Chapter six - 'Or I'll use your bollocks as a pin cushion!'
It wasn't long before Harry, Hermione, Lupin and Tonks were walking through the falling snow into muggle London. Moody quickly changed his plans and had arranged to meet them with Hagrid, but for now Harry was just happy to be walking along with Lupin who surprisingly to him had to twice steer Harry out the way of a low dustbin which he clearly hadn't seen making Tonks snigger quietly with Hermione from behind.
"So how'd you do in my subject? Sirius sounded pleased with you when he came bounding into see me. But I think he's pleased with anything to do with you to be honest!" Lupin smiled looking down to Harry trying so hard to contain his curiosity.
"Yeah he does seem a lot happier these days. I did better than I expected over all given what was going on at the time, in my head. I'm half surprised I didn't get Troll in all of them."
"Harry it wouldn't matter if you did do badly in anything, at least you had a good reason. Your dad decided on the night of his first exam to go spy on the girls locker with Sirius and therefore received Troll because he was half dead and fell asleep in the middle of Ancient Runes. And the only reason Sirius managed to scrape a dreadful was because he drank far too much coffee at breakfast to stay awake and managed to at least answer the first three answers before keeling over in his chair and had to be dragged out the hall to the corridor because he was snoring too loudly." Lupin laughed quietly not to draw attention to himself with Harry who was forced to stop walking to contain his quiet hysterical pleasure.
"I can image him doing that you know, he just seems to be the type to come up with a cocky solution to everything." Harry continued walking and grinning but pleased even his top of the grade father fell asleep in one of his exams.
"Yeah well he never did quiet live it down when he woke up four hours later with his paper still stuck to his face." Lupin explained looking almost as favourable at Harry as Sirius did.
It had been so hard not to tell him, to talk to him about things when he was his teacher. From the first moment Lupin laid his eyes on Harry in that train he decided that what was in the past was in the past and if he dragged up past history between him and James, Harry may never forgive him for abandoning Harry when he was a child. He was never sure if this was the right thing to have done because he just didn't have anyone to ask about it. Sirius could never understand it, from the very beginning he wanted Harry to know who he was and understand he was a good person and he loved Harry's father like a brother near enough all his life.
Lupin had always felt guilty about this and because Harry knew it, he never felt the need to bring up how disappointed James may be that Lupin had allowed Harry to slip away from him and even on his return to Hogwarts, Lupin decided not to seek Harry out and explain. Harry knew that guilt was a hard thing to live with and so he found no reason to add to it.
"I did do ok in your subject you know. Thanks to you, Umbridge was mighty pissed off and I got bonus points for creating a perfect Pontronus. Don't think I quiet got the ears right on it though but still, I got an Outstanding didn't I!" Harry explained seeing the smirk of pride come onto Lupin's lips and was pleased Lupin hadn't demanded to know his results and merely waited politely to be told at Harry's leisure.
"Very good Harry. But it's not as if you hadn't had enough practice at it now is it?" He smiled knowing full well Harry had been practicing like mad on his Defense Against the Dark Arts all last year just to annoy his formidable teacher. Odd really James would have resorted to some practical joke to do it but oh well at least Harry's way was more constructive, Lupin found himself wondering as he moved Harry out the way of a post box now.
"Hermione's right annoyed I beet her though." Harry whispered checking Tonks and Hermione were still deep in conversation behind them.
"Yes well, I bet she got an Outstanding in everything else though didn't she?" Lupin asked just as quietly.
"She still can't stand that I beat her though. You know Hermione demands perfection at everything." Harry grinned looking down the street to notice just how empty it was.
"I do sometimes wonder what her mum and dad must be like to produce such a perfectionist daughter."
"They're really quiet nice from what I can tell, very, very different from the Weasley clan, but still, Mr Granger always makes a proper effort to talk to Mr Weasley whenever they meet and Hermione say's he tries really hard to understand them but just can't work Mr Weasley out at all." Harry explained beginning to wonder how he could have two close friends and as much as he knows about one set of parents he seemed to know just as little about the other set.
"Ok well it sounds like he's just an interested parent, so tell me what else you got before we reach the others." Lupin quickly asked after they'd crossed the almost empty road.
"Well I only got the one Outstanding but at least I got one. And then I got Exceeds Expectations in Care of Magical Creatures." Harry continued quietly.
"Hagrid will be pleased." Remus added softly.
"Charms, Herbology, Transfiguration and of all things Potions. I still think it would have been more of an annoyance to Snape, if I'd got an Outstanding in his subject but still but I can't be too greedy can I!"
Harry explained pleased to have made Lupin proud and unsure as to why he seemed exceptionally acutely pleased with Harry's last comment.
"That's really good Harry. Honestly, it's better than I did in potions and you had Snape as a teacher which given his err, temper and Sirius's helpful little err, ways, it must make it extra hard for you to do well."
"Yeah well it does, but I don't care I'm just glad I pasted the bloody thing. Anyway I only got Acceptable in Astronomy which I was a bit annoyed about, but to be honest for half the test I was watching a bunch of idiots trying to stun Hagrid. And it was quiet a spectacular fight he and McGonagall put up from what we saw." Harry explained as Lupin nodded thinking this a perfectly acceptable excuse Hagrid was a close friend after all and it was a rare sight to see McGonnagal in full flow wand drawn and all. She was one hell of a women Lupin thought, more so now he'd seen her from the other side of teaching.
'And then I got Poor in Divination despite being the only one in the class capable of talking to Fienze like he was a normal person."
"Fienze, I remember Dumbledore talking about how Umbridge hated him so much but I never really caught why?" Lupin suddenly asked making Harry curious how Lupin could have missed it.
"Well he's a Centaur that err, saved me in my first year in the forest." Harry explained casually seeing Lupin's sudden enlightened face.
"Ahh, I thought he might have been. Well was he any good?"
"As good as any other teacher at Divination, and he had a habit of deciding I wasn't going to die a horrible death before I left school and was quiet positive I'd live long enough finish normally." Harry explained in his casual way that sometimes unnerved people by how laid back he could be about things.
"Well I'm sure Sirius would be glad to hear that."
"Hmm."
"So what exactly did he save you from?" Lupin asked a little curious by how many times Harry's life had been endangered so far particularly in that dam forest.
"Oh err, I was in the forbidden forest with Draco on detention and we sort of ran in to it-that-kills-a-lot eating a Unicorn." Harry explained not wanting to refer to You-know-who but still feeling that any conversation about Voldermort should be done subtly in public or not at all.
