The next day Mr. Potter, James, and I visited Diagon Alley while Mrs. Potter held Sirius prisoner under the pretense that his bandages had to be changed again. Any attempt to escape, she'd warned, and she'd have him mummified for the rest of summer.
Mr. Potter tapped the brick (three up and two across from the trash can) that opened up the entrance of the alleyway. We joined the scurrying mob of people in the streets, passing along the wide variety of shops down Diagon Alley.
As we passed Broomstix, James' looked with shining eyes at the newest make and model and Mr. Potter had to essentially suction off his face from the display window.
"I think I'm in love," Jamie voiced breathlessly.
My father rolled his eyes and said, "Son, as your father, I'm all for you playing sports, but this obsession is a bit too much."
But my brother didn't even hear him. Instead, Jamie continued in his reverie, saying, "You see those sweet curves on that broom? Perfect to the touch, smooth, glamorous…"
"You think he'd like this one or this?" James asked me.
"O-oh," I stuttered awkwardly as I pulled my mind out of memory lane. If I could, I'd stay there forever.
"Er- I'm not sure," I admitted, looking down at the items. "Is blue his favorite color?"
"No, red."
Gryffindor color. How predictable.
"Well, what about you? You're not going to buy Sirius anything?" James asked me as we stopped for ice cream later.
"You don't think he'd mind?" I replied. "After all, I don't really know anything about what he likes."
"Who would mind an extra present?" James asked me rhetorically. "Anyhow, just get him something you'd like, wrap it, and it's a present."
"Okay," I said, "Then I'll get him, um… Well, something really exciting. Whatever it is, it'll be super exciting."
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Sirius (immediately drowned out by a long bellow of Paddddddfoooooooooot from James, Remus, and Peter), Happy Birthday to you!"
"Make a wish and blow out the candles, dear!" Mrs. Potter said excitedly.
To my surprise, Sirius seemed slightly uncomfortable being the center of attention at his own birthday party. He kept looking embarrassed and waiting for directions as though he wasn't quite sure how to act.
He blew out the candles in one big breath and we all clapped and cheered.
Mrs. Potter served us the cake she and Dusky had made themselves and then she and Mr. Potter left to their bedroom, saying that they would leave the presents and games to us kids.
"Oh, and this came," Mrs. Potter indicated a huge parcel with Sirius' name on it. Probably from Marlene, I thought, and sure enough, about ten seconds later, Peter confirmed that it was.
"But ours first!" James protested and without further ado, shoved his disastrously wrapped present under Sirius' nose.
"All right, all right, Prongs, calm yourself," Sirius said testily, which was quite unlike him. Nine times out of ten, he was the one egging James on.
"Yeah, yeah, hurry up," James beamed, sure that Sirius would like his gift.
Sirius began to open it delicately, peeling off the crooked tape.
"That's not how you do it," Peter protested. "You're supposed to grab it and rip it off!"
"Here," Sirius tossed the package at Peter as though wanting to be free of a burden, "you do it, then."
Peter gleefully ripped the wrapping in half and handed what looked like a mirror to Sirius.
"Er- thanks, mate. You won't mind if I don't whip it out during class like the other girls, though, right?" Sirius said uncertainly. Peter laughed.
"No, it's a two-way mirror!" James explained. "If you look into it and say my name, you can talk to me because I've got the other mirror. Wicked, eh?"
"And this is from my parents," James tossed another, more neatly wrapped present to Sirius.
Sirius opened it to find a pair of expensive Quidditch Beater gloves inside.
"Oh, wow, these are really nice," Sirius said quietly, examining them.
"Try them on," James said eagerly. Sirius did and murmured, "Yeah, perfect fit and everything. Thanks."
"Here, Padfoot." Peter pushed his gift towards Sirius. "It took me ages to save up for those."
Sirius ripped off the paper and lifted the lid off a box to pull out what looked like a normal pair of black-rimmed glasses. He put them on and then said, "Woah."
"Worm," he said, looking around the room with wide eyes like a newborn baby, "what the hell are these?"
Peter glowed with happiness and pride as he explained, "They've just come out on the market! They're Illusion glasses. You look like you're paying attention to what's in front of you but really you're seeing whatever you've spell-stored in there: a Quidditch game, test answers, memories, whatever."
"Pete, these must have cost a fortune," Sirius said, finally taking them off.
"What'd you store in there right now?" Remus asked curiously.
"Oh, comics, of course," Peter replied, shrugging.
"Merlin," Sirius said in awe. "Thanks, Pete."
"Well," Remus said, pushing his present forward. "Mine will seem rather shabby after those presents but here you are."
Sirius ripped open a huge pile of Honeydukes' best chocolate.
Sirius laughed. "Personal wish fulfillment, Moony?"
Moony. Remus Lupin is a werewolf.
