Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Except for Silas… and I really wish I didn't… He annoys me…
Chapter 3
Sirius Black folded the paper up and put it on the coffee table in front of him. Things had been so strange the past eleven years, and he had no idea what to do about it.
He rubbed his temples, thinking. James and Lily, two of his best friends, had turned on him because he said that it was unfair to leave Harry out when they were playing with Silas. It seemed like the couple had totally forgotten the promise they had made all those years ago; to cherish and love all of their children.
There was a whooshing sound that drew his attention to the fireplace. 'I wonder who it could be, he thought idly, standing up to greet whoever was coming through. The fireplace flashed green, and a man in deep purple robes stepped out. The old man brushed off his clothes and looked up at Sirius.
"Ah, Sirius, the very person I was looking for!" He exclaimed cheerfully, eyes glittering behind moon-shaped spectacles.
"Professor Dumbledore? What are you doing here? Isn't it kind of late for social calls?"
The professor laughed. "I'm not your professor anymore, so you can just call me Albus." He moved forward and sat down in one of the chairs, acting like it was his own home.
"This is no social call. You may want to sit down, my boy." He said, and leaned forward in his chair. "I have a proposition for you."
Harry entered the dining room, wiping sleep from his eyes. He moved over to the kitchen and looked around. Silas was already there at the table eating his breakfast of bacon and eggs. Their mother, Lily, was humming a small tune and flitting around the kitchen making more food for herself and James. Harry, as usual, would have to make his own breakfast.
The doorbell rang and there was a loud clattering noise, and the door opening. Soon the voices of uncle Moony and James could be heard approaching. The kitchen door opened and the two friends came in.
Lily turned around and smiled as they entered.
"Remus, it's wonderful to see you! We were just sitting down to breakfast, so come join us."
James pounded Remus on the back. "You've got to stay, our little wonder boy should be receiving his letter this morning," he said, grinning.
Remus was confused. "Already? He's only ten though."
"The headmaster decided that since the older one was going to Hogwarts this year, Silas should go too so that he wouldn't feel left out." Lily had a mischievous look in her eyes, and was bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.
There was a tapping at the window, and James opened it to let a large tawny owl in. It lifted up a leg, waiting for the man to take off the two letters that were attached. James slid the letters off and wandered over to the table. "It's here!" He told them, smiling broadly, giving Silas his and tossing the other one carelessly on the table. "Open it, Silas. Go ahead."
Harry watched as Silas opened his letter, encouraged by Lily and James. Sadly, he reached forward, picked up the letter that lay forgotten on the table, and wandered off to his room again, stopping at the window to give the owl a pat before it flew off.
Remus saw Harry go, and excused himself with the excuse that he had to go to the bathroom. Out in the hall, he saw Harry sitting on the stairs, looking down at the letter in his hands. He looked up as his surrogate uncle approached.
"Hey uncle Moony." He mumbled in greeting.
"Hey there, pup. Aren't you happy to be going?" He asked, sitting down next to the eleven year old.
Harry looked up, startled. "What? Oh, yes. Of course." He said hastily, giving a small smile, but Remus could see that the boy's heart wasn't in it. He grabbed the boy in a playful headlock and ruffled the boy's messy black hair to make it even messier.
"Hey, uncle Moony, Stop it." He said, laughing slightly.
Remus put up a finger and poked the boy on the nose.
"Alright, but you have to tell me why you're not happy."
Sighing, Harry nodded, and Remus released him from the headlock. "Alright. I'm glad to be going, but how will I buy everything? My mom and dad will be far to busy buying Silas all of his things to even spare me moments glance."
Remus sighed heavily, and suddenly had a thought. "Hey, pup. How 'bout this. I'm going to take you down to Diagon Alley, and I'll buy all your school supplies. I might even take you to visit Padfoot in his apartment there."
Harry's face glowed. "Really? You mean it? When are we going?" He asked, jumping to his feet.
Remus stood up a little slower. "We can go right now if you want."
"Yes!" Harry cheered, punching the air with his fist.