"Oh well I guess I shouldn't be surprised by that but still, you shouldn't be wondering around the forbidden forest even in the day it's really dangerous."
"I know but actually it was the middle of the night.' Harry explained quietly as he tried to think of something more appropriate and positive to talk about.
'Anyway in Divination at least I didn't describe an ugly old man, with a big nose and a massive wart on his face and then look up to realise I was talking about the examiner like Ron did.' Harry explained as Lupin laughed again gently.
'And well I did get dreadful in History of Magic but to be honest Ron said I might as well just blame it on extenuating circumstances. Failing that I should write it off with the whole Ministry business and pretend it never happened." Harry explained not wanting to be too detailed about how he had screamed and collapsed halfway through the exam from watching Sirius be brutally tortured and therefore really didn't have his mind on his questions much.
Harry always had been strangely modest about things and in some way, he was glad they could change the subject now to Mrs Weasley and why on earth she was being so dreadful to Snuffles as Sirius had now become, as there was now the odd other person walking around.
"She's just really stressed at the moment. Nearly all her kids have flown the nest so to speak.' Lupin explained gently pleased that after all Sirius's pestering and arguing he had agreed to stay and that Harry did seem still quiet content to walk along and talk to him.
'Bill doesn't see too much of her anymore now he's engaged to Fleur. She doesn't really approve of Fleur for some stupid reason I don't know. I've only met her once but she seemed alright to me. It might be the Veeler in her or something but Molly really doesn't like her for some reason." Lupin explained glad Harry had more maturity than Sirius to wonder logically why Molly was so difficult and didn't just declare her an anal retentive old women and try and annoy her some more to see if she could pop or not.
"She is really nice, bit girly but still, it's not as if she's a tramp or something. I liked her and she was ever so nice after the second task." Harry replied as Lupin chuckled again.
"Well as for Charlie, rumor has it he's been sacked because of Arthur being too close to Dumbledore or something but he won't tell anybody about it, in case anyone gives it away to Molly that he's sleeping on Percy's couch at the moment. The only reason I know is because I heard him explaining to Bill one night and I think it might be best you don't mention it to anybody either."
"I won't."
"Anyway then there's Percy well you know about him." Lupin explained sadly.
"Yeah I would of thought he'd come around by now a bit." Harry asked quietly stepping closer to Lupin to let some people past but beginning to feel a bit awkward by how close they got for a moment then before Lupin quickly moved away again completely oblivious to Harry's weird feelings.
"He has. He talks to Arthur more now, but he came around one day to see Molly and well told her if she wasn't such and old bat then she might notice what was going off in her own family and not push people away so much."
"Ouch!"
"Just a bit. Tonks was there at the time being bombarded with questions about Bill. And well, he'd come round for some dinner and Mrs Weasley went off on one. Anyway that brings us to Fred and George doesn't it, who dared to buy her an expensive present for her birthday, but she just saw it as them just rubbing her face in it how well they'd done. Which doesn't half make life hard for the family? You can't do well and be approved off and you can't do badly and be approved of, no wonder Ron spends so much time trying to hide from her." Lupin explained.
"Ginny's got it worse!" Harry explained suddenly.
"Ginny?" Lupin asked totally oblivious to how Ginny had totally gone out of her mothers grasp recently.
"Yeah, she's the only girl and parents are always different with daughters aren't they. And Mrs Weasley treats her like a little girl when really she isn't at all. The more she gets pushed around the worse Ginny's going be.' Harry explained seeing a slightly puzzled Lupin.
'After all, although I'm in the same year as Ron I'm closer to Ginny's age just, I think."
"I'd never thought of it like that. But you are aren't you. You would have been a few months old when she was born." Harry nodded.
"Well no wonder she's such a saucy little madam at times then." Lupin pondered totally innocent.
"Yeah saucy isn't she." Harry muttered get a bit lost in thinking about Ginny when Harry last saw her cross at Ron for something.
"I think I'm going to ignore you said that Harry." Lupin decided looked across at Harry to see his stupid grin that was so familiar to James that Lupin was forced to blink before he could look away. The similarities were uncanny some times but he was glad it was returning and was actually making a mental note to tell Sirius's later about it to try and cheer him up a bit.
He hadn't been sure about letting Harry go out with Lupin after all the problems he's had, but Harry had seemed so determined this morning that he could hardly change him mind and say no.
"You really shouldn't worry about your grades Hermione it's not healthy." Tonks explained having asked about Hermione's grades and got a little bit of an ear full back. Hermione was just starting to realise and was a bit embarrassed as she tried to think of a way to change the subject.
"Yeah well I suppose. Mum was pleased though when I told her on the phone. I think she was getting a bit worried about me being at Hogwarts when I told her all about Harry and what had happened last year. Dad wasn't too keen on me spending to much time here in London either, but I figured if he met you and Lupin you could make it all seem ok." Hermione asked looking at Tonks purple hair and wondered if she'd prepared her parents sufficiently for who they were about to meet.
"I suppose it must seem quiet strange to them you running off to a wizarding school to do things they'd never of dreamed of with two boys. And then to become rather friendly in the same house of a supposed raving murderous lunatic and Sirius of course!" Tonks pondered thinking just how weird it must be for Hermione in an entirely muggle family. Hermione merely smiled at Tonks and worked out what she was thinking about as her eyes suddenly dropped about three foot down from the back of Remus's head. God the poor girl had it bad, Hermione decided.
"Yeah, it is. I kind of have to down play him some times. Dad doesn't like me having too much older male company. It seems a little strange to him, but he accepts it better now. He hit the roof when I told him in my third year that I'd been hanging around deserted houses with a werewolf and the crazy man from the news.' Hermione sighed as she walked along the cold pavement.
'Since then mum insists I run all major news about school by her first, so we can buffer it a bit for dad's err, sensitive ears." Hermione explained suddenly a little conscious about what her parents might think about Moody, she'd forgotten to mention his eye, how could she forget something like that!
"Yeah my dad always found it a little hard to accept certain things about me. He was a muggle but at least mum always understood what it was like. And I had a whole load of family around in one way or another but you I suppose don't have any of that do you?" She asked.
"No. It was my dad's great-great-grandmother that was a witch with muggle parents and she's dead now, but apart from that I'm the only magical person so far as we know. It's so annoying with all these rules though. I'm not even aloud to tell me dear uncle Albert where it is I go to school. Mum was so cross when she got a letter from the ministry explaining who she could and could not tell about me. Dad sort of understood why, but he hated lying to his family about it. It's just his thing, he really hates liars."