I saw Remus smile ruefully back at Sirius, and perhaps it was just a trick of the mind, but I thought that I could now recognize some of him in that poor werewolf, no matter how terribly nightmarishly he had been in his full wolf form. How terrible it must be for him. What if he remembers being bitten? I shuddered.
"You cold?" Peter asked me.
I shook my head and smiled at him. "I'm fine, thanks."
Then, Remus pulled out a pouch from his pocket and handed it to Sirius, saying, "It's not new, but it's done wonders for me, so I'm hoping it'll help you as well."
Sirius untied the pouched and emptied it onto his hand. It was Remus' necklace, the one that I had anonymously given to him in the Shrieking Shack.
"It's a protection symbol," Remus said. "I don't know who gave it to me, but it's worked for me, and I figured maybe you'll need that for a while."
"Yeah," Sirius said gruffly, looking down at the charm. "Thanks, Moony."
James then looked at me expectantly but I shook my head and pushed Marlene's huge box towards him and quickly sat back down on my parcel. Remus noticed and raised an eyebrow at me, but I tried to turn my blushing face away. There was no way I was giving Sirius my present, not-
Sirius tore open the box and pulled out a fistful of expensive shirts.
Especially not after Marlene's gift.
Behind me, Remus and James exchanged a silent conversation.
A quick nod. Is that a present for Sirius?
Casual nod of head. Yeah, mate.
Slight shrug of shoulders. Should she give it to him?
Sarcastic roll of eyes. Yeah, mate.
"Wow," Peter murmured, "those are really expensive shirts. They probably cost more than the glasses."
"Yeah, these are really nice," Sirius observed, a bit awkwardly. "She really shouldn't have."
"Raylynx," Remus suddenly said, "what are you sitting on?"
"Nothing," I replied immediately, feeling the blush flare up in my cheeks again.
"But it's wrapped up all pretty," Peter chirped. "What is it?"
Sirius turned to me with his eyebrow raised, "You got me something?"
"No," I replied bluntly.
James rolled his eyes. "Just give it to him, Ray. It's fine."
Sirius held out his hand.
I slowly pulled it out from under my butt and then made a run for it, racing out the dining room, through the living room and taking the stairs up two at a time.
"Kingsley!" Sirius shouted, running after me. "What're you playing at?"
"It's not yours!" I shouted back as I reached the top of the stairs, and then paused. Where do I go? Where can I burn this ridiculous present?
"Oof!" Sirius, who had been taking the stairs at full speed, ran straight into my back. I was shoved forward, but quickly regained my balance and hiding the present behind my back, pressed my back against the wall.
"Don't be ridiculous," Sirius growled. "Just hand it over. Or you shouldn't have bought it in the first place."
"Well, I wouldn't have but James-"
Sirius grabbed my shoulder with one hand, pinning me against the wall and grabbed for the package behind my back. We struggled and I half-finished my sentence through gritted teeth, "bloody-Potter-!"
"Got it!" Sirius crowed, and without a second's hesitation, he ripped it open.
A single, sad, lonely, pessimistic button-up plaid shirt sat there. Everyone else had gotten him incredibly valuable, thoughtful, and exciting gifts. I'd gotten him a terribly cheap and unoriginal red and blue plaid shirt.
"It's nice," he said casually, surprising me.
Then he suddenly stripped off the shirt he was currently wearing.
"Sirius Black, what the bloody hell are you doing?" I shrieked, looking away. Not that I wanted to look away, mind you, but I had to hide the traitorous blush spreading across my face.
"Calm down." Sirius rolled his eyes as he put on the plaid shirt, buttoning it up.
"It's a button-up," I muttered, trying to hide how overly flustered I was. "There's no need to strip off the t-shirt underneath."
"Thanks," Sirius said carelessly and reached over to ruffle my hair roughly before tromping downstairs.
"How do I look?" I heard him ask to the others boys and his voice implied that he knew he looked damn good, even though he hadn't seen it yet. He sounded like a vain king asking his brain-washed subjects to describe him.
"Exciting," I heard James answered, laughing, and I knew he was mocking me.
I covered my face with my hands and leaned against the wall.
"Bastard," I muttered. "Plaid is exciting."
When I finally managed to look pale enough to walk downstairs, the boys had moved to the living room and sat comfortably on the ground with butterbeer and the mound of chocolate Remus had brought. Peter and James were playing spherical chess (chess played on a levitating checkered sphere that served as the board).
I'd never seen Remus so happy, actually, as he was now, sitting between James and Sirius and licking melted chocolate off his fingers.
I hesitated, not wanting to break up what must have been a tradition for these four boys of Sirius' birthday with my strange, unwelcome presence. I turned away before any of them could see me when I heard Remus say through a mouthful of chocolate, "It's nice to finally have a birthday party for you, Padfoot. We've been trying for ages and we just couldn't get you out of your bloody house."
