Once he'd finally managed to let go of the kid, Garth cleared his throat and flushed as he remembered others had been present.

But James had disappeared into the back of the shop while the other two were looking at the different cages in full concentration, giving them the moment of privacy.

Clearing his throat as Sirius gave him a once over, he sighed and spread his arms to allow the kid to see for himself that he was all right.

The brush of magic washing over him was familiar and he relished in the feel of it before the kid Vanished the blood on him and turned to the other two; both immediately presenting themselves for inspection as well before Fabian dumped the kitten back into Sirius' hands.

Gently petting it, Sirius looked up. "James?"

"Yup, ready," he was carrying a blue transport carrier and grinning like a lunatic as he stepped back to Sirius' side, dropping the carrier onto the counter and abruptly Garth realised the dark-haired boy hadn't picked that kitten up by chance as both the other two turned to them with clear excitement.

"What's that?" the kid asked as James opened it to reveal an indeed empty carrier.

"The transport for your Christmas present."

"My what?" confused, Sirius looked up to him only for James to indicate to the kitten in his hands.

"Your cat."

"I don't have a cat," but even Garth could hear the wistfulness in the kid's gaze as he looked down at the little thing.

"You do now."

"I can't, you know what will happen if I take an animal with me," there was something pained in Sirius' voice but James simply shook his head.

"That's where you are wrong. She can spend the holidays you have to go back with me so she'll be safe and the rest of the year she's all yours," he picked up the little thing's white paw and shook it carefully as it meowed. "See, she's agreeing with me."

Though his words made a pang of sadness shoot through Garth at the clear implication animals wouldn't have been safe at the kid's place of upbringing, at the same time appreciation washed over him that James would ensure something like that would never happen again to another innocent animal.

"What about your parents?"

"Don't worry, I sternly told them this is your pet and they can't keep her during the time we're at school," it was clearly not what the kid was asking, but seemed to be the right thing to say as he huffed out a laugh.

"This is why you wanted to come here? To buy me a cat for Christmas?"

"Yup," he grinned and immediately found himself with his arms full of delighted brother, the kitten balancing on his shoulder.

"Thank you! But what about…." he indicated to the front door while at the same time petting the kitten that was sitting on his shoulder.

"There are already people on that and all the injured people have been evacuated and the attackers who survived arrested while the bodies were cleared," Alice informed him. "Gideon gave word while we were busy. There is nothing that needs our attention out there and it would actually be better if we stayed out of the way unless we want attention drawn to our presence here."

Pulling a face as it was obviously not something they wanted, Sirius looked down at the kitten with a purely besotted look. And the thing was truly adorable with its grey fur and black stripes running over her head and back but with white paws.

From the corner of his eyes he noticed Alice picking up a litter box while Fabian retrieved other supplies the animal would need and his heart skipped a beat as he realised he might just have saved enough of his collected coins to be able to add something of his own thanks to the kid's ongoing meal arrangement at the White Wyvern.

While he had exchanged Christmas gifts with the kid last year after he'd send him a handwoven bracelet, he hadn't actually been able to send back anything nice beyond a stupid rock he'd found that reminded him of the kid.

But maybe this time he could actually afford to give him something nice and he looked around the selves for something he might be able to afford.

After a few minutes of looking around, his heart sank as everything was much pricier than he'd expected; startling as James had appeared at his side all of a sudden and pressed something into his hand.

"Shut up, accept it and use it to get him what you actually wanted to give him before you saw the price of it," he whispered with a wink. "See it as a thank you for not actually being a perverted creep. And should you need any inspiration for next year, he's always playing with bouncing balls."

Bewildered he watched as James winked at him, actually winked.

"I can't take that."

"Can't or won't? Because like it or not, he trusts you and that means I do, too," James' eyes were soft as he looked at where his brother was playing with the kitten, Alice evidently on the task of keeping him distracted while Fabian sneakily grabbed more supplies.

"What does that have to do with accepting money?"

Sighing, James turned back to him. "Do you have any idea how rare it is for him to actually both like and trust an adult? Especially in the time frame that you've known each other?"

"I...no?"

"Auntie Hope and my Mum, that's the list, the full list," he told him solemnly. "Dad's steadily gaining his trust as are Moody and the guy we met at the Hogsmeade bar a few months ago and maybe, just maybe both Professor Flitwick and McGonagall are gaining it in some way. But for now you are one of three adults he trusts."

He wet his lips as he looked at him seriously. "I didn't quite realise just how deeply he trusted you until he allowed you to be present when his scars were revealed."

"He allowed the other two to be present, too," but even so the words formed a lump in his throat because it was something he had actually eventually realised, yes. Despite the fact that their interactions were usually limited to just the two of them at the White Wyvern or just at whatever shithole he'd managed to hole up in at that moment, it had not taken him long to realise that although the kid was friendly, he didn't trust easily.

He hadn't realised that immediately because he'd never seen that kind of behaviour around himself, but adults always, without exceptions, put him on his guard.

