:Chapter Nine:

It was already Wednesday when James and Sirius woke up the next morning. Today they would we meeting Peter and Remus in Diagon Alley.

James' mother had arranged a portkey and a few minutes to eleven, Sirius and James left home and within seconds, they arrived in a music shop next to Gringotts. They went outside and walked towards the owl shop. From a distance, they saw Remus was already waiting for them. When he had spotted his friends, he hurried over.

"Hi," he said enthusiastically.

"Hey." "Hi." His friends responded.

"How are you?" Remus asked, as they walked back to the owl shop to wait for Peter.

"I'm fine. How about you?" James replied.

"Oh, I'm alright. You Padfoot?"

"I'm fine," Sirius said with a friendly smile on his face. He wondered why Remus didn't ask him about his arm, but he presumed that Remus had his reasons.

James checked his watch. "And who's late again?"

"Wormtail." They all said together, followed by laughter.

"Oh my god!" James suddenly blurted out, giving Sirius an elbow in the ribs.

James had spotted Peter, who in his turn spotted them and came over.

"He brought his-" James said quietly, but there was no time for gossip. "Hi Peter. Mrs Pettigrew, Mr Pettigrew." He added friendly facing Peter… and his parents.

Remus gestured Sirius to close his mouth which had fallen open in disbelieve.

"'Lo," Peter muttered, turning red in the face.

"Hello James," Mrs Pettigrew said. "Sirius, Remus."

"Hi," Sirius said suppressing a laugh, being followed by a friendly 'hello' from Remus who was more able to keep a straight face.

"Well Peter," his mother said, "If you wait here, your father and I will get you boys something from the sweetshop."

All four of the boys smiled friendly but said nothing. When Peter's parents had disappeared inside the shop, both James and Sirius broke out.

"Peter!"

Peter fidgeted at his shirt. "Hey, I'm sorry guys! It's not my fault. They wanted to come with me."

"And why's that?" James asked, not believing his ears.

"Dunno… maybe they think I'll get lost in Gringotts or won't be able to deal with the money for my school stuff or something…"

Sirius had an expression on his face as if Peter just told him meat wasn't for sale anymore.

"For heaven's sake, Worm…"

"Hey, guys," Remus cut in. "They're here and we can hardly send them back home, can we? Now, listen. If you, Peter, just ask your parents the money you need and some pocket money, we'll tell them that you're with us and that you're safe from any harm."

"Is he?..." James said, giving Sirius another elbow and a wink.

Sirius grinned at Peter. Ten he turned to Remus. "That'll work." he said.

At that moment, the shop door opened again and Peter's parents came out, each holding two lollypops.

"There you go," They handed them to the boys and they thanked them politely.

"Dad?..." Peter started, "Is it okay if you give me some money so I can go with them? Then you can go… -er- "

"Looking around yourselves, not having to look after him." Sirius finished, used to Peter's lack of imagination.

Mr Pettigrew looked at his wife. "Well… I don't know…"

"Don't worry. We'll enjoy ourselves," Remus said smiling.

Peter was biting his lip. "Please?"

"Oh, alright." Mr Pettigrew said, taking out his pouch. "But I do not want you to spend it only on sweets and rubbish."

"No-ho…" Peter said embarrassed, taking some money from his father.

First the four boys went to Gringotts to get their money.
"Sirius?" Peter asked.

"Hm?"
"What happened to your arm?"
Sirius thought for a moment. Then he decided Peter didn't have to know what happened. He wouldn't understand, anyway.

"Oh, I injured my wrist while wanking myself off." He said seriously.
James and Remus snorted.
"No," Sirius finally said. "It got caught between a door when I was in a hurry."
"Does it hurt a lot?" Peter asked.
"Nah. At least not anymore."
They had arrived ant the entrance and they went in. Sirius walked over to a goblin, while James let himself be helped by the one next to Sirius'. Sirius handed over his key.

"Vault number 711. I'd like to get a hundred Galleons out and could you lie this back in?"

He placed a small bag on the counter.

"That'll cost twenty Sickles if you're not coming along." The goblin said sternly.

"What!" Sirius blurted out, "Since when?"

"Last week."

Sirius sighed irritably.

"Fine. Just- take it out of my vault, then."

"What's in the bag?" James asked curiously, handing over his key.

"Pounds."

"What?"

"Muggle money, Mr Airhead. I told you at least three times already."

Remus, who was standing behind them, laughed.

When they got their money, they left for Quality Quidditch Supplies; the one shop in Diagon Alley that had as good as everything involving Quidditch. James bought some new stuff for his upcoming Quidditch year.

"What about this one?"

They were all laughing their heads off, when James was trying on all sorts of bathing-cap like hats, to prevent hair coming into your eyes whilst flying on a broom.

"Or this one?"

This time James tried a bright green one.

"Nice accessory for the Slytherin team." Sirius said through his laughter.

"The grey one suited you the best, Prongs." Remus said. "Made you look like a seal!"

They all laughed again. James lay the cap back again after a while and walked over to blackboard hanging from the wall. There was a broom magically drawn on it, fully in detail. The broom circled around it's centre. There was a text written underneath it.

The Nimbus 1700

The second and newest broom in the Nimbus series.

The handle is made from the same material as the Nimbus 1500, only this one is now treated with a coating as hard as steel.

It's acceleration of 0 – 90 miles an hour in twelve seconds, makes it the fastest broom of all.

Out in November!

Order it now, here at the Quality Quidditch Supplies and get a discount of 10

"Dad said I'll probably get it for my birthday. If I would behave, that is." James said dreamily, looking at the circling drawing of the broom.

"Forget it, James." Remus said softly, letting out a tiny snort.

"Looks great," Peter said.

"It sure does…" James said. "Anyway. Let's pay this and get some candy."

So James paid his polishing refill kit and new gloves and they left the shop.

Once in the sweetshop, Peter bought some Berty Bott's and licorice balls, Remus bought chocolate frogs and some chemical green coloured lemonade, called DDD ( Dentist Dissuaded Drink). James also bought himself Berty Bott's and a bag of fudge. Sirius bought his usual bag of Whimpering Waffles.

"Muggles have them too, you know." He said as they had paid and left the shop, stepping into the sunlight again.

"They only have a different name. They're called treacle waffles, but they taste just as heavenly as ours. Want one?" he held the bag open to his friends.

"Better watch your diet, Padfoot," Remus said, while taking a waffle from Sirius. "Or you'll get fat."

"I don't have a diet." Sirius replied.

"How come you stay this thin, anyway?" Peter said, a tone of jealousy clearly hearable in his voice. "I mean… you're eating almost the whole day but you never gain any weight!"

Sirius shrugged. "I eat the whole day, because I'm almost hungry all day. My body clearly needs all that energy."

"And what is it that makes your body so hungry for energy?" Remus asked, knowing all too well Sirius wasn't the sportive kind of guy.

"Well…" Sirius started cheekily, a broad grin spreading across his face.

"Oh, sweet Merlin! Don't say it! We don't need to know." James said disgustedly, screwing up his face.

And as they did so many times that day, they laughed.