Hermione explained becoming a little somber at how being a witch had driven a bit of a wedge in parts of the family now over the years. Her mum assured her it wasn't her fault but Hermione just couldn't help but feel guilty some times.
"Don't worry, we'll be there in a minuet and I personally will make sure my dear demented cousin comes across as a good sort of person. Not quiet sure how mind you, but I'll do my best." She explained scrunching her eyes up a little so under her hat, her hair changed from purple to it's natural black that clearly reminded Hermione of her family ties with Sirius.
"How could you just let them go off like that? Sirius you're a bad influence on Hermione she was never so rude before she came here." Mrs Weasley whispered so loudly Sirius could hardly pretend not to hear her.
He could even hear the distinct grinding of her teeth as Mr Weasley was now upstairs attempting to have words with his daughter, but somehow found himself agreeing to things he wasn't intending to. Such as now that he only had to pay for two children he could afford to bye her a new pair of school shoes this year rather than the usual hand-me downs, she had to wear.
"I totally disagree Mrs Weasley. Hermione seems to be growing in to a lovely young women, no doubt by her mothers careful grooming. And as for Harry, I have every confidence in Moody and Remus to take care of him. I think the fresh air and exercise will do him some good."
Sirius snapped back sitting with a book open on his lap by the fire as Mrs Weasley paced the room. She had made every arrangement to go to London today but now she had decided not to as she didn't want to give Sirius the satisfaction of leaving him in charge of her kids weather they were capable of being left alone for a few hours or not.
"Of course you disagree, you disagree with everything I say just to be spiteful. In fact, I think you're enjoying this Sirius. You take every chance to under-mind my authority without any consideration of the consequences!" She fumed as for once Sirius wasn't entirely enjoying this situation. He wanted to go into London too and see the knew shop.
"On the contrary, I assure you I am not enjoying this, listening to you go on and on and on and on is not on the top of my to-do list. Why can't you just accept that most of your kids don't need your help in their day to day lives and move on? Bill's getting married soon and from experience that usually means you're going to have grand children in the next few years so why don't you just enjoy not having the hassle for now and take a break from being so bloody annoying.' He explained lazily back.
'Granted things are getting very difficult again with the order but look on the bright side. You've successfully raised several kids now so I'm quiet sure they will be capable of carrying on with Ron and Ginny if, dreadful as it may be something were to happen to you."
Sirius replied trying his best to be like Lupin and his diplomatic ways. Unfortunately it just came out sarcastic as he was trying not to show how much he was enjoying having the Weasley's in his house. It was brilliant having Harry but to have Molly in full strops mode banging about the place was nearly as fun sometimes.
"Your right, I have been a very good mother and I may have grandchildren soon from Bill, which I am really looking forward to, even if I can't approve of there stupid vain mother.' She snapped bitterly.
'I can even stand hear quiet easily and watch you fall into disgrace and even see you drag Lupin down with you. However, I will not stand by and willing let you ruin Harry's life. He's not James and he's too unstable to be left without proper guidance and control. You don't discipline him, you don't teach him right from wrong. You treat him like a play mate and constantly behave like a silly foolish little boy around him. He's NOT JAMES, he's NOT your FRIEND, he's A LITTLE BOY Sirius! For GODS SAKE, treat him like your child if you must, but at least don't let him through his life away!" She bellowed down at Sirius as he sat in his lazy armchair stubbornly refusing to look like a chided schoolboy.
Sirius couldn't keep quiet now while she had mentioned James again. Although he didn't result to balling at her again, he did however loose his cocky manner and changed his tone considerably.
"I know he's not James and he isn't a child. Haven't you ever stopped to wonder why Dumbledore lets him come visit me? It's not because he has any positive feeling for me, in fact I am quiet sure he thinks I'm a bit of a waste. However, if I was having such a dreadful impact on Harry I am most certainly sure Dumbledore would step in and stop it. He's very determined like that, as you know full well he'd happily yank Harry away from me if he thought I was no good for him. Something else that I'm quiet sure hasn't gone through your stupid head yet is that he hasn't done anything of the sort yet, in fact he seems to be encouraging me to spend more time around Harry!' He snapped angrily glad out of everything that Harry wasn't here to witness the argument over him.
'If you had half an idea what had happened to him over the summer, if you had the slightest minuet clue, then you wouldn't be behaving so nasty because I choose to keep a happy go easy manner around Harry. For once you're actually nearly near the answer, mentally he's been a totally bloody wreck recently, but hopefully with a bit of care and help from me and Dumbledore it seems he's going to be perfectly fine again soon. But only if you stop pestering him and leave him alone. He needs rest and he doesn't get it when your around!' Sirius paused to control himself for a moment taking a deep breath before continuing.
'I know you hate being here around me. And lets be honest, I hate having you here too! This is my house and Harry is my responsibility even if I do share Harry's attention with his friends. But at least he likes having me around. He likes your husband and nearly all of your kids. But he will deliberately avoid you and although I don't know why, I wouldn't be surprised if he sees you for the miserable old hag you are!'
'Now stop being such a drama queen and either take your kids to go to London or go by yourself but if you continue to behave like mistress of this house then I will kick you out on ya arse you mardy, old, banshee you are."
Sirius was on his feet now looking carefully at her with his sunken, dark eyes, hoping that some of what he'd finally said to her was going to sink in by the time Harry gets back, even if she made an effort not to be rude in front of him Sirius would see it as an improvement.
"I think you've said quiet enough now Black. And as I am sure you're aware, I don't like this situation either but as Harry has chosen it then I must give in, so I can at the very least keep an eye on him, but be warned. I'll be watching and the minuet I see anything unsuitable then I'll drag him off home kicking and screaming with me to keep him safe rather than have him suffer you're incapable and improper handling!" She spat out before leaving the room and slamming the door.
"Please feel free to break my doors and I'd like to see you try and force him anywhere." Sirius muttered to himself and checked the time, he knew Harry would be gone for several hours but he couldn't help himself but check Lupin's old watch every five minuets.
The group met the Grangers and exchanged pleasantries mainly on Harry and Tonks's side with Hermione's parents but Harry couldn't help noticing a rather keen eye on him from Hermione's father. However, it disappeared as soon as it came when he invited the group to come and have drink with them at The Lodge after they'd done their shopping before taking Hermione back with them.
They were soon heading off into the wizarding world with Hagrid, while the Grangers went off in a different direction looking for a nice present for Hermione in muggle London. Moody took a different direction and went quickly off to deal with some business for Dumbledore, leaving Harry to walk along with Hagrid and Tonks and Lupin to walk behind chatting away in there odd little first dates way, however much Remus was sure this was certainly not a date.
