Always By Your Side

Chapter 9: A Day in Diagon Alley

DISCLAIMER: I do not own J.K. Rowling's work.

A/N: This chapter is mostly just idle scenes, things I needed to put somewhere to "stuff" my story with. Sorry for the long delay! Please review! Thanks to all who did!

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Katarina's PoV

"The Elixer of Life? How is that possible?" asked Remus, sounding excited. He still looked shaken up from my memory, but he was slowly recovering.

"Yes, I was doing some extended research for my great-great-grandfather. You may have heard of him, he's a rather famous alchemist. Nicolas Flamel?" I watched with faint amusement as Remus' eyes widened in recognition and his jaw fell open. Sirius watched, stuffing his fist in his mouth to muffle his distinct snickering. We both knew that Nicolas Flamel was totally and unreservedly revered by Remus, hailed as one of the greatest alchemists and researchers of his time.

"If you would like, I could introduce you to him. I'm sure you two would get along marvelously, both of you being researchers in defense," I went on smoothly.

"I would like that very much. Thank you!" Remus exclaimed. His face split into a wide grin, and his eyes lit up. I was so pleased to get such a response from the usually very quiet and reserved Remus.

The four of us spent the rest of the day lounging around the lakeside, playing and laughing. We tested Harry's Empath senses, and discovered that they stretched to images that were on our minds as well. I discovered that, in this way, Harry could communicate with all animals through a process we dubbed Imaging. We watched as Harry screwed up his face in concentration to ask a tiny bird to land on his arm. Harry was delighted when the baby bird complied to his wishes and trilled lightly from his perch of Harry's shoulder. The million-watt smile on his adorable face shone like a beacon.

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Katarina's PoV

I frowned in concentration as I studied the bubbling potion in front of me. It was supposed to be a cloudy blue that gave off a faint scent of lavender. Instead, I had managed to produce multi-colored steam that rose in a hazy mist from the whistling cauldron. I squinted and tried to look closer at the potions book, but the haze was just too thick. I glared at the botched potion, and sighed with resignation.

"Perhaps this would help," a voice said from behind me. I whipped around and a smile broke across my face as I saw Severus standing there with clear bottle of hellebore in his hand.

"That's what I forgot!" I exclaimed. I opened the cork, and was about to dump the contents of the bottle unceremoniously into the cauldron, when a pale hand stopped me.

"First, you have to stir the potion seven times, remember?"

"Right," I sighed. I grabbed the ladle I had been using as a stirrer and started vigorously splashing the potion around in the cauldron.

"Counterclockwise," Severus gently reminded me. He corrected my hand movement and guided me through the stirring motion as if I were a first year – a first year he was being extremely patient with, I corrected myself, laughing inwardly.

After about another hour of the process – Severus anticipating and correcting my mistakes, and frustration growing inside myself – I finally finished brewing my potion. I looked proudly at the finished potion, which was not a particularly complex potion, but nonetheless, a big accomplishment for me, since I am not the greatest potion-maker.

I flopped down on the work bench inside the small space I had set aside in my quarters for a laboratory. I pushed my hair out of my face, fanning myself all the while. I looked around my desk, rummaging through stacks of parchments and graded essays, looking for something to tie my hair back with.

"Looking for this?" Severus held up a small brush and rubber band. I smiled at my brother and seated myself in front of him, sitting on a small stool.

Severus ran the brush slowly through my long hair, taking care not to yank my scalp from the many tangles embedded within my hair. I smiled reminiscently, as I was reminded of when we were little. Severus had always done my hair for me, with as much time and care as he was now.

I sighed softly as the brush ran smoothly through the strands of my hair. The soft strokes of Severus' hand were even and perfectly timed. I grinned wryly as the thought that he was treating me like a delicate potion ran through my head. Severus drew up my dark, tumbling locks into a high ponytail, running the brush over a final time.

The rest of the evening was spent in companionable silence in the living room of my quarters. I was curled up in a sofa in front of a leaping fire, while Severus read one of his dearly loved potions books. I fell asleep sometime later, and only awakened slightly when I felt my twin lift me up effortlessly and carry me to my bedroom. I sought the warmth of the couch I had left behind, and was immediately appeased by the covers curling up to my chin. I felt a ghost of a kiss brush my forehead, and then the soothing presence of my brother was gone.