The knowledge he was one of three adults the kid trusted completely was both eye opening and heart-warming.

"Fabian doesn't count and Alice has had his trust for a while now. She proved herself trustworthy to him," he wasn't quite sure why the other didn't count but he had noticed the other redhead had sent himself on a different errant, clearly knowing this was the twin the kid was most comfortable with.

"Don't break his trust," James told him before picking up a cat toy. "As for your other question, money means nothing to him."

"What?"

"The blue rock on his night stand does."

Swallowing thickly he realised what the boy was trying to tell him as Sirius indeed wasn't the type to care about the expense of the gift, but one to cherish every single one he got simply because it meant someone cared enough to have thought of him.

Even if he could never afford to give him anything other than stupid rocks, the mere fact he'd cared enough to pick one up and send it was all he cared about.

Curling his fingers over the money he slowly nodded to show he'd understood and clasping a hand on his shoulder, James squeezed once before walking off.

Once more it occurred to him that the kid had amazingly good taste in people and shaking his head fondly he returned to the first shelf he had passed to pick up the beautiful grey cat tower that made him think of the kid.

His stomach still rolled at the price of it, but apparently James had seen exactly what he'd been drawn to and given him more than enough money to be able to afford it. Huffing out a quiet laugh he grabbed a few toys he was fairly sure both the kid and the cat would love to play with together to fill up the full amount that James had given him.

He could use the money he had saved himself to perhaps look for a nice little bouncing ball the kid apparently loved and give it for his birthday. Maybe he could even save up more money in the upcoming months and get him something really nice.

Adding his own choices to the counter and dropping the coins with it, he made his way back to Sirius; smiling as the kitten had found its way into his coat and was curled up there fast asleep.

"All tuckered out?"

"Yeah," the look on his kid's face was beyond adorable as he glanced down at the little thing, not noticing the fond smiles he received from the others. "I should probably move her to the carrier."

"I somehow doubt you're going to lose her anytime soon so might as well leave her nice and comfortable."

"You think?"

"Yeah, and besides, your brother is stuffing the carrier full so she wouldn't even fit in there anyway," indicating to where James was indeed stashing supplies into it, he laughed as Sirius blinked.

"Wait, what's all that?"

"James threatened to disembowel us if we dared suggest paying a Knut for the cat so we're getting you supplies as our own Christmas gifts," Fabian cheerfully informed him as he wandered to the shelf with books, looking down at what appeared to be a list in his hands. "What was the title of the book Lupin mentioned, because your handwriting sucks, James."

"The one on how to care about a kitten and not my fault Muggle pens don't write very well on parchment," James immediately protested.

"That's way too much," Sirius tried to protest but they all shushed him and Garth stifled a laugh at the truly perplex expression on the kid's face.

"If that says kitten then I'm eating my hat," Fabian muttered as he peered down at the list before picking the correct book up and putting it inside the carrier as well. "Pandora and Pettigrew wanted to add cat treats, but I'm not sure which one she'd be allowed to have already."

"She can have these ones for the first year," Garth had noticed the different age indication on the bags and James grabbed two of each, stuffing them into the carrier as well as Fabian checked his list again.

"What are we still missing?" Alice asked.

"A food and water bowl," Fabian hummed as he wrote something down on his list. "Oh, and a scratching pole."

"Mum and Dad already got that one for him and will give it tomorrow," James corrected him.

"Wait, did every single one of you know he was going to get me a cat?" Bewildered Sirius looked between them all.

"I'm a bit of a last minute addition," not that his admittance did anything to change the look of utter gratitude on the kid's face so he simply smiled as it was his turn to be pulled into a careful hug as he clearly didn't want to disturb the kitten.

"Thank you, all of you."

"Congratulations, you're a cat dad now," Garth couldn't help but joke, making the others snort.

"Oh please, he's a total mother hen so cat mum would be more appropriate," James laughed even as they all turned as the front door opened and a guy a few years older than Garth himself entered the tiny shop, his face covered in deep scars but his eyes friendly enough as they swept over their little group.

And it spoke for the man's reputation that even Garth knew who this was.

"Everyone all right?" Moody's voice was a growl but it still sounded surprisingly friendly as he was clearly familiar with the kids as they greeted him by name before giving affirmative nods.

"Good, you all did an amazing job, thank you," the man nodded approvingly as his eyes swept over them once more before settling on Sirius. "Is it too much to hope that the little furball in your coat is the reason you're clawed up?"

"How dare you accuse my little ball of sunshine of such violence? She's an innocent baby," Sirius immediately protested good-naturedly and James rolled his eyes.

"Told you he'd become a cat mum."

"As if you're going to be any better, Uncle James," Alice shot back even as Moody walked to Sirius' side and scarred hands reached out surprisingly gently to brush over the tiny ears before coming to rest on the kid's shoulder.

"You sure you're all right?"

"I'll be fine, just a little run in with an unfriendly werewolf," Sirius smiled up to the older man and Garth scoffed even as he could see for himself what James had meant with that this Moody guy was clearly gaining the kid's trust as he didn't flinch back from his touch.

