Harry potter and the Time of Retirement
Everything related to Harry Potter belongs to JKR
Chapter 53 – Year 3
"Here's all you asked for, Mr. Potter. No plastic cutlery, you said?" asked the bartender at the pub in Godric's Hollow, handing two large bags over the counter.
"No, no need. The bottle is inside, right?" counter asked Harry, picking the stuff up. As the older lady nodded, he did too. "Good. Charge everything on my tab, as usual."
"Sure. You have 40 pounds left, give or take. When did you say you can get another load of materials ready?" said the lady.
"Not sure. Next month, maybe? I'll just give a warning to your cousin once I am ready" concluded Harry, stepping away. The lady smiled, and they shared goodbyes.
Harry walked out into the semi desert village. It was late, almost dinner time, and the sun had long since gone away from the sky. Lights could be seen in the few houses around the main square, but no face was in sight. Harry shrugged, before moving on; any hidden corner would be good enough for apparition.
Soon after, he was once again in front of Grimmauld's Place. Quickly using his wand to regain his true appearances - 'Or my fake young one?' he considered with a smile – he knocked at the door.
It took quite a while before someone opened it and it was with some surprise, and pleasure, that Harry saw how it wasn't Kreacher the one to do it.
"There you are. Come in" said Sirius, moving aside leaving the door open. Harry walked inside, noticing a frowning but silent portrait of Walburga Black. Harry nodded at her, which only seemed to make her angrier, but she kept her composure.
Following Sirius inside the house, they both remained silent until they arrived to the large living room. Still dusty, but at least well ordered, with a clean tablecloth and plates set up for their dinner.
"Well, call me impressed" said Harry, once he closed the door behind them. "No more Kreacher and your mom isn't screaming at your guests anymore."
"Oh, Kreacher is still around, just confined to his bed for tonight" said Sirius, relieving Harry of his bags and sniffing them. Apparently he liked what he smelled, because he smiled deeply. "Better to serve ourselves than count on him."
"And your mom?" asked Harry.
"Threats and nagging" answered Sirius, with a sigh. "I told her that if she insisted on screaming like a banshee I would really bury her under bricks or carpets, forever. On top of that I bragged on my future job, Narcissa keeping the door open for me among purebloods, and stuff."
"Maybe you have been promoted from disowned to mere black sheep of the family" commented Harry, casually, while sitting down.
"Maybe" said Sirius. "So, what is that stuff? The host prepares the dinner, Harry."
"I mean no harm" said Harry, smiling. "With how our last meals went, I decided we could try some home made food. Straight from my muggle neighbor's kitchen."
"I had Kreacher prepare some stuff, with strict orders on how to do that. Share and compare?" suggested Sirius, snickering. Harry nodded and began to serve the food while Black filled up their glasses. He sent a skeptical look towards the colorful bottle of muggle wine, before setting it aside and pouring the usual shot of firewhiskey for him and a full glass of butterbeer for Harry. Harry himself just scoffed at this, but otherwise made no complaints.
"Cheers" said Sirius, once they were sitting down in front of their meals. Harry smiled, nodded and for a minute they were busy only with tasting their food.
"Not bad, not bad" said Sirius, after trying some of the muggle bartender's cooking. "I guess you can't go wrong with rice pudding and roast beef."
"Especially on Sunday" added Harry. "This is as british as it comes, too."
"Nevertheless I prefer Kreacher's soup, Harry. Family tastes, you know."
"I don't" answered Harry, grimacing. "If my aunt ever prepared some family recipes, she never shared that with me. Whatever my grandmother liked to cook, it is forgotten forever."
"Muggle or Potter?" asked Sirius, only for Harry to shrug. "Both, I fear."
"What a waste" said Sirius. "Were your uncle and aunt really that bad, Harry? You said they are, but you never go into details."
"What do you expect me to say?" said Harry, shrugging. "It's not like they beat me up or anything. I wasn't starving, either. It was just the…. hostility, I guess. You can't relax if you know your relatives don't like you. It is uncomfortable in other ways, too."
"Yeah, I can relate to that" quipped Sirius, sighing. "My parents were the same. Always complaining, no matter what. It was the same for most of my cousins, too. One of them has been disowned like me, my cousin Andromeda."
"Yes, I heard about her already. The one that married a muggle, right? I think her daughter is a metamorphomagus."
"Damn right she is, and good for them both. So long for all that polluting our blood threats, dear old Andy got a child with a rare magical trait" commented Sirius with a smirk.
