Disclaimer: I don't own HP, I only own Evan and Iris Potter.

18-5-2023

Chapter Three

Book Shopping and the Potters

The rest of the week was great fun for the children. Susan and Neville came over every day to join them and they spent hours having fun, the older ones making sure to include Iris in everything they did. Remus and Sirius took it in turns to help them with spells, both general ones they'd be learning in the coming year and more unusual ones that could come in handy. They had three two-on-two Quidditch matches with Evan and Iris versus Susan and Aludra, Neville acting as referee. After Susan revealed she'd gotten a Quadpot Quaffle while on holiday in the United States with her aunt, the five of them even played a game of Quadpot that ended with poor Neville falling off his broom when the Quaffle exploded in his hands. Much to the kids' dismay, they were banned from playing it after that, even though Sirius had fixed his broken arm with a simple wave of his wand and chant of 'Episkey' (that led to him teaching them a few basic healing spells in their next lesson, so something good came of it).

As Sirius had said, their letters arrived on Friday morning. In fact, Grandma Min hand-delivered them, arriving in a swirl of green fire and stepping out with an effortless grace Aludra envied. She could only hope to one day be as elegant as her grandmother.

The professor waved her wand over her emerald green robes and cleaned away the ash before turning to greet the residents of Black Manor. They had been eating breakfast in the kitchen as the dining room still wasn't fixed after Sirius and Remus had gotten into a Prank Duel the evening before. (Timmie and Millie had been delighted to have such a big mess to clean, and Sirius had jokingly said it was their early birthday gifts.)

"Grandma!" Aludra beamed, hopping off her seat and going to embrace the elderly woman.

"Hello, dear," the Scot said fondly. "How are you?"

"Great," Aludra replied happily.

The Transfiguration professor then turned and fixed her gaze on the Potter children. "Good morning, Mr. Potter, Miss Potter," she greeted them crisply. "I trust you are both well?"

"Uh, yes Professor," Evan answered nervously, shifting beneath her stern gaze. Iris slunk closer to her brother, intimidated by the strict woman. "And you?"

"I am well, thank you," she nodded to them. Her expression softened a bit. "We heard about the incident several days ago," she informed them. "Do not be concerned, Mr. Potter. We are taking precautions to ensure the students' safety during the coming year."

Evan nodded silently.

Aludra cut in, because she could see her friends were uncomfortable around the elderly woman. "Do you have our letters?"

"I do," her grandmother confirmed, pulling out two envelopes from her robe pocket, passing the one with Evan's name on it to him and handing Aludra her own. She quickly opened it and pulled out her booklist, making a face when she saw the Defence textbook listed.

"What kind of gullible idiot did Granddad hire?" She groaned. "Daddy, Uncle Moony, look. The new DADA professor wants us to get Gilderoy Lockhart's Marauding with Monsters! The only thing more useless is his Wanderings with Werewolves." That particular book was simply a list of prejudices about werewolves, and it personally offended Aludra. She'd read half-a-chapter and then subsequently burned it and spat on the ashes.

Grandma Min looked away, sighing and frowning.

"Be glad I managed to get the Board of Governors to insist that he could only choose one book per year," her father retorted with a grimace. "He wanted to have every student purchase all of his books."

"Oh no," Aludra said with a feeling of horror overcoming her. "You don't mean-?"

"Unfortunately, I do," Sirius sighed. "Your new DADA professor is the illustrious Gilderoy Lockhart himself."

Aludra groaned audibly and buried her head in her hands in despair. She had met Lockhart once and promptly realized what a fraud he was. It was especially clear when she, Susan and Neville had compared the dates in his books and realized that he would have had to be in multiple places at once, and no way would the Department of Mysteries have given him a Time-Turner, no matter how many times he won Witch Weekly's 'Best Smile Award'. Those things, the usage of which was heavily tracked, could only be granted under strict conditions, and Lockhart's desire for fame wasn't one of them.

"Gilderoy Lockhart?" Iris repeated. "I've heard of him. Isn't he a famous Dark Creature hunter? Isn't it a good thing you're being taught by him?"

"Oh yes," Sirius said dryly. "He'll be glad to tell you what an honour it is for you to learn from him, as well as how fabulous and talented he is at everything he tries his hand at. Just ask him about it."

"Lockhart was a few years above us in school, and he's absolutely insufferable, not to mention completely incompetent," Remus explained to the bemused Potter siblings, as Aludra was too busy wallowing in despair at the prospect of a year with that arrogant idiot. She'd rather be taught by a Death Eater! At least they knew what they were talking about. "The so-called spells he used in his alleged battles with Dark creatures are, you'll find, utterly useless. And his adventures often occurred at the same time in different countries. He's a good author, I'll give him that, but I have serious doubts that he did any of the things he claims he did. Chances are he made it all up."