"It's brilliant to see ya' again Harry.' Hagrid asked trying to blend in with the street. Harry had a suspicion that Dumbledore had given him instructions about Harry as he seemed to have that odd look when he was attempting to do something careful. Harry didn't care much, he liked Hagrid and merely ignored out of habit any peculiar behavior from him.
'How did you do in you exams?" He asked but, Harry knew he was only really interested in his own subject, just like Lupin.
"I got Exceeds Expectations in your subject Hagrid, you must be a good teacher after all?" Harry replied pleased to see Hagrid's chest swell slightly with pride as he ushered Harry in to the Leaky Cauldron off the street.
"Of course you did Harry, you're as cleaver as your father. Now tell me how did you do in your other exams and where do you want to head first?" He asked looking to Tonks and Lupin as they suddenly woke up from there little momentary dream world.
"Well I've been given a list, but if you want, we can head down get you some eyes first?" Lupin explained nodding at Harry's glasses and smiling to Hagrid.
"Ok, I guess I can't see too well at the moment." Harry mumbled pulling them off to see if he could actually see better without them on. It was hard to tell everything still seemed a bit blurry and he like having them on his face.
"Ah, so after nearly walking in to three lampposts, four dustbins, a shockingly red post box, the front door, an old man, Snuffles, Mr Granger, Snuffles again, a solid wall and Hagrid you finally admit you can't see properly. Honestly, the pride of some people you're as bad as Moody, he won't admit he's deaf in one ear!" Tonks sighed as Lupin tried to stifle a snigger.
"And that was all this morning." Lupin explained casually as Hagrid looked a bit curiously towards Harry.
First the group headed down to a little shop next to Madam Malkin's as Harry explained his results to Hagrid, who accepted everything Harry had said about his poor results and praised him for sticking two fingers up at Umbridge in his better ones.
While Hagrid waited outside by the door to keep a look out. Tonks, Lupin and Harry entered the shop to find all sort of things there, including an entire wall full of glasses that could be magically altered to fit anybody's prescription. On the back wall were hearing aids, smelling aids, potions to help with everything single type of magical illness possible, benzars in every possible form, cough syrup, paste for removing stomach ulcers, vomits and the shits as Tonks so politely pointed out from behind Harry.
Lupin however started over to the counter and asked for several different things off Sirius's scribbled list one of which was clearly benzar powder and stone incase Sirius got the urge to poison Mrs Weasley and for some reason thought he might possibly regret it afterwards. Tonks however had steered Harry over to the glasses and was pointing out which ones she though he'd look nice in. Harry however realised quiet quickly he couldn't see the details she was pointing out and wondered just how bad his vision was these days after he failed to notice Tonks was taking the piss when she pointed at a particularly large sparkly pink pair just a few inches from Harry's nose.
"Does the young man want some glasses as well?" The fat witch behind the counter asked having clearly not recognised Harry for who he was as she came plodding over. Harry turned quickly as to say yes, but then recognised the clear shock, look up, look down, blush routine he often had to suffer through his life.
"This is John, err, Smith. And yes he would like some new glasses?" Tonks put in quickly before the fat little witch could say anything else.
"Of course you are Mr Smith.' She rearranged her hair as she pulled her wand from in the knot and composed herself carefully.
'Have you chosen a pair you would like to try?" She asked politely keeping her voice steady and professional as she could and her wand down.
"To be honest I can't tell the difference between any of them." Harry explained looking back to the little women.
"That's a regular problem, those aren't magical glasses are they, may I see them?" She asked holding her hand out. Harry pulled his off rubbed his eyes as he handed them over.
"Hmm, yes, poorly made muggle glasses, I bet they just keep on getting worse ever since you started breaking them. Expertly mended though I must say, for a novice. Do you often break them Mr Smith?"
She asked looking to Harry as if the scar on his forehead were almost invisible and she had no idea he'd recently been found fighting death eaters deep in the ministry or taking on Voldermort single-handily, again.
"Yeah I've bust them hundreds of times." Harry explained finally feeling a bit comfortable as Lupin looked around the shop and Tonks watched on carefully.
"In that case I suggest you take the extra unbreakable charm. Cost's a little more, but with a nice coat like that I doubt you wouldn't be able to afford it. Now the latest fashion would be these but I don't think they'd suit your young face.' She explained gesturing her wand over to the centre of the cabinet.
'However these I think would bring out the colour of your eyes more." She explained pulling down a pair of oval glasses which were dark charcoal, with a hint of green if you catch them in the correct light.
"Yeah but I prefer my round ones." He explained holding them close up to see the shape better in the light.
"Well I can see why, however, why don't you try these." She took the first pair from him and handed him another.
"They aren't quiet as round as your old ones because if you look here they're wider sideways than vertical. But still it's an illusion on the eye." She explained and Harry had to agree he did really like them.
"Can I have them in that colour though?" He asked pointing to the first and noticing that Hagrid was outside and didn't want them to be hanging around too long.
"Mr Smith you can have them pink with sparkling pink fake diamonds studded in them if you really wanted and a red feather protruding from behind each of your ears, but yes you can." She smiled and Harry realised he'd probably met another one of his loony fans.
"What about the glass?" Harry asked coming back over to the counter next to Lupin and wondering how on earth wizards decided on the correct prescription.
"Ah yes, if you'll just let me put this over your eyes." She explained but Harry looked to Lupin first before sticking his face up close to the rather weird looking telescope.
"Go ahead." Lupin muttered before Harry leaned over the counter. The little witch prodded the contraption and after a bright light had shined in Harry's eyes out dropped to square pieces of glass from the bottom. She picked each up and eyed it carefully and waved her wand over them so with a little crack the lens had shaped them selves and jumped into the frames. She passed them to Harry who eagerly tried them on to look up at Lupin as if it were the first time he'd ever met him.
"You always been so grey round the sides?" He asked without thinking, noticing first just how tired and old Lupin was looking compared to how Harry thought he had looked. Lupin merely looked back in disbelief as Tonks tried not to snigger too hysterically behind him, but was some what struggling as she grabbed the counter for support.
"I see they are a vast improvement for you." The little witch asked also suppressing a smile at Lupin's confused embarrassment.
"Yeah, not half. Crickey I knew it was getting bad, but this is quiet unbelievable." Harry explained looking around the shop as though he'd just discovered colour having lived in worse than black and white all his life.