"Isn't she an auror, too? If you really rejoin them you would meet her" said Harry, only for Sirius to nod. "Yes, you are right. Maybe. I am in talk with Bones, the head of the department, for a spot back on her team. I could really meet the girl."
"Family ties" said Harry, tapping his fingers on the table. "I do have some hopes for my muggle cousin, Dudley. He is a stuck up little brat for now, make no mistake. But kids grow."
"That sounds so weird coming from you, grandpa Harry" snickered Sirius. "I would tell you to loosen up a little, if you were not out of control already."
Harry rolled his eyes, annoyed. "Don't even start." Sirius snickered a little more, and refilled Harry's glass with extra butterbeer.
"This brings back memories, the good ones. You remember how I lived with the Potters for a while, right? Your grandparents on James' side were something else, really good people. Only a couple like them could take all the troubles me and your dad did and still smile."
"Grandparents are something I never had" commented Harry, sadly. "But I found some old, and I mean old knickknacks from dad's side at home. Of mom's, there was next to nothing. Just some old muggle photos."
"Only photos? That's surprising" added Sirius, sipping from his glass. "It was only your mom and your aunt, right? You should have received plenty of family heirlooms."
"They died just a little before my mom did, so dear old aunt must have pocketed it all" said Harry, with a neutral tone. "I thought about that too late to ask" he started, before hesitating and giving a sly glance to Sirius. As the man, focused on his food, didn't show anything on his face Harry continued.
"So, yes, I should have probably inherited something. Old items, jewelry, maybe half of their old house or a big pile of muggle money at least. Again, my aunt must have taken it."
"And she treated you like an unwanted guest on top of that? Classy" said Sirius, rolling his eyes.
"I did wonder if the two things were related, once" said Harry, frowning. "If they ever feared me asking for my share back, and with interests. Maybe they kept me around just to make sure no other tutor would, to pay for my expenses."
"You want me to go and talk to them, Harry? Lily would have been furious if she learned of this" proposed Sirius, frowning himself. Harry relaxed, and shrugged.
"Maybe once I am of age I could go and settle the issue myself. Truth is, I have little use for muggle stuff even if it comes from the Evans' side. It would be more to annoy my aunt than to get it."
"Well, that was a downer. Do you have something happier to share, Harry?" asked Sirius, after a bit of hesitation. Harry nodded.
"As I wrote, I received some messages back from my former classmates" he said. "They are having quite a normal year. And our quidditch team has improved, but not enough to win the cup."
"Oh, that's nice. And what about that girlfriend of yours?" asked Sirius, amused.
"Stop calling her that" answered Harry, rolling his eyes. "I'll let you know that I can be friendly to girls without hidden intentions. And, she is doing well too. Nothing special to add, though."
"How disappointing" said Sirius, smiling. "Want second helpings, Harry?"
"No, I am done for tonight. Everything was good, even the stuff prepared by Kreacher."
"Told you, I made extra sure he would not mess anything up."
"Anyway" said Harry, smirking "we talked enough about me. Tell me about your playdate with Lupin. That is the big news of this week, not my letters."
"Moony" started Black, unsure. "Make no mistake, overall the night was great. We ended up half drunk at the Three Broomsticks, laughing and shouting and all. I might have even made a pass at madam Rosmerta, near the end."
"With any results?" asked Harry, smiling.
"She said she uses a special hex for drunk customers that do more than flirt, and to watch where my hands went" answered Sirius, rolling his eyes. "As if I would ever be so uncouth to pat her butt, even if drunk."
"Plenty must have done it, though, for her to give threats in advance" commented Harry, lightly.
"Lucky bastards" added Sirius, smirking. "She might not be a spring chicken anymore, but she carries her years well. Nevermind, you are too little for that, Harry."
"Of course I am" said Harry, sighing once again and relaxing on his chair. "Go back to the kid friendly part, then."
"Sure. Well, the night began terribly" started Sirius, shaking his head. "Bloody awkward, I tell you. Not just him, me too. We started talking on how cold the weather was, outside, and if the pub seemed older."
"I imagine. How long until the prison issue?" asked Harry.
"Long enough. Not everyone is as insensitive as you, kid" said Sirius, with a smile. "But yes, after a while Moony started with apologies. I am sorry about doubting you, I should have visited and ask you directly, the whole charade."
"Don't be so bitter. Chances are he meant all that, too" said Harry.
"Oh, I am sure he did. Best friends and he couldn't come once in ten years to ask why I supposedly killed half of our group" added Sirius, scowling, before letting a long sigh escape. "Well, you know what I think about that. Either I let it pass, or I am left with no one to talk to."