"D'you remember that one time we tried to bring the party to your house? Brought streamers and balloons and your father chucked us out while your mother tried to curse us," James said reminiscently. "I've never seen a woman so deranged."
"Yeah, well, my mum…" Sirius' voice quieted for a moment and then he continued, "All Blacks go mad. Family tradition."
There was a pregnant silence and then Remus said intensely, "Merlin, Sirius, your mother didn't curse you that time, too, did she?"
"Doesn't matter," James said fiercely. "We aren't giving you back."
So that's why Sirius seemed so uncomfortable. He's never had a birthday party before. At least, not for a long time.
Suddenly, Remus started laughing. It started quietly then grew into something uncontrollable. I smiled. Remus Lupin was finally laughing.
"Moony…?" Sirius said weakly.
"I don't know why it suddenly sprang to mind, but d'you remember", Remus said between laughter, "when Mulciber hexed you in your third year, Padfoot? And Prongs here went after him to get 'revenge' for you and the only thing he managed to do was Disarm him before he got absolutely pummeled? The stupidest spell choice! Could've Stunned him, could've made him bald, and instead you, James, a scrawny second year, disarmed him. As though you tilted the odds by disarming Mulciber."
Sirius laughed, too. "I remember! You came back with the blackest eye and this terribly prattish scowl."
"Shut up!" James said hotly. "Expelliarmus is my favorite spell. It's going to save the world someday, you just watch."
"It wasn't your favorite spell," Peter chimed in, "it was the only spell you could perform in second year. Check, Prongs."
"Wormtail," James scowled, "will you shut it? Here, have some chocolate."
"But I don't like dark ch-mmpf!"
"That's better. Oh, and check mate, Pete," James smirked and stretched out his arms, yawning.
"How did you do that?" Peter asked wistfully.
"Mate, you realize as soon you moved the bishop to E4 it was all over?" James pointed out, still stretching.
"Oh, I meant to ask before, but I didn't want to seem rude," Remus said. "Why is Raylynx Kingsley living at your house?"
"Dumbledore asked my parents for a favor. That's all I know. Although she did say something about her brother... But it's really none of our business," James answered, mumbling a little.
"Oh, I thought maybe you two were together or something," Remus replied.
"Or maybe," Peter said, after a huge swallow of chocolate, "you were using her to figure out how to woo Lily Evans."
"Eat slowly. Don't waste perfectly healthy chocolate, Wormtail," Remus chided Peter playfully.
"I'm not going to use anyone to have Lily like me. She likes me already, she just doesn't know it," James responded arrogantly.
I had to smother a snort.
"And there's no way James is going to get together with her," Sirius said, shaking his head, "when there's girls like Evans and McKinnon around. I mean, I'm not saying she's ugly or anything, but to be honest, Kingsley isn't exactly girlfriend material, is she? And she doesn't really fit in with us boys, either. It's been pretty weird having her around."
"You don't think she's in danger or anything and that's why she's staying here?" Peter asked in a suddenly hushed voice.
"No, why would you say that?" James scoffed. "I assume her parents just need some time to get financial matters together or whatever."
"But think about it," Peter pressed, "her brother was attacked at his Quidditch game and a few months later, the Headmaster asks your parents to protect her. Don't you think there's something slightly omnibus with that?"
"You mean 'ominous'?" Remus laughed.
"Her brother was attacked?" Sirius said thoughtfully.
"Yeah," Peter said. "And they say he's better, but the truth is he hasn't been in any Quidditch matches ever since. I'm a fan of their team, so I know. Also, my cousin saw that match. She says a lot of witches and wizards have it out for the Kingsley family now. Apparently a lot of spectators got cursed too-"
"Yeah, but Pete," James interjected abruptly. "Being 'better' and being physically fit to play international Quidditch are two very different levels of 'fit'. Anyways, like I said, it's none of our business."
James, I knew, was trying to protect my privacy. I felt a rush of gratitude towards him.
"Have you asked her about it?" Peter asked him. A trace of excitement was in his voice. Something in him craved acknowledgement…
"Course I have, but I'm not going to press her on it," James scoffed, "She's not here because she wants to be, Wormtail."
"Oh, right, right," Peter backed off, feigning abashedness.
She's not here because she wants to be.
That's right. I'm here, away from family, away from everything I know, because I have to be.
When did it all change so quickly?
I breathed out slowly and blinked back tears as I backed away from them. Quietly, I made my way up the stairs and disappeared into my room.
"Oy, Kingsley! O.W.L. results came out…" Sirius entered my room and held out the envelope. I took it from him and as soon as he left, I ripped open the envelope and pulled out the letter.
