeah and have an easier time getting caught!" Lucille resisted telling him that it was because he'd been in Azkaban that they were afraid of being caught, knowing that it would lead to an empty argument.

"Oh, move out of the way," she said exasperatedly. She bowed to Buckbeak and after he bowed, she cast a disillusionment charm on him. "There. Now no one will be able to see him, or us if we're on him." She smiled triumphantly at Sirius, who rolled his eyes, bowed to Buckbeak, and then climbed on his back.

"Get on," he said roughly.

"Okay, okay," Lucille said. Tired of waiting, Sirius pulled her onto Buckbeak behind him.

"Hold on tight," he said, and nudged Buckbeak, who took off very suddenly. Lucille squealed and grabbed Sirius tightly around the waist, feeling quite nervous. She hadn't meant to grab him so tightly, but she was afraid to slip off, given their unusually fast speed and continual elevation. Unknown to Lucille, Sirius smirked as he kept Buckbeak accelerating higher and faster.

At the stile of Dervish and Banges, Sirius landed Buckbeak and tethered him to the stile. Lucille glanced around anxiously, and was relieved to see no people. Sirius handed her a full bag and a piece of parchment.

"That's the money and the list." Lucille glanced at the list.

"This is it? Food and a wand? This is a waste of paper," she scoffed. "And no offense, but you could really use some hygiene productsdon't worry, I'll take care of you," Lucille told him confidently.

"Lucille, I'm going into hiding, no one will care what I look like," Sirius protested.

"Ah-ah-ah! That's exactly why. Once I get you cleaned up, no one will recognize you!"

"Oh God…"

"Hey, this is my forte; just trust me," Lucille reassured him. Sirius transformed into the dog, and he and Lucille walked towards the shops. Surprisingly, no store managers had much of a problem with Sirius's being inside, as long as he kept his paws to himself. The first shop they went into they got groceries and it seemed like Lucille was getting ten of everything. She slipped into Honeydukes as well, getting an approving look from Sirius (or at least as much as an approving look as a dog can give.). Finally she went to her favorite shop, a boutique that sold many different beauty supplies for witches: Anti-wart cream, Hair Sleeker, Tooth Whitener, the aisles went on and on. Lucille could hear Sirius whine ever so slightly with ever bottle of shampoo, conditioner, or body wash she put in her basket, and at the scissors as well. He actually growled at her when she looked at a manicure set, and she frowned at him and firmly placed it in the basket.

"Nail care is super important," she insisted. "If you look at someone's nails, you can tell exactly what kind of person they are." Her own nails were acrylic French tips. Lucille felt she must have looked pretty silly talking to a dog in a boutique, but she figured if Elle Woods could get her Chihuahua highlights and dress him in little pink outfits in Legally Blonde, she could talk to Sirius at the least. When they finally left, Lucille glanced at the list and tapped it against her chin thoughtfully.

"Now for a wand…but where can I get you a wand here?" she pondered. Sirius nudged her down a back alley way and about halfway down, he scratched at the brick wall of the left building. Suddenly, a door came into view. Sirius nodded and as Lucille was about to knock, the door swung open to reveal and ancient man who was shorter than Lucille by a few inches, and blind.

"What are you waiting for?" he asked in a raspy voice. "Hurry, get inside!"

Inside was bright and warm and cheerful, which Lucille found odd but very welcome after the dreary dark alley. The smell of chamomile and poppies wafted about clouding her mind in just the slightest.

"I've been waiting for you a very long time, what took you so long?" he asked grumpily.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Lucille asked, feeling confused. Why had he been waiting for her if she hadn't even known he or this shop had been in Hogsmeade?

"Well I've been waiting for another person at least; it does get rather quiet in here by myself." Lucille breathed a sigh of relief. She was worried she was going insane. "Now, what are you looking for, my dear?" croaked the old man.

"I need a wand," Sirius answered, and Lucille noticed that he'd returned to his human form. She also noticed the old man jerk at the sound of Sirius's voice, and a bewildered look creased his face.

"Name?" the blind man asked in almost a whisper, his fingertips grazing his chin.

" Obscurus Black," Sirius answered without missing a beat.

"Ah, Obscurus; to hide or conceal…but a member of the Black family that was never mentioned?" the old man question, a brow raised.

"What if I was the son of Sirius? I certainly wouldn't be spoken of then," Sirius answered, a smiled playing on his lips.

"Quite true; I suppose I'll put it on the family account then," the man said, a smirked that seemed familiar to Lucille coming to his face.

"No, no, no. That won't be necessary. It must never be mentioned that I was here, Uncle Alphard," Sirius told him quickly. The blind man let a out a scratchy laugh.

"Honestly, Sirius my boy, I don't understand why you ever try to disguise yourself to me when you'll always give yourself away. You know you're the only one who ever called me 'uncle,'" Alphard said. He welcomed Sirius in a hug. "I wish I could tell you what a fine, strong young man you've turned out to be, but I haven't been seeing much of anything since you were, what, seventeen?" Alphard laughed his raspy laugh again. "And what's this about you mass murdering thirteen people? I've been meaning to ask you, but I haven't seen you around for quite some timenot that I've really been seeing much of anything. Thirteen is such an unlucky number too. What did I always tell you Sirius?"