"Why would the headmaster hire him then?" Evan asked in confusion. "If he's such a git?"

"Language please, Mr. Potter," Grandma Min scolded him mildly, making him wince. "In answer to your question, I'm afraid that Mr. Lockhart was the sole applicant for the Defence position this year." She sighed and smoothed down her robes. "It gets harder and harder to fill the post each year, and this year was especially bad after what happened to Professor Quirrell. People believe the job is cursed, but we've had curse-breakers in on several occasions and they've not found anything."

"Ally, there's no need to be so dramatic," Remus chided Aludra. "I'll pick out some books that will let you stay on track for your year, and we've covered a lot of the DADA syllabus for your year with you already."

"Yes but I'll have to spend two hours a week in his presence," she moaned. "I won't have enough brain cells left to cast a spell by the time the year is over!"

"I am certain you shall survive," Grandma replied tartly. "I would hope, given your heritage, that you have more than enough brain cells to spare, even taking the presence of Professor Lockhart into account."

Aludra sighed dramatically. "Here's to hoping," she declared, raising her pumpkin juice in a toast before knocking it back. "Come on, Evan, Iris. We have to get ready to go to Diagon. Love you Grandma. I'll see you at school!"

"I love you too dear," Grandma answered with affectionate exasperation. "Enjoy the rest of the holiday and I shall see you both on September 1st. Miss Potter, I look forward to you attending Hogwarts next year. You will be as much a credit to your parents as your brother is, I am certain."

"Was that a compliment or insult?" Evan whispered in Aludra's ear.

"Honestly Evan," Aludra scoffed. "Grandma likes you."

He looked incredibly surprised at that.

"Thank you, Professor," Iris answered timidly.

"Uh, see you soon, Professor," Evan said nervously. Iris waved shyly as Aludra embraced her grandmother before waving her off through the Floo. Then she quickly ushered her friends upstairs to get changed into more suitable clothes for going out.

Sirius Flooed with Evan and Iris to the Leaky Cauldron, ensuring they had no problems, while Aludra went by herself, followed by her Uncle Remus.

Neville was already present with his grandmother, but his parents were nowhere to be seen, and Susan was with them. Her aunt, too, was missing from the group. Aludra assumed that Aunt Alice and Aunt Amelia were working, and Uncle Frank was probably having another bad day.

It was worrying, really. The number of bad days he suffered had been steadily increasing over the past three years since he'd tried a potions regime recommended by a Transylvanian 'specialist' which had only made things worse. The adults had tried to hide it from the children but they could tell. They'd had to learn the signs for when he was unwell early on in life, so that they wouldn't disturb him with their playing. Neville was especially concerned, and nothing the girls said would comfort him. Truthfully, they didn't know what to say about it, other than to encourage him to have hope things would get better eventually.

The Potters were there too, but standing separately from the trio. Augusta Longbottom, who had never made a secret of her disdain for the Potter parents, who giving them a look of distaste, her lips pursed like she had smelt something unpleasant. Lily Potter was avoiding the older witch's gaze, but both she and her husband burst into wide smiles at the sight of their children's arrival.

Aludra and her guardians made their way over to the Longbottom-Bones group, while the Potters greeted each other. The way the adults were acting, you'd think the family had been separated for months, not days, Aludra mused to herself as she discreetly watched the way Lily Potter embraced her daughter tightly, while James Potter placed both hands on Evan's shoulders and crouched to be level with him, speaking to him in a low voice, a serious expression on his face. Their children seemed less excited, glancing longingly over at Aludra's group.

"It's good to see you again, Aludra dear, though you must watch your posture. You're dropping your shoulders a bit," Lady Longbottom greeted her, drawing Aludra's attention away from the Potters. Aludra smiled politely, not taking any offence. Lady Longbottom criticized everyone, but she had a good heart. If she didn't criticise you, she didn't care about you at all. Indeed, as Aludra watched she scolded Sirius for grinning too widely for a Lord, even while she invited the family over for dinner next Sunday, something Sirius accepted.

"Sirius," Lord Potter spoke up tentatively from behind them. Aludra watched in trepidation as her father went stiff, his fond smile for Lady Longbottom vanishing to be replaced by a stony expression as he turned around to stare stoically at his ex-best friend.

"Yes, Lord Potter?" Sirius asked curtly with emphasis on the formal address, one hand going to rest protectively on Aludra's shoulder.

Lord Potter winced at the coldness in Sirius' voice, though what he expected after his actions all those years ago, Aludra couldn't tell you. "The children, they wondered if we could shop together," he said tentatively. "They-they don't want to lose their friends' company just yet." He hesitated, then stepped closer. "Please, Sirius," he requested softly. "For the kids' sakes. Can't we try to put the past behind us?'