"You have as slight colour blindness in one eye. The lenses corrects this for you so you should be able to see different shades of green together now. Like on the Slytherin uniforms at Hogwarts. You do go to Hogwarts don't you?" She suddenly asked seeing Harry's puzzled look.
"Oh yes, just I thought it was all one shade of green?" He said trying to rack his brain to see if he had ever paid much attention to Draco's uniform when they scrapped and argued in the corridors.
She smiled warmly at his confusion as Tonks rolled her eyes in disbelief at Harry's apparent appalling sight. Lupin however still couldn't get over the grey comment yet so kept his mouth firmly shut.
"It seems they've done wonders for you already, why don't you have a look at yourself in the mirror?"
She passed him the round hand mirror and Harry paused for a moment a little self conscious before looking in it. He was half pleasantly surprised to see how old he looked in them, but also noticed just what everyone else saw, his scar poking out under his hair and his eyes still looking so pale and washed out. His skin although not spotty like Ron's sometimes got, looked waxy and pale and he still had dark purple rings under his eyes despite sleeping solidly for several hours last night.
"You do look much better in them?" Tonks explained quietly poking her nose over the mirror to show her little round nose.
"Thanks, I think I do too. But then it seems I couldn't see my self properly in them old ones anyway so I can't really tell." He grinned over at her but suddenly noticed something else behind her, above the glasses display cabinet so wondered over as Lupin started to settle the bill. The witch was packing all there shopping away in a brown paper bag along with a nice case and cleaning cloths for Harry. Lupin even had the sneaky suspicion she'd slipped in a home made cookie from under the counter when she winked and decided he'd better test it before letting Harry have it.
"What ya seen, John?" Tonks asked following Harry's gaze and carefully adding the John instead of Harry.
"Them up there. What are they for?" He asked pointing to the weird goggles on the top shelf that had a sign saying.
'Quidditch Goggles, repel rain sleet and snow. Where them and they never break even when hit by speeding Bludgers! Only nineteen Gallons a pair!' Harry read then turned to Lupin with a smile.
"Do you think Pat would let me have some?" He asked hoping Lupin would give in easily even if it wasn't his money he was using, although Tonks seemed to be suppressing more giggles behind him at the thought of Sirius being referred to as Pat of all things.
"Pat would let you have anything if they could." Tonks muttered a little enviously.
"Fine, but it's on your head. We'll have them too but we best get moving soon." Lupin explained as the little witch flicked her wand and pulled out a gift rapped box to add to the already large carrier bag. Harry still thought she was a fan but couldn't help but feel her pleasure at having such a decent sale today as judging by the empty streets and cold weather, business had been bad recently.
After Lupin had stowed the bag in to his rucksack and left the shop they next headed into Madam Malkin's. Hagrid had already commented quietly on how old his glasses made Harry look and Harry could finally clearly see the beady little eyes as he looked up to Hagrid's hairy face pleased Hagrid had noticed so quickly something was different.
He waited outside again as Harry was measured quickly in the almost empty shop for new school robes. There was a little second year shopping from Hufflepuff with his mother and father who having seen Harry seemed pleased that Harry was friendly saying hello, despite not knowing them. It was rather quick to get his robes as the shop only had two customers so next, they decided to head down to get his new school books. Despite knowing full well he probably wouldn't get on to the Potions course with only Exceeds expectations behind him Harry added the necessary book anyway to his pile just for curiosity's sake.
Then seeing Lupin head down to the Defense against the dark arts section, Harry couldn't help himself but slipped sideways into the fiction section even if Tonks had decided it was best not to loose him even for a second in the shop. She wasn't buying anything today claiming she was skint until pay day but still found a rather interesting book entitled
'Weird Men and How to Seduce Them.'
Harry who was standing behind her in the muggle fiction was incredibly tempted to splash out in his own money for the Lord of the Rings box set having heard how good the films were. But he was also wondering if maybe he should get the book for Tonks anyway seen as she'd given up her day off to take him shopping.
"Go on have it. Pat's a right old softy with you, anyway, it'll keep you quiet for a while. My dad really enjoyed them and he hardly ever reads. Failing that if you get board with it, you can always give it to Pat, keep him busy for years they will.' Tonks explained picking a set up and adding them to Harry's pile before he much chance to argue.
'If you like them though you really want to read this, it's from a wizarding guide to muggle books, but it ends up being really funny and sarcastic for those who do actually get the muggle world and what it's like." She explained picking up another book and adding it to his collection.
"You sure about this, I have got a rather large collection already." Harry asked giving up and handing her half the pile to hold.
"Yeah, but books are good for you that's why they come in such boring covers." She explained casually.
"And 'men and how to seduce them' with a picture of a rather fetching Chippendale on the front is good for you too?" Harry asked rolling his eyes slightly at her.
"Oh you decided to start a library did you?" Lupin asked eyeing the pile each of them were carrying.
"You get a lot of books on the list and Hermione suggested I try some of the explanatorily notes this year, seen as she might be too busy to explain stuff to idiots like me and Ron." Harry explained heading over towards the counter noticing just like every other shop there was hardly anybody around.
"Oh well if it's school stuff I suppose. Pat sent me to get some other ones for him, as he needs some light bedtime reading and he's fed up of the books in the library trying to bite his nose off when he falls asleep." Lupin explained holding up a slightly hefty pile himself and dropping them on the counter.
Once Lupin had paid for the books Harry noticed how it all seemed to fit in the one little bag he was carrying and how he didn't seem to be finding it heavy at all. Having decided it must be magically lightening itself like the bag Sirius had given him, they stopped at a few more other places before finally reaching the place Harry had most being looking forward to see, Fred and George's new place.
Compared to every where else it seemed to be buzzing with customers but after they had gone in and Harry finally saw just how busy the place was, both Fred and George came bounding over to see him.
"Harry you're looking a hundred times better now than when we last saw you? Has mother finally given in yet or something?" Fred exclaimed grabbing Harry on the shoulder and pulling him over to his brother while Tonks and Lupin started milling around.
"Yeah being, unconscious an all." George added.
"Living dead."
"Shaky."
"Fits."
"Sweats."
"Vomits."
"Shits."
"Yeah that's enough! So, show me everything.' Harry asked not wanting this unpleasant greeting to continue any longer.
'And when do I get me hands on one of those charming posters in your window display."
"Later Harry. Let me show you the fresh off the line stuff." Fred explained steering Harry over to the strangely pink section of the room.
"Nice jacket Harry. And wow, ickel wee Potter's got new glasses." George added following them but deliberately keep his eyes on all the customers and their hands.