"Except me" said Harry, snickering. "I am a model godson."
Black let a chuckle escape, and his eyes went comically wide with disbelief for a second. "Harry, I love you, but Moony was just a coward. You are the kind of little boy that gets adults drunk and then rob them blind."
"That's a very… unfair description of the events" complained Harry, a little embarrassed. "Let's not get distracted with details."
"Details, sure" commented Sirius, laughing softly. "Anyway, I wasn't particularly happy about reliving those years so I pushed the talk forward. I told him that, while Azkaban is exactly as bad as they told, coming out again was nice enough. The Malfoys welcoming me, I have the family money to waste, and of course you."
"Me?" asked Harry, surprised.
"Well, of course. You are the first, make it the only kid born out of our group Harry, we care" said Sirius, though his expression was a bit sarcastic, too. "Beside, your life is so ridiculously weird you make a good distraction from my own woes."
"What an exaggeration. I have quite the boring life, lately."
"In six months that we have met you got me drunk, was petrified, ended up being expelled, and took over James' house" said Sirius, shaking his head. He then froze, and looked at Harry with a blank stare. "And that's nothing, actually. Moony told me more."
"What now?" asked Harry, rolling his eyes. "Do I sacrifice house elves to the goblins? Or maybe I lead a conspiracy against school homework?"
"No, he told me that Dumbledore told him that you got Pettygrew arrested" said Sirius, one eyebrow half raised.
"Oh" said Harry, calming down. For a time he remained silent, while Sirius sipped his glass and kept staring at him. Soon enough, Harry recovered and shrugged. "Dumbledore accused me of that once, true. Maybe he should not blab his fantasies around with other people."
"Accused is not the word I would use" said Sirius, almost casually. "If you did, after all, you would also be the one responsible for my freedom. Did you?"
"Nope" said Harry, simply. Black remained silent for a while, then shook his head. "I can only imagine your dad, drunk and depressed as all hell, complaining to me on how terrible you are, Harry. If he lived, I mean."
"That better not be the cue for some horrible comment like it's better he is gone, Black" hissed Harry, frowning, as Sirius blushed. "No, no, of course not! Never that" he said, instantly.
"I am just saying… oh, I don't know what I want to say, Harry" continued Sirius, embarrassed. "If you did, I am beyond thankful. Moony thinks it was just a string of coincidences, that a little boy could never plan the rat's discovery. Anyone that saw you at work wouldn't be so sure, though."
"I'll take that as a compliment" commented Harry, dryly. "So, did you two do anything else beside badmouthing me?"
"It was not about you Harry, it was Peter the topic" said Sirius, shrugging, before his face tightened up. "Remember, he was one of us once. That's why Moony kept pestering Dumbledore for information, on him and on me."
"Sure, ok" said Harry, rolling his eyes. Sirius seemed a little apologetic.
"Don't take it personally, kid. Let me go on" he said, shrugging awkwardly. "After, well, the sensitive issues we talked about him, and Hogwarts. He claims he is doing well as teacher of Defense but doesn't expect to last long. The curse on the position, sure, and there is Snape too."
"What about him?" asked Harry.
"He is an ass, that's what. Remus tries to be professional, but that guy just can't get over our school years. At least he is brewing…" said Sirius, only to stop immediately.
"Brewing?" asked Harry, casually.
"No, nevermind. Point is, the man is unpleasant and apparently wants to be the teacher of defense himself. Moony is convinced Snape will get him fired, sooner rather than later" concluded Sirius.
"A shame. Defense is notorious for having bad teachers, if Lupin really is good at that he would be a nice change of pace" said Harry.
"He claims he is, and he is no liar. He wasn't, at least. And he could use the job, he is not exactly rich" concluded Sirius.
Harry nodded, but said nothing. Sirius, too, seemed to have exhausted the topic and went back to his drink. Just when Harry was about to suggest they played a couple rounds of cards, just to end the night, Sirius spoke again.
"You know, he wants to meet you. If you don't mind, I can invite him here for the Yuletide break and we can all have a meal together or something" he suggested.
"I don't mind" confirmed Harry, shrugging "just make sure to hint I don't welcome unsolicited lectures."
"Oh, I am sure he can contain his teacherness for a night" said Sirius, smirking.
"Is this the plan you were hinting at in your last message, having a dinner the three of us?" asked Harry. Sirius seemed surprised, then pleased.
"Well, actually no. This is just a coincidence. What I want us to do, Harry, is to go at Malfoy's party."
Harry chuckled. "Isn't there anything else to do at Christmas? This would be my third time in a row."
