Chapter Three- Diagon Alley & Prefects

On August 15th Sirius took Rial into Diagon Alley to purchase his school supplies for the coming year. It was an extensive list this year, with the usual Potions supplies, textbooks and various miscellaneous. Sirius had decided to buy his son a few more of the wear-resistant quills; he knew how much his son wrote for his essays. He procured a couple for himself as well; Merlin knew he went through enough paperwork at the Ministry.

When they were exiting Madam Malkin's he heard a voice say, "Rial!"

He watched with an amused smile as Rial turned his head and grinned at the two figures standing across the alley from them. It was two more of his friends, Torian Lestrange and Pansy Parkinson. With them was Theodore Nott. He crossed the street with his son and said, "Hello you three. Fancy seeing you in here on the same day."

"Everyone got their lists today, so I imagine there's lots of students here," Pansy chirped.

After a second he noticed the shiny badge both her and Torian were wearing and chuckled. "Congratulations on your Prefect appointment!"

"Wicked!" Rial yelped. "We're going to need the help with Zachy getting the place for Gryffindor."

"We noticed. He's here today; we've been avoiding him and his father as much as possible."

"Do you want to come with us to Fortescue's?" Theodore asked Rial. "We were going to meet Draco and Blaise there as well."

Rial turned dark green eyes on him and said, "May I?"

"Absolutely! Shoo, I'll get this done quicker on my own than having you along anyways. Go have fun. If you come looking for me I need to stop in at Twilfitt and Tatting's for my dress robes. I had to have them readjusted since last time."

Eyes lighting with humor Rial shot at him, "Maybe if you didn't eat so many of those Chocolate Cauldrons you'd be able to fit!"

Sirius playfully smacked him on the back of the head. "Brat! Just for that I'll tell you they had to be adjusted smaller, thank you very much!"

Rial laughed and the four Slytherins took off, walking swiftly toward the Ice Cream Parlor. Sirius shook his head, amused at the difference between Gryffindor and Slytherin. A Gryffindor would have taken off in a run, but Slytherins would never be caught running in public. Much too undignified.

He continued on his way, stopping at Eyelop's Owl Emporium to buy some treats for Rial's gyrfalcon Alden. The name meant 'old friend' in Welsh. It fit the raptor perfectly; he was already quite attached to both Sirius and Rial. The bird had tried to bite Regulus, much to his brother's amusement.

Draco Malfoy got along quite well with the bird as well, but Sirius wasn't surprised. Rial regarded the blonde as a friend and close companion, so his bird followed along. Remembering what he'd inadvertently walked in on at the train last year he snorted. Oh 5th year, I remember it well… Classes, OWLS, hormones, classes and did I mention teenage hormones?

He was picking up Rial's potions supplies at the Apothecary when his mental musings finished and he muttered aloud, "I'm glad I'm not a teacher."

"What makes you say that," an amused voice said.

Turning his head he saw Remus standing near a container of beetle eyes.

"Remus! How are you?"

"As well as can be, considering circumstances."

Wincing Sirius muttered, "Sorry, insensitive question. I'd forgotten about those new restrictions."

Remus looked more tired than usual and his usually proud shoulders slumped a little. The owner of the Apothecary was regarding them warily so Sirius paid for Rial's ingredients and said, "Care to join me for a drink at Fortescue's? Rial's hanging out there with his fellow Slytherins."

Remus perked up a little and said, "Certainly. I don't have anything I'm doing right now."

As they were walking out he grumbled, "Whoops. Do you mind stopping at Twilfitt and Tatting's for a moment? I need to pick up my dress robes. They've been ready for a week and I keep forgetting."

Remus chuckled under his breath and said, "Absent-minded as usual, Sirius. No, I don't mind. Let's see, Twilfitt is up near Gringotts, correct?"

"Yeah."

After paying for his adjusted dress robes and shrinking them to fit in his pocket (the clerk looked scandalized, Remus tried not to laugh), Sirius led the way back down the alley. Soon they came upon Fortescue's, where Sirius bought a sugary Italian soda and Remus got a fudge sundae. Snickering at his friend's love of chocolate Sirius paid for it, (over Remus' protesting) and led the way to a small table near the gathering of six Slytherin students.

Just as they sat down Rial burst out laughing, near falling off his chair at something Theodore said. He caught his breath and replied, face flushed from laughter. Draco was watching the two, gray eyes light with amusement. Pansy shook her head and prodded Rial in the side as she whispered something in his ear which made him snort in derision.

