THE VEIL

Chapter 4

14th August 1971 - Diagon Alley

Sirius stood on the pedestal in Twilfit and Tattings getting poked and pinned for his robes to start at Hogwarts at the beginning of September. He looked on bored out of his mind as the attendant pulled off one robe, as another pulled one over his head to begin it again, mussing up his hair for the sixth time.
"How much longer?" Sirius huffed impatiently. His mother turned around and glared not saying a word. Sirius looked away. He knew it wasn't good to push in public. It meant worse for him and Reggie at home. He really didn't want to make it bad for Reggie at home, especially when he wasn't going to be there for a whole year.

"I have business to attend to, and I do not need you there." His mother announced. "Be at the Leaky Cauldron in three hours with all your goods or I will leave you there." His mother moved forward shoving the attendant out of the way, thrusting a purse of gold toward him, she headed to the door, before turning to face him once more.
"Three hours Sirius." Walburga warned and disappeared into the street, the store bell tinkling as the door opened and shut. Sirius turned to the attendant, who was picking herself up and smiled charmingly at her.
"Please forgive my dear mother. She suffers the delusion she is the queen of England."

The attendant gave a small smile and moved back to pinning his robes, being gentler than before. When she finished she pulled the robe off him, helping Sirius step down and directed him to wait as she carried the pinned garments out the back to be spell sown together. Sirius looked out the window watching the shoppers move past the window outside. A breath wind brushed his cheek. A whisper tickled through the air behind him. The curtain behind him moved. He turned in time to see Hermione spin out of the curtain.

"Hermione!" Sirius exclaimed. Hermione looked at Sirius, in mild shock. The last time she saw him he was a good foot shorter. His hair was longer, combed stylishly back. His Storm-grey eyes crinkled in amusement.
"Sirius! My, you have gown!" Hermione stated in surprise.

The movement in the window behind Sirius caught her eye, she suddenly realised they were in a store. Taking in the displays and products, it was a clothing store. Looking down at her clothes she realised how tattered they were in comparison. The tear in the front had become more frayed. Hermione crossed her arms self-consciously, her gaze focusing back on Sirius. He was smirking at her.

Sounds from behind made her turn to see the Attendant coming out from the back carrying a bundle of parcels, a look of surprise at seeing Hermione in the shop.
"Oh, my I didn't realize we 'ad another customer. Zee bell must be faulty."
Sirius chuckled and stepped forward.
"This is my Nanny." He smoothly explained her presence. "Unfortunately my little brother played a prank on her and ruined her clothes." Waving a hand casually at Hermione's state of dress. "Can you please find her some new clothes?"
The attendant smiled at Hermione and nodded.
"And if you can please send the parcels directly to the Leaky Cauldron. I have more shopping and not enough hands to do it" Still Smiling charmingly at the attendant.
"Right away Monsieur"

The attendant had her wand and sent them with practiced ease to the three broomsticks before turning to Hermione.
Mademoiselle, if you please" she indicated towards a rack of pre-made garments, and began pulling out some dresses. Hermione wasn't the greatest fan of dresses, however given that her present clothes were not fit for further wear she reluctantly followed the attendant to the change room.

Hermione tried on the first dress, piling her ragged clothes in the corner. She came out to look in the mirror to find Sirius standing there looking her over critically. After a long pause he shook his head he pointing her back in to the change room and began speaking with the attendant regarding clothes. Hermione chuckled as she shed the dress as she realised that she had just been critiqued on her dress choice by Sirius Black, an eleven year old boy. Another dress was thrown over and she swapped it with the rejected one. This one seemed more like a sundress than a witches robes and Hermione stepped out. It was a floor length wrap dress with long sleeves coloured in black and red tones, and deep pockets on either side. Her black boots she was wearing matched the style nicely.

She looked at Sirius who nodded, "That one. Perfect."
Sirius stepped aside from the mirror so Hermione could look at her reflection, he turned to the attendant. "Everything is settled to the Black account?"
"Oui Monsieur" The attendant replied.