"What can I say, they are rich and give great dinners" joked Sirius. "My cousin invited me, and when I asked she said you are always welcome there too."
Harry nodded, thinking about it. After a second, he shrugged. "It's not like I have other plans, but this doesn't seem really fun. Stuffy talks and people in even stuffier robes."
"Before and after that part you would meet plenty of kids your age, though. It would do you good" said Sirius, smiling. Harry instantly frowned.
"Is this some kind of I am a good godfather and I am taking you to meet your friends situation?" asked Harry, only for Sirius to blush a little. "It would do you good" he repeated, as Harry sighed.
"In case I wasn't making it clear enough, I don't need babysitters" said Harry.
"Sure you don't, sure you don't!" added Sirius, in a placating way. "It's just a harmless party."
"I don't need pandering either" complained Harry, exasperated. "Still, if this means I get to see you being all awkward with some woman introduced by Mrs. Malfoy, why not."
"That might unfortunately happens, yes" sighed Sirius. "She already said that this, that and that one too of her friends will be there. All respectable and charming and wealthy and oh so nice."
"You know how this works, right?" said Harry, his shoulders now shaking with suppressed mirth. "Talk with them to discover their personalities and aspirations, and then pick the one with the largest bust."
"Yeehw" groaned Sirius. "You weren't like this, before. Are you entering puberty or something?"
"To be honest, I might be" said Harry, after a second of surprise. "But it's more like, I am extra polite whenever there are kids or ladies around, and you are neither."
"Well, I still suggest you stop" said Sirius, rolling his eyes. "It might be fun with me, but one quip like that heard by your female friends and you are branded a pervert. So, if you ever want to have a girlfriend…"
"Pretty low chances of that, I fear" said Harry, sadly. "So, when is this party? Boxing day again?"
"Yes. As for Moony, I invited him here for dinner on Yuletide itself. Dinner, for lunch he has to stay with the other teachers."
"Fine by me. Are we exchanging presents?" asked Harry.
"There is no need for you to prepare anything, kid. Me and Moony might give you something, though."
"Yeah, I don't work like that. Don't expect anything luxurious, but I will set up a couple gifts. And you don't go crazy either, no brooms" said Harry.
"Damn, you got me" joked Sirius. "Fine, we will find something else."
"Ok" concluded Harry. "Anything else? We could play a little, otherwise."
"I'll go take the deck. Stay here" ordered Sirius, standing up.
Undressing, Harry thought about the events of the day. The lunch had been more than pleasant, after lunch had been relaxing and fun – 'Winning most of the games certainly helps' considered Harry, amused – and plans had been made for the coming weeks. Those, to be honest, he was not so sure about.
'Lupin now. Well, it was probably unavoidable' he though, as he started wearing his house clothes. 'Black really seemed happier, though. Maybe he can get out of whatever funk he fell into.'
Giving a look outside of his windows, Harry observed the falling snow. 'With no gardening available, I do have plenty of free time' he sighed, shaking his head. Moving upstairs to his former nursery, then storage room, and now temporary potion room he checked on his long-brewing potions inside the two cauldrons placed at the center of everything.
"New year, new money" he murmured with a smile, thinking of the apothecary in Knockturn Alley. Going there on early January was quite high in his list of priorities.
'Maybe I should go there already, anyway' thought Harry, frowning, as he considered how many presents he would have to prepare this year. 'Black, Lupin, probably Draco. And Hannah! She will be back from school soon….' he noticed, nodding. The chances of the little girl preparing something for him, even just a card, were high.
'Lupin can get a bottle of muggle wine, and be happy about that. Sirius will require something more thoughtful' decided Harry, while chopping some potion ingredients. 'Maybe something related to Quidditch? I don't know if he has a favorite team…'
Switching to one of the cauldrons he stirred it a little, just to check the consistency of the potion inside. It seemed mostly ok, but mostly was not enough for certain potions so he kept working at it. 'Draco… with him Quidditch, too, is a safe bet. But anything I could buy, his father probably bought it already. I should get some idea.'
Still stirring the cauldron, Harry moved on to the last on the list. "And Hannah, of course…" he murmured. 'Sweets? Makeup? Toys for girls? Muggle, again, could work…'
Nodding at the memory of the several muggle confectionery that were available to him at the bartender's, Harry suddenly grimaced. 'No, she is a half blood. Some relatives might already be giving her that stuff.'
Shaking his head, he decided to let it go for now and focus on his work. True, only a week was left before Christmas, but he could solve all that tomorrow morning. "Diagon Alley it is, then", he said to the room. Distractedly, he went back to his work.