"Surprisingly animated outside of school, aren't they?" Remus asked, watching the group with a smile.

"They've been like this all summer! It's like there's two entire personalities in each one of them."

"Makes you wonder what Lucius Malfoy and Severus are like when they're not around others," Remus mused aloud.

Sirius tried to imagine either one of the Slytherins acting like the teens and snorted. "I highly doubt they'd let their guard down that far except around each other, maybe."

"Did Rial enjoy the Quidditch World Cup?"

"Greatly. He was amazed at all the people in one place. I have to admit, it is a bit astonishing to see so many magical families and friends in one area."

Sirius lowered his voice and said quietly, "Did anyone tell you about the meeting September 1st?"

"Yes," he murmured back.

"Severus said we're welcome to sit with him if we don't feel like sitting around James and Lily. I said I didn't know about you, but it was a welcome suggestion to me."

"Myself as well," Remus replied. "James was the one who pushed through the most recent restrictions for werewolves; I'm not too keen on playing friendly with him right now."

Sirius was startled. "But that's the Magical Creatures Department!"

"And he has high standing with Fudge, which means it's easy for him to do what he wants," Remus replied tiredly. "Plus there's the fact that Fenrir is making people more nervous than usual, what with his most recent attacks just outside of London…"

"The Ministry's willing to look for a scapegoat, in other words," Sirius snarled. "Merlin, I wish I could leave them behind."

Remus looked faintly alarmed. "You can't Sirius, the Ministry respects you because of your position in the Auror Department and without your job there you and Rial would be vulnerable on two fronts."

"I know, Remy. It's just a private thought. Rita's articles don't help matters."

"I saw the most recent one, accusing your squad of messing up on your raid," Remus' eyes flashed.

"That woman is worse than any other tabloid reporter. She loves to try and ruin people's careers. The only ones she doesn't touch are those who have the power to ruin hers and James."

Remus fell silent and thoughtful for a moment. "When I found Rial up on the Astronomy tower last year he said James and Rita were intimate companions. He said Lily knew nothing of it, said point blank that 'Lily's his sweet wife back home and Rita's his private vice'."

Sirius was startled. "You know, it wouldn't surprise me in the least. She's as nasty as he's becoming. I've seen her fawning over him before, never when Lily's around of course."

Remus shook his head and pushed his chair back. "Thank you for the treat, Sirius. I have to go, some information Dumbledore wants is waiting for me at Gringotts."

Sirius eyed his friend and said quietly, "Remus, how are you obtaining your Potion?"

Remus flinched a little. "I'm handling it, don't worry."

"Remus," Sirius breathed. "You're not taking it at all, are you?"

"I can't afford it right now, Sirius. And no, you are not paying for it," Remus replied firmly. "I went almost thirty years before taking it, I'll be all right."

Sirius latched a hand around his friend's forearm. When Remus locked eyes with him he said, "Goodbye for now, Remus. Take care of yourself, please."

A faint smile crossed Remus' lips and he said, "Don't worry, Sirius. I'm a former Marauder after all, I'll be just fine. Who knows, maybe some of your dumb luck will have rubbed off after all these years."

Remus was a few feet away when Sirius said, "HEY!"

Remus' laughter echoed back to him as a voice closer by said, "You just got that, Dad?"

Turning he saw Rial standing next to him. The table of Slytherins was empty. He blinked, the kids had departed so silently he'd never noticed their absence. Rial said quietly, "They had to leave. Their parents were being Called."

Sirius jaw tightened as he thought of Lucius Malfoy and Severus being called to serve the Dark Lord's whims. His eyes followed the path where his lone remaining best friend had disappeared and he muttered quietly, "How are we going to get out of this?"

Rial's hand tightened on his shoulder and he looked up at his standing son. Not realizing he'd said that out loud he started to say something and stopped. Rial's eyes were bright with conviction as he replied, "Everything's going to work out, believe it."

Unable to break his son's optimism he said, "I hope you're right, Rial. Let's go."

They departed Diagon Alley as quietly as they'd arrived, both musing on what the future held. While Sirius' sight dimmed, Rial's flared brightly with certainty. He wasn't sure how, but he knew there would be plenty more of these meetings with friends and family after all this was over.

There just had to be.