Raylynx Alias Kingsley
Passing Grades- O, E, A
Failing Grades- P, D, T
O.W.L. Testing Results
Ancient Runes
O
Arithmancy
E
Astronomy
E
Care of Magical Creatures
A
Charms
O
Defense Against the Dark Arts
O
Divination
A
Herbology
A
History of Magic
E
Potions
E
Transfiguration
E
It was really better than anything I could have hoped for. I felt a wave of relief pass over me. It wasn't anything near my sibling's grades, particularly Sola's, but I'd done what I'd had to.
I heard footsteps on the stairs and the loud laughter of James and Sirius as they jostled each other on their way up.
"Told you I'd get more O's than you," I heard James crow victoriously.
"Yeah, yeah, says the prude who took the dead-easy Artistical Studies and Ghoul Studies," Sirius replied.
Then a pause. I heard Sirius say in disbelief, "What is that? No way…"
"Merlin's buttocks, I'm Quidditch Captain!" James shouted loudly.
"You're joking!" Sirius said as they burst into my bedroom.
"Here, swap?" James asked me eagerly.
"Er-"
"Great, here," James said and he ripped my paper out of my hands and shoved his into mine.
I looked down at them:
James Hayden Potter
Passing Grades- O, E, A
Failing Grades- P, D, T
O.W.L. Testing Results
Artistical Studies
O
Astronomy
O
Care of Magical Creatures
O
Charms
E
Defense Against the Dark Arts
O
Divination
E
Herbology
E
History of Magic
E
Ghoul Studies
O
Potions
E
Transfiguration
O
"Good stuff," James said happily, trading me back. "Sirius only got five O's."
"I only got three," I muttered.
"Yeah, but you took Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, didn't you? A P in either of those classes would be equivalent to an O in Artistical Studies or Ghoul Studies, at least."
He turned back to Sirius. "Padfoot, mate, I told you not to take Muggle Studies. Insanely difficult class, made you get an E, heh."
"I just took it to piss off Mum and Dad," Sirius said. "I didn't actually care about the difference between land-linens and sellfones."
I had to hide a snort.
"Oh well, we're N.E.W.T. students now, we are," James shrugged, before bursting out, "And I'm a Quidditch Captain! Muuuum!" He raced out of the room, waving his O.W.L. grades and Captain badge like a great big banner over his head.
"It's all right," I told Sirius. "It's just because he's got lucky rocketship underpants and you don't."
Sirius half-smiled. "Yeah. Probably wore them for two weeks straight for testing… Dirty bugger."
Our awkward chuckles was followed by an awkward silence. He ran his hand through his hair, a bad habit he'd picked up from James, and said, "Yeah…"
From this angle, Sirius looked so much like his younger brother. I wondered if Regulus was still at the their parents' house and if he knew where Sirius was.
We both paused, and an awkward silence fell between us.
"Right then…" Sirius said, and started to leave.
"What about your brother?" The question came out of my mouth suddenly and unexpectedly.
Sirius stopped in his tracks.
"What about him?" Sirius asked, his voice tense.
"Did you leave him at your parents' house?" I asked.
Sirius stayed dead-still.
I hesitated, suddenly feeling very uncertain of what was going on. I hadn't expected Sirius, who was also so carefree about everything, to react this way.
I tried to fix my mistake by talking about Jamie. I meant to say, "Don't you miss your brother? Because I miss mine."
But I had only gotten the words, "Don't you miss your brother?" when Sirius clenched his hand into a fist, crumpling the parchment that was his results letter.
I fell silent, shocked the waves of anger suddenly radiating off of him.
"Don't talk about my brother," Sirius said, his voice tightly and painfully controlled.
I swallowed. I didn't mean to make him angry. I just thought maybe we could relate… I found myself whispering the last bit, "I'm only asking because I miss mine."
"Yeah, well-!" Sirius started shouting defensively but stopped when his mind registered my words. He shook his head and said fiercely, "You and me, Kingsley, we are not the same. Don't pretend like you know anything about me."
And he left the room, slamming the door ear-splittingly loudly.
"And there's no way James is going to get together with her", Sirius said, shaking his head, "when there's girls like Evans and McKinnon around."
"Hi, Lily, Marlene," I greeted, embracing them warmly on Platform 9 and ¾.
"I'll be right there," I told them. "Just let me say good-bye."
They nodded and Lily said, "Look for Marlene when you get on the train. I've got to go up to the Head's carriage for a little while."
They left and I turned back to Mr. and Mrs. Potter.
"I can't ever thank you enough," I said, my voice overwhelmed with the gratitude I felt for them, "Just… everything you've done for me. I've had the loveliest summer."
Mr. Potter smiled at me and replied warmly, "No, it was really our privilege to have you stay with us this summer. Please feel free to visit us whenever you wish, whether it be for breaks or any other time."
Mrs. Potter reached out and touched my cheek. She said gently, "Take care, dear, won't you?"
From behind me, James said slightly peevishly, "Have you forgotten that you've got a son?"