"Yeah you look strangely older in them. Ah, is this is a present from..?" He started to ask pointing to the coat Harry was now unbuttoning a bit in the warm shop.
"Pat." Harry put in quickly.
"Yeah, sort of, it used to be his. And well seems he can't bare for me to get cold. Weather's gone nuts though hasn't it?" Harry explained seeing the twins odd look at Harry referring to Sirius as Pat but were sure they would find it amusing later, so continued showing Harry around the busy bright shop. It was like the sound of music to them every time one of the young blond witches behind the counter ran the till up, put money in it and slammed the door shut again with a snap.
"Anyway from what we hear, Ginny's gone off the rails a bit. First Dean, then Neville, then some lad called Paul, Dean again, some lad from Ravenclaw and finally some lad from her year that we can't remember the name of." Fred started gravely as his brother turned to an equally server and grave face.
"Yeah our kid sister, emphasis on the KID, is way out of line now. She needs to be stopped. I don't want to strike up a conversation with some young paying customer and end up hearing about her rampant love life down some corridor at Hogwarts."
"Nor do I, I mean, we may accept that she could perhaps have a none to deep not remotely sexual boyfriend now and then, but to hear that she's dating all and sundry is a bit too much to cope with." George finished.
"Girl's a menace. Now please enlighten us, who's she going out with at the moment or have you lost count as well like Ron." They both asked together.
Feeling slightly under pressure now Harry decided diplomacy was best failing that total abdication was needed.
"Yeah well she's having a hard time, but I really don't know, she won't really talk to me, seems to think I might cough up to you pair too easily like Ron." Harry explained trying to imply that he would easily cough up if he knew something and not pretend not to know a thing like he was now.
"Yeah we suppose." They replied a little disappointed that there last attempts to find info out on Ginny had failed.
"Don't worry, she'll calm down soon enough and if she doesn't Ron will get her a chastity belt and stick it on with your very charming super none removable glue." Harry explained picking up a tube and admiring the handy work of Fred and George which he knew was tested by sticking half of Umbridge's office to the ceiling with.
"I hope so, but in the meantime we expect regular reports about her, it would make us feel much more comfortable if we knew you were keeping an eye on things too, after all, Ron is a bit dim now isn't he." Harry laughed as he was taken into the back to be shown the recently branched out defense objects.
After about half an hour of being shown excitedly all the different things in the shop and been handed his freebies which were stowed away in Lupin's bag quickly, it was time to leave and find the Grangers. Hagrid was a bit disappointed not to come with Harry in and see Fred and George but he had promised Dumbledore to stand watch outside while Harry shopped and nothing was going to stop him from his job. He however left them when they arrived at the meeting point below the London eye and were quickly regained by Mad-Eye who seemed to be quiet pleased with himself about something.
"I know it's cold out today, but would you like to come for a drink with us before we go." Mr Granger asked again this time addressing Harry mainly who was stood with Lupin as Tonks had started chatting away with Hermione and her mother.
"Err yeah, what do you think?" He asked looking to Lupin who was looking slightly tired from all the walking. Hermione however was having rather meaningful looks with her mother making Tonks raise her eyebrows as she recognised that look after years of dealings with her own mother.
"If you like Harry, I don't see why not?" Lupin suddenly explained looking to Moody who nodded and walked behind the group his eye spinning under his hat.
"Great we're stopping just down here, while we go to the conference tomorrow." He started politely with such well spoken manners Harry wondered what sort of place 'The Lodge' really was.
"Harry, let me have a look at your new glasses then." Hermione asked quickly making Harry fall back a little bit to talk to her, as Tonks and her mother watched on in polite silence.
"Yeah ok, how come you never told me the Slytherin's had two shades of green on their uniforms? I've been walking around with a sort of colour blindness and hadn't even noticed." He asked grinning away to Hermione now he suddenly saw her as if it was the first time.
She had far more clearly defined curls in her hair than he had ever imagined before and it had blonde highlights in it now that he was sure he was supposed to have noticed when he met her again after the first two weeks of the summer. Her lips were gently covered in lip gloss that he noticed gave them a slightly red tinge to them and she had far more freckles on her cheeks than he had ever thought before, but he decided that they made her look cute and he liked them.
"What you can't see it?" She asked as if it was something so obvious she shouldn't have had to mention every little thing to him.
"No seems not. Has Lupin always been that grey?" Harry asked quietly pointing up to Lupin who was walking just ahead talking about the weather with Mr Granger.
"Yes and Harry, you don't mind coming with dad for a drink with you. It's just he's been a bit difficult recently about things and wants to get to know you more?" Hermione whispered putting her head closer to Harry's making Mrs Granger raise her eyebrows slightly.
"No course not. I hardly know them and besides how bad can it be, what's he going to do pin me up the wall and bombard me with questions about who you're dating and what not? I just had that off Fred and George. They think Ginny's gone off the rails and want me to follow her around reporting back if other lads look at her and what-not."
Harry replied laughing but Hermione could barely manage a false laugh by now and decided to keep the topic strictly to boring things until they turned up outside a rather swanky looking hotel with porter on the door.
Mr Granger strode in first, politely saying hello to the doorman leading the way to a set of rather comfy looking chairs in one corner. He even showed his social graces by taking the coats and hanging them up before sitting down comfortable next to Lupin.
"To be honest I wanted to get to know you a bit better before heading back home, seen as we were already in London." He began as a waiter walked over passing out several menu's for wine.
Lupin immediately looked slightly uncomfortable as he noticed there were no prices on the menu and he was beginning to feel bad about spending Sirius's money in a swanky hotel when he was stuck at home in grotty old Grimmauld Place.
"Can we put the first round on expenses dear?" Mrs Granger asked her husband clearing the air and picking up a menu taking a quick look and putting it back down again.
"Of course, if the idiots send me all the way for half a conference that doesn't happen they can at least get us a few drinks." He replied smiling in his friendly gentleman like manner to the group before picking his next topic of conversation.
"What would you like to drink? Sirs and ladies." A smart young waiter asked from a polite distance.
"Erm, I think I'll have a gin and Tonic thank you." Tonks asked trying her best to behave more like a lady than she usually did as she was quiet sure gulping down a pint on Guinness was not going to produce the desired effect.
"I think I will have half a Guinness." Lupin asked also trying to come to terms with his peculiar situation and like Tonks hoped to come across a best he could. He'd never been so pleased that Tonks had made him wear the new jumper she'd brought him over his shirt.
"I'll have a scotch if you don't mind." Moody asked not sounding quiet so growly as usual but still determined to work as he usually did.
