Chaprer Thirty-Two
A/N Thanks to everyone who reviewed, followed, and favorited. Now since I don't know what the layout of Diagon Alley would be, I'm simply picking stores and places at random. If anyone knows any different, please let me know. I'll also be fixing the rest of my chapters soon. Thanks for all your help.
Sirius and Remus took Harry's hands as they stepped down off Gringotts' front steps. Harry's eyes seemed to bug out and zoom everywhere all at once as he tried to look at everything at once.
"Wow," he breathed.
"You like it, huh pup?" said Sirius, "your eyes look about ready to pop."
Harry nodded enthusiastically, "it's brilliant!"
Remus smiled, "what are we waiting for? Let's go look around."
"Where to?" asked Sirius.
"I want to see the Quidditch shop, the book store and that joke shop you told me about," said Harry, "but I can't decide where I want to see first." He said.
"Well," said Remus, aiming Harry in a direction, "since the Quidditch store is right there, why don't we go there first?"
"OK!" exclaimed Harry, bouncing with excitement, "let's go!"
"All right pup, we're going," said Sirius, laughing at Harry, who was tugging excitedly on their arms.
…..
After over an hour (and three shopping bags full) in the Quidditch store, (much too long in Remus' opinion, but it was for Harry) they headed for the bookstore, only a little way down the Alley. Sirius shrank the bags and put them in his pocket while Remus kept an eye on Harry, who was currently bouncing around the store looking at all the different books.
"Can I help you, young man?" asked a shop assistant, approaching Harry from the back of the store.
Harry turned and beamed a smile at the man, "I love books!" he said.
The assistant smiled, "that's good to hear. Maybe I can show you some books that are easier to read for kids your age." He said, pointing to a shelf full of children's picture books.
"Hey I read that one before!" smiled Harry, pointing at a display of The Tales of Beedle the Bard.
"And this one too!" he smiled as he picked up Hogwarts: A History.
"That's a bit old for you, isn't it?" asked the amazed assistant.
Harry shrugged, "I don't know, I just read the books that look interesting."
Remus walked over from where he'd been browsing and keeping an eye on Harry. His eyes had not left the cub as soon as the assistant had approached him.
"My nephew is very bright," said Remus, holding out his hand for the assistant to shake, "we usually let him pick whatever he wants to read. Within reason, of course."
The assistant smiled, "of course."
The two men continued to talk as Sirius joined Harry.
…
Two hours, (and sixteen books) later they left the bookstore and headed down the alley, stopping the different stores. As it was getting late, they walked to the Apparition point to head home, over Harry's objections "just a little longer?" he begged.
Remus ruffled his hair, "we'll come back, don't worry cub."
Sirius smiled, "it's getting late pup. We need to get home. It'll bw dark soon."
Harty gave that exasperated sigh that only young children can manage, "Ok, but we will come back, right?"
Sirius smiled and picked him up, getting ready to Apparate, "you bet! Now let's go home."
….
After dinner was finished, Harry curled up on an armchair to read one of his new books. Remus sat with one of his own while Sirius turned on the telly with the volume on low.
..…
Albus Dumbledore entered his office with a sigh. The International Confederation of Wizards meeting was always a trying one. For some reason, they never seemed to look to him like the British Wizarding world did. Like they were supposed to. Ah well, he thought as he seated himself behind the desk and popped a lemon drop in his mouth, they'll soon come around.
He looked around the office at all his gadgets spinning merrily. The only concern was that the health monitor he'd placed on the boy hadn't changed. He'd only put it there to make sure that the Dursleys didn't go too far. Though the non existence of any abuse in the last couple years can probably be explained, he thought exasperatedly, they must be afraid of the boy's godfather. Damn Black. Him being free was every bit as annoying as I thought it would be. He popped another lemon drop. At least he hasn't found out about any abuse. Now that would be a disaster. He would immediately remove the boy, and that would be the death of all his plans. Bad enough he and the werewolf were visiting the boy, if he didn't have the influence of the Dursleys….. He sighed and ate another lemon drop. At least they haven't told him about magic yet. On that, at least, they still obeyed my wishes.
…..
Two weeks later, the little family had another 'visit' with Arabella Figg. After she watched them subtly (or not so much) signing to each other from where she was bringing tea and biscuits for them.
She came in set the plate of biscuits on the coffee table, and asked, "so how long had Harry known about magic?"
Remus and Sirius gasped, and Harry looked sheepish.
"W-what do you mean?" asked Sirius.
"Oh, don't bother," said Arabella, taking a cup of tea and sitting in her usual seat, "it's obvious you know each other better than our few short 'visits' would allow. I have to say the sign language is brilliant, but I've been living in the Muggle world long enough to at least recognize it even if I don't know what you're saying."
All three looked at her gobsmacked. They squirmed under her knowing gaze.
'If it's Albus you're worried about, I'd never tell him," Arabella smiled and sipped her tea, "after all, I haven't yet. And I noticed the sign language our first meeting and never said a word."
Harry smiled, "I found a trunk my parents left for me when I was 5."
Sirius smiled, "Harry finding that trunk was what got me out of Azkaban."
Arabella's eyebrows went up, "Oh? Tell me more."
Remus smiled, "would you mind if we sweep your house for charms first? It's not that we don't trust you, but…"
"Of course! Go right ahead," said Arabella.
Remus waved his wand in a complicated pattern and got no response. He proceeded to the other rooms to do the same. Five minutes later he was back.
"There were two," he said, sitting down, "one here and one in the room that was Harry's when he stayed overnight. It's lucky I cast Muffliato when we first came in."
Arabella gasped, "oh! I never even thought of that! How DARE he?!"
"Apparently he dares a lot," grumbled Sirius, "there are many things I intend to bring up with him, once Harry starts at Hogwarts. Care to join me? He asked with a grin on his face.
Arabella smiled a smile that did not bode well for one Albus Dumbledore, "if you'll give a lady a lift, I would LOVE to join you," she said, "I may be a Squib, but I can still brew a decent potion. And a few other things I can name."
Both Remus and Sirius shuddered at her tone, while Harry perked up.
"Cool!" he said excitedly,"can you teach me Potions? It looks really cool, but Remus says he only has to look at a cauldron and it melts. Sirius says he only did enough for Auror training."
Arabella smiled, "I think I can manage that."
Harry smiled widely and took a biscuit from the plate, "thank you!"
"You're welcome dear," Arabella said, "and I want to say I'm sorry for giving you a hard time when you came over. I didn't think those people would let you come back if you had fun here."
Harry smiled, "that's OK. They probably wouldn't have let me go anywhere I thought was fun."
Sirius and Remus smiled as they sipped their tea, "maybe we should talk," said Remus.
"Yes we should," said Arabella.