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Katarina's PoV

The next morning, I awoke from a pleasant slumber, the sound of the early morning birds reaching my ears. I yawned and took a luxurious amount of time getting ready to go downstairs. As I brushed my dark hair, a knock sounded at the door. I went to go answer the door, a rubber band still in my mouth and my hair gathered in my hands.

Sirius was leaning against the doorjamb. I waved him in and carried on getting ready rather haphazardly. Sirius just watched me dashing about my room with no little amusement.

I yanked some socks on, pulled a warm sweater over my head, and was about to grab my coat, when I remembered that I had let my hair down after answering the door, and went back to my bathroom to grab the rubber band and brush I had left. I discovered they were somewhere else in the room, and dashed around for a while, before Sirius spoke up.

"Why don't you just use magic?" he asked bemusedly. I looked up, a shadow crossing my face for the fleetest moment.

"Habit, I suppose," I answered softly. I hadn't done my hair by magic the six months I was imprisoned, since my wand was taken, and I had just become accustomed to it. I raised my wand and tapped my hair, feeling it become pinned neatly. After a slightly uncomfortable pause during which I knew Sirius had noticed he had hit a sore subject, I picked my jacket off from the ground.

I could tell Sirius was distressed by the look on his face, but he was eased somewhat when I faced him with a slightly forced smile on my face and said, "Let's go."

We left my quarters and went to go pick up Remus and Harry for an outing in Diagon Alley.

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Katarina's PoV

"So, where shall we go first?" Remus asked. He pushed Harry in a stroller in front of him, leading our way down the cobbled street.

"Well, I have to pick up something from Madam Ilkin's Jewelry Store. Why don't I meet up with you at Flourish and Blott's in…half an hour?" I suggested. Remus and Sirius agreed, and we went our separate ways.

When I turned my back to the three of them, I breathed a tiny sigh of relief. It was Remus' birthday soon, and I had yet to buy him a gift, so I had named a store I knew they were highly reluctant to enter, and therefore easy to send somewhere else while I bought the present.

Now, I was faced with the dilemma of where to go to purchase Remus' gift. I wanted to give my friend a special present, for Remus had been so good to me since I had first come to Hogwarts. I also didn't want to buy Remus something he would thank me for enthusiastically, set somewhere, and never think of again. No, I wanted to get him something he would cherish forever. Something that would be really meaningful to him…

Suddenly, I was struck with inspiration, and I walked purposefully down the road. When I entered Madam Laicep's Custom Store, small bells tinkled and alerted the clerk that a customer who knew what they had in mind had come in. Wiping cleaning solution from his hand onto his apron, the clerk set aside the enchanting crystal ball he had been working on and shook my hand.

"What are you looking for, ma'am? Anything in particular that you see, or is there something you would like custom-made?" he asked me.

"I have a special order that I would like to place," I replied. I bent over to whisper my idea in the clerk's ear. The clerk's eyes widened as he listened to my rather special request.

"Are you able to fill my order, sir?" I asked.

"Of course, ma'am, but it'll be quite pricey. Around two hundred Galleons, I'd wager," the clerk responded. "Would you still like your request to be placed?"

"I would," I replied firmly. "When shall I bring the payment?"

"The money is not due until the customer has inspected and is fully satisfied with the order. I shall send along a date in an owl from when you may visit the store to pick up the item requested. The specific payment will be noted in the owl as well."

"How soon can my order be completed by?"

"As soon as possible, ma'am, faster if necessary. Do you have a specific date you would like the item to be finished by?"

"If you can carry out my order by next week Wednesday, that would be marvelous," I said. Remus' birthday would be that Friday – February twelfth – so I would have plenty of time to pick up my order.

"An owl will be sent by in a few days," the clerk responded.

"Thank you very much. Good day," I said, bowing to the clerk. Leaving the store, I looked down at my watch and discovered that I had only ten minutes left before Sirius and Remus would surely panic and raise an alarm. Chuckling at the thought, I hurried along the long, cobbled street of Diagon Alley.

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Katarina's PoV

"What an absolutely gorgeous day," I said. I took a deep lungful of the fresh February air, sighing with pleasure. The sun was shining down on us from a cloudless azure sky, with a crisp breeze kicking up a few papers lying around along the street.