"I'll have a gin and tonic too dear." Mrs Granger added.
"Can I have another Malibu and Lemonade please daddy?" Hermione asked showing the full extent on her sweet nature.
"Of course. And what about you Harry?" Mr Granger asked looking to Harry who felt terribly uncomfortable as he'd never learnt about drink and having seen the state of his cousin and uncle at times didn't really want to either.
"I think I'll stick with the coke." He explained as politely as he could causing Mr Granger to raise an eyebrow.
"You're welcome to have something stronger if you would like Harry." He offered, but Hermione noted that staying totally sober would probably give Harry brownie points in her dads eyes.
"No thank you I'd rather stick with the cola." He explained again as the waited waltzed off to gather the drinks up.
"Did you get everything you needed from London Harry?" Hermione asked somehow creating the easy comfortable manner that her parents seemed to manage.
"Yeah pretty much, did you get to go to Fred and George's?" He asked trying to keep the conversation going deciding Lupin might be feeling quiet uncomfortable in the lush surroundings as he apparently wasn't used to posh muggle hotels and nor was Tonks even if she did find it easier to understand.
"Isn't it amazing how they managed to pull it off, I hope you get plenty in return for your investment." She added with a knowing look, she always did find it amusing how he could be so quiet about money and not even in the polite middle class way that her family were.
"Yeah I picked up a few goodies for Ron, though I bet he's right annoyed to be stuck back at home with Ginny." Harry continued as Hermione chose to ignore Harry's inability to look away from her.
"I suppose, but Mrs Weasley is getting a bit unbearable. You know she accused me of being a pimp. Now, not that I'm familiar with that part of the world, I still have enough ounce to know she doesn't know what she's talking about." Hermione wondered hoping her father was paying too much attention to Lupin in there weird educational conversation to notice them.
"No, I'd understand harlot. But a pimp is just daft. I think she's got empty nest syndrome to be honest and she's lashing out at everybody else coz she's frustrated. She must be getting upset though about some of the things going off." Harry explained thoughtfully.
There was a little pause while the drinks were being served but soon the Grangers had the conversation flowing again. After a few attempts though it became quiet clear Moody was in working mode and didn't really want to do anything but look on. Lupin however was finding it rather interesting to talk to Mr Granger and Tonks was busy chatting away about polite girly things with Mrs Granger.
"Oh yes, Granger boys have been going to Eton for five generations now. We were going to send Hermione to Heathton Hall in Kent after we heard such good things about it from my sister but she did really want to go to Hogwarts. So I gave in and sent her there."
"It is quiet a remarkable place though. To both teach and learn at. I mean, Dumbledore has been there such a long time and a lot of people think he's either getting past it or needs to move aside but he's taken the school through some tuff times and it's still doing really, really well." Lupin explained happily supping his drink and steadily losing his uncomfortable manner.
"Hermione always spoke very highly of you as a teacher and I must admit she doesn't speak that highly of many. Ever since she came back from her first day a junior school and complained loudly how it wasn't stretching enough for her, she's always been a tuff lady to please in that way." He explained proudly, Lupin could see Hermione was obviously daddy's little girl and he wasn't entirely sure about some of the more dangerous aspects of her school, but that didn't matter and it was hardly surprising he'd be so proud of his girl.
"I can quiet imagine her saying that to be honest. The only person in her year to ever top her in my lessons was Harry and he's just quiet naturally gifted there." Lupin explained looking over to Harry who was happily chatting away about something to Hermione.
"Yes, she did seem rather cross this morning, seems to expect an awful lot out of herself sometimes. Although we are very proud of her to have achieved so many outstanding results but she was even on about retaking the test to get the full set at one point." Lupin smiled finding Hermione's incessant determination to be top rather familiar.
"Yes well having worked as hard as she did I really think she deserves it? But everyone has to have a weakness somewhere."
"Hermione tells me you were very close with Harry's parents, and his godfather as it happens, you must be very proud of the way he's turning out." Mr Granger enquired casually changing the subject now Harry had emerged himself properly in his conversation with Hermione.
"Yes I am and so is he. I went to school with Lilly and James at Hogwarts. Lilly was always working very hard but James used to sneak in at the last minuet and get all the top grades. It used to cause no end of arguments but fortunately Harry work's hard like his mother to do well.' He laughed gently.
'No after everything I'm quiet sure Lilly particularly would be proud of him and what he's managed to achieve." Lupin added looking at Harry too more often.
"His mother in particular?" Mr Granger wondered curiously.
"Oh yes. James would always think the world of his son just as you do Hermione but Harry seems to have developed his mothers uncommonly kind nature and it often overtakes his fathers, shall we say, slightly arrogant pride.' Lupin looked back to Mr Granger who understood perfectly well that this wasn't a criticism of James but merely a characteristic.
'It was totally suitable for him he was, after all a young man and terribly talented. It did dwindle when Harry was born as you can imagine becoming a parent brings a whole load of responsibility that changes you completely."
"Yes it does. Young men always settle down when they have there own children to worry about."
"Precisely, but Harry gets more and more like his mother the older he gets."
"She sounds like a wonderful women."
"Oh she was. Ever since the day I met her, myself and Harry's Godfather were both rather jealous at there wedding to be honest." Lupin smiled thinking about them and some how found himself looking at Tonks. He'd been a little worried about mentioning Sirius to them but after checking around like Moody somebody would have had to go to really extraordinary lengths to overhear them.
"Are you married?" Mr Granger continued politely knowing full well Remus wouldn't be.
"Oh no I, never found the perfect women which is more of a failing on my part than anything else. So for now it's just me and me alone."
"Hermione tells me your living with your friend, Harry's godfather."
"Well yes I'm between employment and if you know about him, then you must realise that he rarely gets chance to go out places." Lupin continued wondering how subtly the conversation kept getting back to Harry in some odd way.
"That's what I gather from Hermione, she tells me he's supposed to be very fond of Harry and doesn't deserve the life he leads. She seems to think he does well for having Harry around him though."
"He does, it's done them both the world of good recently. Neither of them have got much proper family that care about them. Tonks here is the daughter of Sirius's only decent living relative."
The conversations continued much as they were until the second round of drinks went down. Despite Lupin's many polite conversation topics Mr Granger some how manage do get the topic back round to Harry as it later became clear Mr Granger despite his well manners and social graces was really determined to find out more about, Harry having only ever heard Hermione version as she talked about him.
The afternoon was waning on and as Lupin heard his second pocket watch chime he knew it was time to be going soon. Harry having drank over a pint of coke now to be polite, needed the toilet and politely got up to go easily giving Mr Granger his perfect excuse.