"Make friends, not enemies," Sirius recited warily as Alphard waved his finger to prompt him.

"Make friends, not enemies…friends, not enemies," Alphard repeated to himself under his breath. "Did I really say that? Well, that's catchy, I must try to remember that one," he said happily. Sirius rolled his eyes at Lucille and she let out a small giggle. "Regardless, about you killing people…"

"Uncle Alphard, they framed me" Sirius began indignantly, but Alphard waved him off, laughing.

"I just like yanking your chain, lad. I had a feeling. Don't get your knickers in a twist; I know you better than that. Now, who's this?" he asked, turning to his left, where no one stood.

"Your other side, Uncle," Sirius said, turning him to face Lucille, who was at Sirius's left.

"Well, who is she, more importantly," Alphard said impatiently. He took Lucille's hands in both of his and smiled at her. "That's my nephew for you; can't take a bloody minute to focus and give a proper introduction of his wife to his uncle," he said. Sirius's jaw dropped. "It's a surprise you were able to settle the boy down at all, what with killing people and being thrown in Azkaban," he joked. Lucille's jaw dropped as well and he eyes widened.

"Whwhat?"

"Oh Sirius, you truly are a dolt," Alphard said annoyed, turning to him with a grimace. "You married the girl and didn't even tell her about your past?" Sirius turned bright red.

"No Alphard, Lucille isn't my wife," Sirius said exasperatedly. "She'sshe's just a friend." Alphard clucked his tongue.

"Yes, that's how they all start out, isn't it," he said, bumping into a wheeled chair on his way to the shelves full of wands. "Well, to the point. Since you've been gone, I've been experimenting with new magical cores. This one I'm particularly excited about; I started trying hair from the tails of pegasi, and this wand," he said pulling a box from the shelf and opening it, "is made with a Thestral's hair." He offered the box to Sirius, and Sirius picked up the wand and inspected it. "Holly, pretty flexible, about fourteen inches. I just know it's for you." Sirius admired the tiny carving of a dog on the handle. Knowing that his favorite uncle had still thought of him and missed him made him smile and he felt touched. He rose the wand and tip began to glow, and the silvery bird similar to a phoenix flowed out. It was Sirius's Patronus of course; what it was exactly, he was never sure, but large and graceful, and it usually didn't stray too far from his side when it appeared. Even now, it was perched somewhat on his shoulder. Lucille gave a faint "oh!" and Sirius remembered she was there.

"It's such a lovely Patronus; I've never seen a swan one," she said softly. Sirius raised a brow and glanced at his Patronus.

"I was never quite sure what it was…I mean, I knew it was a bird obviously; the wings, but that was it. Guess I just forgot about swans. I can't even think of why it'd be a swanI've never even seen one up close."

"Well, now that you have your wand, my boy, I expect you'll be on the run again," Alphard spoke up as the swan began to fade. Sirius nodded as he watched it fade.

"Yes, afraid so, Alphard," he said disappointedly. He hugged Alphard and Alphard shook his hand.

"Good luck Sirius; with the ministry, you'll need it. And Miss? Miss Lucille, am I right? Please take good care of my nephew. He'll need all your help on his journey."

"But I won't be going with him"

"You say that now. Trust me, I know how things work. And if you do get the chance, do tell Amelia that I send my greetings." Lucille nodded, and then realized that Alphard couldn't see her.

"Yes, of course," she said.

"It was lovely meeting you," Alphard said, bowing to them as they stood on the doorstep.

"You too," Lucille answered, still feeling a bit shy.

"Sirius, do be careful," Alphard warned him yet again. Sirius grinned at Lucille as he rolled his eyes.

"Yes Alphard, really; have a little faith in me. It's not as though I'm going to go waltzing into the Ministry of magic anytime soon." Alphard smiled tiredly.

"I always have faith in you, boy. But just look before you leap," he implored. He paused. "I love you, Sirius," he added roughly. Sirius surprised him with a tight hug.

"I love you too Alphard," he said getting all choked up. It was rare, if never to hear a member of Sirius's family admit to caring about each othereven for Alphard, who was not unlike Sirius. Alphard broke the hug awkwardly though and wished them luck one last time

Sirius and Lucille stepped out of the doorway and as Sirius transformed into a dog, the door closed behind them. Lucille tried not blink, but in the nanosecond that she did, the door had disappeared.

"How do other people find your uncle's shop?" Lucille asked, but then saw that Sirius couldn't answer her because he was a big black dog. "Oh well. We're going back to camp now, and I get to totally remake you," she said in a sing-song voice, and she couldn't help but laugh as Sirius whined pitifully.

Bonus points for those who can tell me what the title of this chapter means!