I pulled my jacket tighter around my body, feeling a bit chilled. Although my coat was thick, with fur lining on the inside, I still didn't feel any warmer. Sirius frowned down at me and shrugged off his own coat, placing it snugly around my shoulders. I flashed a grateful smile up at his face, feeling a bit more heated.

Daringly, I reached up on my tiptoes and pecked his cheek quickly. I didn't look at Sirius for the next five minutes, so I missed the surprised and pleased look that graced his face for a brief minute before he schooled his expression so it didn't look as though he were too pleased.

When I dared to sneak a peek at Sirius' face, I saw his grin a bit foolishly and my breathing became a tad quicker. My face heated up with embarrassment, and a rosy flush crept up my neck. Although I didn't know it, Remus grinned knowingly behind us, falling behind with Harry on purpose.

I was still feeling somewhat chilled, and Sirius noticed. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, keeping me warmer with his body heat.

Bending his head toward me, Sirius asked in a concerned tone, "Are you feeling warmer? We should go back if you're feeling sick." I looked up at Sirius and my heartbeat sped up as I noticed his close proximity.

"I'm alright, just a little cold," I stammered out a reply. Listen to yourself! You sound like a silly schoolgirl who has a crush! I chastised myself inwardly. As I looked up, though, it seemed as if the world had simply stopped. All I heard was a dull roar rushing past my ears, because I was too busy gazing at the adorable way Sirius' hair flopped into the clear blue eyes that held true concern for me. Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I gently shrugged off Sirius' arm. I twisted around and saw Remus trailing behind with Harry, pretending to be window-shopping. I waved them over, feeling a little embarrassed that Remus had felt the need to give us private space.

"Let's go get some drinks, guys!" I said, perhaps a little too enthusiastically. Remus had noticed, I could tell, but he let it slide and led the way to the Three Broomsticks for a few warm drinks.

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Katarina's PoV

When we got back to Hogwarts, I retired to my quarters, claiming fatigue. I knew Remus didn't believe it for a minute – sometimes that man was just too quick for his own good! – but he knew I needed some space; for what, he didn't know, but Remus was all too understanding. He threw up some excuse for Sirius to come into his office while I went to my private rooms.

I sat on the rug that I had brought from my flat. It had been a gift from my mother when I had turned eighteen, a decoration for the flat I had moved into. Fingering the skilled craftsmanship, I allowed my thoughts to wander back to the events earlier that day.

I sighed, as I admitted to myself that I was strongly attracted to Sirius. I couldn't help myself. His charisma, his charm, and his handsome features pulled me toward him. But, as I told myself firmly, I couldn't have any sort of relationship with anyone now. It would be far too dangerous. So, I concluded, I would have to make sure that our relationship didn't go any farther than friendship. I had toed the line this morning, but I swore to myself that I would never again…even if my heart broke.

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Sirius' PoV

I paced around in Moony's study, back and forth in front of the warm fire.

"Stop pacing, you're driving me mad! Besides, you're wearing out my carpet," Remus said finally, after about twenty minutes had passed. In response, I dejectedly flopped onto the couch situated in front of the fire. I glared for some minutes at the fire, which in my opinion, was too happy, dancing merrily behind the iron grate. Finally, I broke the silence.

"I don't understand. First, she kisses me, and then she pushes me away! What am I doing wrong, Moony?" I cried in frustration.

"You're not doing anything wrong, Padfoot. I expect she's simply confused. Perhaps about her feelings, your feelings, maybe even things that have happened in the past. You may have simply triggered some memory that she doesn't want to remember. It doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't have feelings for you, Sirius," Remus responded in his ever-calm, soothing voice. "I suggest you just give her some space to figure something out."

"Yeah, you're right, Moony. Well, you're always right, but this time you're really right, right, Moony? Yeah, you're right," I babbled. I was so relieved on some rational explanation for the current predicament I was in. Remus looked as if he were having some difficulty holding his laughter in, but he managed it.

"Yes, give her a few days, then hit her with the old Sirius Black charm," he said, choking back chuckles.

"Yeah, you're right, Moony. Of course, you're right. Well, you're always right – "

"Sirius?"

"Yeah, Moony?"

"Shut up."

"Right."

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A/N: How was that? I was planning to put some more scenes in this chapter, but it was getting a little too long so I decided to just cut it. Please review! Thank you!

tenniStar514