Smiling and shaking his head, Remus headed over to the kitchen. Poking his head in, he called out "I'm going now. And congratulations on your letter, Silas."
"Alright. See ya' round Moony."
"Later Prongs." Remus called back
When he returned, he saw that Harry was already standing in front of the main fireplace. "Are we going now?"
"Yup." Remus replied, ruffling the boy's hair.
"Oy, stop it Moony!"
Remus just laughed and tossed the floo powder into the flames. "Diagon Alley" he called, and disappeared with a 'whooshing' sound.
Harry grinned and fixed his hair before following.
Harry got out of the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron and brushed the soot off him. Remus was already there, and he started grinning again when he saw Harry. "Ready to go?"
"You betch'a" Harry said, smiling softly.
Diagon Alley was much larger than Harry remembered, but that wasn't surprising since that last time he went was when he had to get nice clothes for Silas' party five years ago. He smiled fondly, remembering the three kids he had met. I wonder if they'll be at Hogwarts with me, he mused.
"Where to first?" Remus asked, looking down at Harry.
"Well, I suppose we should get my robes." Harry mumbled, looking down at his list of supplies.
Getting everything took much quicker than they thought it would, and they were done by noon. Remus suggested that they stick around for lunch, and then they could do some browsing and shopping just for fun. Harry agreed heartily. The longer he stayed out of the house, the better.
They were sitting down outside of Florian Fortescue's Ice cream parlor for ice cream, when a group of redheaded boys and a girl went past, being led by their mother. "Hold on" He mumbled hastily to Remus, and ran off to catch up with the large family. There was something familiar about two of them… but he couldn't quite place it.
He approached them nervously, and coughed slightly, catching their attention.
"Hello, dear. Who are you?" Asked the plump, red-headed woman. Harry assumed her to be the mother. (He was getting motherly vibes off of her. She had to be).
"I'm Harry. Harry Potter." He said, looking over the redheads.
The woman smiled. "Oh, you're Lily and James' boy. The older one, right?"
Harry was surprised. Usually when he introduced himself, people would automatically start asking him questions about Silas. "Yes, I am."
The woman's smile widened."I'm Molly Wesley, I was good friends with your mother, Lily. You're starting Hogwarts this year, correct?"
"Yes, actually, I am. How did you know?" He asked curiously
"I have a son the same age as you. Ron, would you come here?" She called, and a tall, freckled boy with red hair (obviously), came forward.
"Hey, I know you!" He exclaimed. "Aren't you the boy we met at Silas' party all those years ago? Ginny, do you remember?"
A young girl popped up out of seemingly nowhere. "Yup!" She said, smiling brightly.
"Well, we'd better be going. See you on the train Harry."
"Yeah, see you. Hey, do you remember the other boy?"
Ron frowned. "No actually… what was his name?"
"Neville" Ginny contributed.
"How did you remember? You were only four!" Ron exclaimed. Harry looked between them, feeling a bit dizzy.
"Could you guys slow down?"
The siblings looked sheepish. "Sorry."
"Ron, Ginny, Come on!" Called Mrs. Weasley's voice from down the road.
"Yes mom!" They shouted in reply, ignoring the looks they were getting from the other people.
"Well, anyways, we need to go. I'll see you later!" Ron said, and ran off down the road.
"See you!" Ginny yelled, and raced off to catch up with her siblings and mother, turning back once to wave and smile at him.
"Bye…" Harry mumbled, slightly dazed as he watched the girl go. Blinking, he shook his head and went back to where his uncle Moony was sitting.
"What was that?" The werewolf asked curiously.
A large smile slowly broke out on Harry's face. "Nothing." He said secretively, his emerald eyes twinkling wildly. Remus grinned. "Oh well. Let's head back." It looked like things just might be looking up at last…
A/N: I would like to say thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers. It's only because of the continual messages that I even wrote this chapter… oh well. Anyways. Here are some cookies! tosses cookies out to all my good little reviewers. They're chocolate chip!
Crimson Dragongem