"Oh it's down here I'll show you Harry while I just settle something with the bartender." Mr Granger explained getting up in his gentleman like manner showing Harry the way to the rather swanky looking toilets.
Harry was surprised he was being allowed to go by himself but he got the feeling Lupin didn't want to make him look like an incapable child and Moody was watching his every move anyway.
"Mother you promised he wouldn't do that again." Hermione hissed as Lupin turned to discuss things with Moody and Tonks admired the paintings trying her best not to guess the remaining Grangers topic.
"I never promised anything, I said I would make sure he was subtle and tried getting to know Harry before doing it. You know what your fathers like ever since that Krum fiasco." She replied quietly out the corner of her mouth.
"Harry is nothing like Victor, why can't daddy see that?" Hermione asked behaving just like a little daughter and making Tonks hard pressed to cover her amusement.
"Because your father believes all men have the same warped mind as his. Now if Harry is half as decent a young man as you say he is, then I'm sure he'll be fine. All it is a few moments of rather uncomfortable conversation and your father will be satisfied and get out of my earlobe about it and he probably won't see Harry for months."
"It's not fair on Harry to be subjected to it that's all. I've told him a thousand times we aren't like that, why does he have to be so stubborn?" Hermione complained quietly but her mother had nothing more to say as she agreed it wasn't fair on Harry and quiet believed her daughter when she said her and Harry were just friends. She'd been watching and Harry certainly wasn't looking at her daughter.
Harry did his business in the marble bathroom, washing his hands in soap that poured from gold looking dispensers but when he came out was slightly surprised to see Mr Granger not far away clearly waiting to talk to him.
"I wondered if we could have a little chat before joining the others." Mr Granger asked politely, moving towards the counter for checking in that was currently empty, Harry had a sneaky suspicion what this was all about but hoped to play dumb for a bit.
"Sure." He replied stepping over as politely as he could.
"I'm only ever going to ask you this once because my wife would never allow me do it again, but please tell me if you're screwing my little girl?" He asked still with a polite smile on his face as Harry looked away for a moment before coming back to the totally composed gentleman next to him.
"You're very direct aren't you." He replied trying to keep the same composure and pull himself together more.
"Yes, yes I am." He replied bluntly as Harry thought carefully about his answer before giving it, which Mr Granger accepted would probably be necessary.
"I wouldn't dare." He finally decided.
"Come now, you can be honest with me. I was once a young man like yourself." He explained thinking Harry was just a regular kid but he really didn't expect what he got next.
"You miss understand me Mr Granger. I wouldn't dare, not because I'm stood talking to her father, but because I really care about Hermione as she is, I will happily admit one of my dearest friends and I really don't want to muck that up because I'm a stupid randy teenaged boy.' Harry replied deciding bluntness must be perfectly acceptable here.
'And as you're probably aware I don't have any real family which makes me value my friends more than most. She's like family and I'd do anything for her but I won't screw her." Harry explained pleased that he had some how managed to keep his composure. Well almost anyway.
"I am aware, that you value Hermione, when she comes home telling me how you've saved her life or risked your own for her or something like that. However?' Mr Granger's manners changed now along with his tone so delicately Harry hardly noticed.
'However she is my little girl and I don't like the idea of her being in danger and I would like you to tell me that you don't put her in any."
"I don't, well not intentionally anyway. Every time we've ended up going somewhere or doing something I know is going to be risky, I've always asked her and Ron to stay behind. But she chooses to come along which has more often than not saved my life. I know that if I really didn't want her to do something it wouldn't matter what I say anyway, if she's already made her mind up about it. Hermione's very stubborn like that but trust me, I would never deliberately put her in any danger."
"I do. And I will continue to. I will admit each year she goes to that school, I'm terrified she isn't going to come back to me but she seems so happy there and learns so many different things. I look at her things and what she brings back and she tells me all about each one in great detail but it is a totally different world out there that I just don't understand and I will admit it frightens me." Harry listened carefully and noticed something he was sure Mr Granger wasn't expecting him to pick up and after a moments pause having decided what else he wanted to say he continued.
"I don't agree with the way the magical community is run. Most people in the world are different from the next and to keep something this big and amazing secret from other people who are different is wrong. I've lived all my life in a non-magical world and I admit at first I wanted to be purely magical because it seems like a fairy tale.' Harry paused as Mr Granger watched on in wonder.
'But now I see the benefits of both and the downfalls of both and would really like to see the two halves combined better. There is such a prejudice against families such as yours and my mothers by people who claim to be enlightened, but in reality they are all as bad as each other just some are more open about it than others. I haven't met anyone I think that's managed to get the balance between the communities quiet right and I've met an awful lot of people in these last few years Mr Granger." Harry finally finished looking across the room to see Hermione talking still with her mother and Tonks.
"You are a very good young man and I'm glad my daughter is friends with you. However keep you dirty hands off her or I'm going to use your bollocks as a pin cushion. Shall we head back now?" He finished in his polite straight faced tone, before he started back towards the others as if he'd just commented about how wonderful the weather was. Somehow Harry managed to do almost the same although inside he was sure his heart was skipping a beat out of shock.
"I think it's time we let these nice people go dear. Before the wind gets up again." Mr Granger returned as the group got to their feet and both Hermione and Lupin eyed Harry carefully to guess what the conversation had been like for him.
"Yes well, it was a pleasure meeting you both." Lupin started shaking Mr Granger hand and reaching for his rather thin coat, barely feeling that dreadful uncomfortable feeling hidden underneath it.
"Yes it was, I really enjoyed putting faces to names." Mr Granger continued passing Harry, Sirius's long thick coat over.
"Thank-you."
"This really is a lovely coat Harry where-ever did you get it from?" Mrs Granger asked passing Hermione her coat as they stood to one side to let her put it on.
"It was sort of a gift from my godfather, he doesn't want me getting cold in July of all things." Harry smiled pulling on his scarf and doing up the toggles.
"Well Harry, you are always very welcome at ours but I think it's time we get moving. I'm sure he's waiting for you and I bet you haven't told him your going to be late back now have you." Mrs Granger added smiling as clearly Harry hadn't thought of that, he'd been so overwhelmed by meeting the Grangers that he forgot Sirius might be worried about him back in his horrid house waiting.
While waiting for Hermione to say goodbye to her parents Harry quickly asked what Lupin thought about telling Sirius why they were late. But Lupin had already decided that he would only just be starting to get worried as they were quicker round the shops than Lupin had expected and they were after all with Moody.