Easy for him to ask, Aludra thought darkly. He was the one who started this feud. Lady Longbottom looked ready to draw her wand and start hexing the Potters, but it was Sirius who replied in a tight voice.

"I have no problems with Evan and Iris joining us to shop," he replied curtly. "I would never interfere with theirs and Aludra's friendship. But if you and Lady Potter intend to join, then I would respectfully request that you keep your distance. You may want to Vanish the past, but I have a permanent reminder of what you did. Now, come along children. We need to get moving before it gets too crowded."

Unfortunately, they were unlucky enough to go shopping on the same day that Lockhart was having a book signing for his autobiography, Magical Me. They decided to go to Flourish and Blotts last, but they could only delay so much, and the longer they were at Diagon, the longer they were forced to endure the Potter couple's presence.

"I suppose we had best get your books," Lady Longbottom said with an unhappy look at the packed store. "Make sure not to pay any attention to that buffoon, children. Remus has kindly put together some books that will give you a proper education, none of Lockhart's nonsense. Make sure to concentrate on self-study this year."

"Yes Gran," Neville said.

"Yes, Lady Longbottom," the girls and Evan agreed.

"He's very handsome though, you must admit that," Susan whispered to Aludra as they headed for the bookstore.

Aludra glanced at the poster smiling and winking at them from the window and she let out a quiet giggle, feeling her cheeks heat.

"Shame he's such an idiot," she sighed back, keeping her voice quiet so as not to give her father heart failure at the thought of his 'little girl' thinking a man was handsome. "But I suppose you're right. We can distract ourselves from the useless drivel he's spewing by looking at his eyes."

"What are you two giggling about?" Uncle Remus glanced at them with a raised eyebrow. They widened their eyes innocently and gave him angelic smiles.

"Nothing!" They chorused.

He sighed and turned away, mumbling under his breath about Sirius' influence.

The girls glanced at one another and giggled again, before composing themselves as they entered the store. It was so crowded you could barely move, but thankfully that was only a section of it. The non-DADA areas were empty, making it simple for them to split up and find each book. Aludra went to collect the Charms textbooks for herself and her friends. She'd just picked up four sets of Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2, when a shadow was cast over her. Warily, she turned in its' caster's direction.

To say she was displeased to find Lady Potter smiling nervously at her was an understatement. The only worse situation would be if it were Lord Potter.

"Hello, Aludra," Lady Potter greeted her tentatively. "Can I help you with those?"

"That's alright, Lady Potter," Aludra replied tensely. "Unless you want to take Evan's copy?"

"Oh, yes, of course," Lady Potter agreed, taking one copy from Aludra's arms. Aludra began making her way to the front of the store to meet the rest of the group, but unfortunately Lady Potter joined her. "Do you enjoy Charms?" She asked, sounding determined. Determined to do what, Aludra couldn't say. "Evan says that you're top of the year."

"I do fine," Aludra answered stiffly. "Evan is very kind."

"I'm glad the two of you are friends," Lady Potter murmured. "Evan, he-it's very hard for him. I'm glad he has people who don't care about his fame."

"Mmhmm," Aludra hummed, trying not to encourage the redhaired woman.

"Please feel free to come around to the Manor any time you like," Lady Potter added. "Any, friend, of Evan is welcome. Really, it's as open to you as your home."

"That's very kind of you," Aludra said coolly, all the while thinking that she would go to the Potter's home when Evan's parents were both dead and buried and not a second sooner.

"Aludra, I-," Lady Potter began, only to be interrupted by Sirius' sharp voice.

"Lily, if you're done, Ally and I need to pay for her books," Aludra's father snapped. He glared openly at Lady Potter, who's expression fell. He turned to Aludra. "Ally, go get the other books and meet me at the counter. If you can fight your way through the horde, that is." She smiled and nodded at her father, trying to reassure him silently, and began making her way across the room to where she could see Remus in the Transfiguration section. As she left, she caught her father and Lady Potter whispering at each other.

"Sirius, I was only-" Lady Potter pleaded quietly.

"I don't care," Sirius snapped back angrily. "You made your choice a long time ago, Lily. Aludra is my daughter, and my daughter only. I have made my wishes clear, and I expect you to respect them. Understood?"

"Yes," Lady Potter sighed defeatedly. "I understand. I'm sorry. I won't bother her again."

That was when Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy started brawling like drunk muggles in the middle of the store, and everybody was distracted. Aludra completely forgot to be curious about Lady Potter's 'choice' and why her friends' mother was so determined to share a conversation with her.