Hermione looked at Sirius through the mirror before focusing on her form. The dress was definitely one she would not normally consider but looked graceful on her. She frowned at her hair, pulling her wand from one of the pockets pointed it to her head and whispered a spell Ginny had shown her to smooth out the frizz, letting her hair fall in ringlets around her face. Hermione didn't have a chance to do anything more as Sirius grabbed her dragging her out of the shop into Diagon Alley.

"Your Nanny?" Hermione asked raising an eyebrow at Sirius, as the two walked down the road. Sirius chuckled again.
"Well, in a way you are. You magically appeared in my room and sang me a lullaby at Christmas when I was five and took care of me and Reggie on his birthday. Just like a Nanny." Sirius smiled up at her.

"That was Regulus's Birthday?" She asked faintly. Sirius nodded absently. They had stopped outside of Quality Quidditch Supplies and Sirius was gazing longingly into the window, displaying the most current broom. Hermione felt an ache again in her heart for the two Black brothers. In the short time she had been thrown into the past, both Sirius and Regulus had found a place in her heart. She watched the eldest as he edged closer to the window to read the plaque about the broomstick. He was eleven years old now, about to start Hogwarts. Hermione knew enough of his past of what was going to happen to him and where it would inevitably lead him. Her mind also put together that she would most likely keep appearing in and out of his life as he grew up.

Something that she wasn't quite ready to contemplate she smiled wryly at her young charge, Hermione asked, "OK so what are we doing? I imagine you have a certain list for things to buy for your first year at Hogwarts?"
"Uh-huh" Sirius still gazing at the broomstick, before being dragged away this time by Hermione. They played a reluctant tug of war all the way into Flourish and Blots both acting completely like Stubborn little brother and bossy older sister when Hermione pulled her wand and accioed the list from Sirius's pocket. Sighing, Sirius followed Hermione around as she gathered the required textbooks he needed for his first year, before heading to the counter. Sirius stepped up and pulled out the purse his mother gave him and handed it to Hermione, before turning to browse at the books near the front of the store.

Hermione opened the purse to pay. Her eyes widened in shock at the stack of Galleons within. It was more than enough to by the whole school list five times over. Extracting the required coins, Hermione requested the purchases to be sent ahead to the Leaky Cauldron to sit with his clothes. As they exited Hermione tried to return the purse. Sirius shook his head and ran off towards the apothecary. Sighing, she pocketed the purse and followed him at a leisurely pace. In short order they had everything on the list except the wand.

Hermione reflected as they made their way to the shop, that it seemed much easier shopping with eleven year old Sirius than it ever was when she shopped with Harry and Ron. She repressed the small bubble of guilt, thinking of her two best friends as they stopped outside Olivander's. As Sirius turned to see if she was following Hermione had a sudden idea, "You go inside and get your wand, I need to go and do something and I will meet you back here."

She pulled out the purse and extracted several galleons before handing him over the purse. Sirius looked down at the purse frowning.
"Are you going to leave me again?" He asked before glaring up at her. His grey eyes cold. A look of surprise passed on her face before she leaned down and cupped his face gently and smirked.
"No, you are not losing me that easily. However, I know how special it was for me when I first got my wand and my parents had let me go and buy it on my own." She straightened looking into the shop with the memories of when she set foot inside looking around in awe. Sirius still looked unconvinced and she put out her hand holding her pinky finger. He reluctantly took it with his own.
"Pinky swear I will be just outside when you walk out of here with your new wand"
Sirius looked at her, brow still furrowed, asked "but it took five years to see you again. You're my Fairy Princess."
Hermione chuckled at his title of her.
"Sirius, I am always there. Whether you can see me or not" She put a hand in his chest, "I am here in your heart. Just as you are in my heart. I promise I will be right back. Now go on. Mr Ollivander will find you the perfect wand for you." She turned him to face door to the shop, squeezing his shoulders and watched him enter the store.

Hermione waited for a minute before walking quickly to the Owlery Emporium, which handled the owl post. Her revelation that for whatever reason she would be coming and going in Sirius's life, she had also come to the realisation that these moments in his earliest years, it seemed that she was the only one that seemed to show a boy starved of love, any kind of affection. She asked for a stack of parchment and envelopes and began to quickly write letters, and cards until she had seven years' worth of birthday, Christmas and Easter correspondence to two boys neatly addressed envelopes which were dated on when to be sent. The lady behind the counter flicked through the envelopes noticing the dates.

"So you want these sent on the dates?" the witch asked.
Hermione nodded, "Yes. It is important that they are delivered in that order" She slid the galleons she took from Sirius, across the counter.
"Dearie this is not the most unusual request I've ever had, however the cost to have them sent on the dates is not that high."
Hermione smiled at the witch. "I know. I was also hoping that you may add a small gift on each of the letters. I fear that I have no time to get them"
The witch looked at the letters again, as if weighing up the task, before taking the coins and nodding at Hermione.
"I will see what I can manage for you." The witch said warmly.

Hermione thanked the witch and rushed back out onto the street. She dashed over to Ollivander's just in time, as Sirius exited holding his brand new wand. His eyes lit up seeing Hermione and held it out to her for inspection.
"Cypress, 10 ¼ inches with Dragon Heartstring" He said excitedly, "We went through nearly 30 wands before we found one just right. 'The wand chooses the wizard Mr Black'" Sirius mimicked the wand maker. Hermione chuckled, handing back his wand to him and put an arm around his shoulders.
"Come on, it is probably time to be heading back up towards the Leaky Cauldron."

The two made their way back up the alley, chatted about Hogwarts, Hermione told him that she was a Griffindor. They talked about classes and Sirius favourite Quidditch team, Puddlemere United. They entered and Hermione bought two butterbeers for them, sitting at the table that held his purchases and continued to chat, Sirius becoming quieter and quieter. Sirius now kept looking at the clock. His mother would be here very soon. Sirius suddenly sat up straight and glanced at Hermione quickly then focusing on the bottle in front of him.
"I-I, think you need to go now. Mother is going to be here and I don't want her to see you." Speaking into his butterbeer. Hermione looked at him with concern and asked "If you are sure. I don't mind waiting."

But Sirius shook his head, not looking at her. Hermione stood and knelt beside his chair taking his hand into hers.
"Sirius, don't be sad. Remember I am always here even when you can't see me." She kissed his cheek and comber her fingers through his hair before stepping away. "I'll see you soon OK." Sirius nodded and looked up as she turned to walk away. She had only gone a few steps before little arms turned and hugged her waist.
"Thank you, Hermione." He whispered.

Hugging him back they said their good byes and Hermione walked back out to Diagon Alley, bumping straight into a witch.
"Oh my goodness I am so sorry!" Hermione gasped, quickly apologising to the witch, stopping when she recognised the woman. She had seen that face every time it had screamed at her when she was at headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix for the past year. It was Walburga Black.
"How dare you accost me! You filthy piece of trash! How dare you lay your hands upon my person! I should have you whipped and your wand stripped for this offence!" The older witch glared at Hermione. The woman in real life was terrifying to behold.

Hermione slowly moved around her edging closer to the archway apologising profusely, before disappearing through back into Diagon Alley. Her heart hammering erratically in her chest, Hermione understood Sirius's animosity towards his mother as an adult. Putting her hands in her pockets, she continued walking with no real destination in mind; stopping a few steps later as she realised she had the purse she had given back to Sirius was now in her pocket.
"That sneaky little brat" She muttered under her breath. Opening the purse she realised there was a folded piece of parchment in with the clinking golden galleons. Pulling out the parchment she unfolded it slowly. On it was a crude drawing. She guessed it was made shortly after her previous visit. The page showed two little princes with wings flying with a fairy princess who was wearing a dress very similar to the one she was now wearing. Under the picture it had in untidy scrawl their names. Sirius, Regulus, fairy Hermione.

So overcome with emotions she didn't hear the whispering of the wind until it blew hard nearly wrenching the drawing from her grasp. Her skirts billowed as it drew her to a small alleyway enveloping her once more into the grey.