"Greyback is not unfriendly, he's a horrifying monster."

"Greyback? Fenrir Greyback?" Apprehension crossed over Moody's face and his eyes scanned Sirius more thoroughly. "Did he touch you?"

"Tried to take a bite out of me but Garth managed to pull him back," there was something stricken on Sirius' face. "If I'd known it was Greyback I might've tried harder to rip him apart in return."

The pure venom in his voice gave Garth a reasonable good idea of just how exactly the kid knew the vicious werewolf's name and it saddened him to know the kid's friend was clearly another one of that monster's victims.

"Lets hope you'll never cross paths with him again," Moody's hold tightened momentarily. "So, what's with the cat?"

"It's my Christmas present from James and the supplies from everyone else."

"Is that so," the man's eyes slid over the gathered supplies. "You're a Gryffindor, right?"

"Yes?"

Stepping to the side, the man picked up a thick fluffy red pillow and tossed it onto the carrier, dropping some coins onto the counter. "Merry Christmas from me and Abe."

"Moody!" Sirius immediately protested even as the rest of the kids laughed as if the action had been utterly predicable and from the way the man smiled, perhaps it had been.

"Perhaps you shouldn't have given us those Christmas cookies then if you didn't want a gift back," he shot back teasingly.

"A bunch of cookies are not the same and you know it!"

"Better hope he doesn't find out what Peeves and Tiffy got for him then," James muttered just loudly enough for Garth to hear and he snickered even as Sirius shot him a betrayed look.

"Lad, I've got no use for items. But those cookies of yours were delicious so if you truly want to pay me back, then perhaps another batch of those?" The sheer hopefulness in the man's voice made them all laugh, even Sirius as he rolled his eyes.

"Honestly, you're as bad as these guys are, but I'll see what I can do. Thank you."

"Keep your thanks, it's cookies I'm after," the man shamelessly admitted. "So, what's the name of the little thing?"

"Erm….James?"

"You want me to chose a name for her?"

"Yes?" Sirius huffed out a laugh. "She's your gift, after all."

"Okay, well she's a Muggle cat as I knew you'd appreciated that much more than one of those fancy magical ones," he ran a hand through his hair. "So she's kind of a wizard's familiar, right?"

"A what?" Garth was relieved he wasn't the only one asking that as aside from Sirius, they all looked at him confused.

"Wizards and Witches in Muggle literature often have an animal companion they call a Familiar," the kid explained. "So yes, I guess so?"

"Then since she's a wizard's Familiar, how about Wizzy?"

The name was met with utter silence as they all tried to process just how unimaginative it was and they all looked at him with what had to be incredulous disbelief. But to Garth's horror Sirius actually hummed approvingly. "Yeah, I like that. Wizzy."

"Oh Merlin," rubbing a hand over her face Alice sighed. "If you ever get a kid, then please let your partner pick out a name."

"Nah, I'll let Sirius name that one," James easily shot back.

"Well, I like Wizzy, so that will be her name," ignorant to the way James absolutely beamed and the others gave fond but bemused smiles, Sirius nuzzled the little furball, smiling as she purred. "See? She likes it, too."

"Utterly mental," he muttered, drawing a surprised laugh from Moody.

"You get used to the lot," he said. "I'm Moody, you're one of Sirius', aren't you?"

"Garth, how'd you guess?" It was apparently a day for handshakes as well as eye rolls as the teenagers rolled their eyes at something James said.

"The big red neon sign of 'don't attack this one' kind of gives it away."

Snorting, Garth turned to Sirius. "Oi, think you're ever going to remove the apparently enormous neon sign you've attached to me?"

"I don't know, it kind of suits you, don't you guys think so?" Sirius had the nerve to grin at him, making the others hurriedly try to hide laughter as apparently his fierce glare wasn't as impressive as he had always thought it was.

"I do suppose it's kind of a big 'notice me' sign," a small sweep of his wand had the slight tingly feeling he had since the fight began disappear.

"Thanks," he hoped the kid understood he was thanking him for more than just removing the sign, from the way he smiled at him he guessed he had.

"Right, I already received a statement from Gideon so I suggest you all get home soon because the news of what happened will come out in less than fifteen minutes and your parents will be beyond themselves with worry," Moody turned to Sirius. "Where are you staying, lad?"

"We're off to James'. His parents invited me over for Christmas so I'll stay there until we return to Hogwarts."

"Good, then I'll drop by as soon as I know what kind of award they are going to throw at you lot," he gave a low chuckle as they all sighed. "Suck it up, you're getting one."

"How many people died today?" Sirius asked.

"A lot less than there would have if you lot hadn't been here."

"How many?" it was clear the attempt to spare them wasn't working as James came to stand at his brother's shoulder.

"Seven dead and twenty-nine severely injured, of which seven with life-threatening injuries," Moody revealed with a sigh. "It could have been a lot worse."

"It's still thirty-six victims too many," Sirius disagreed. "How many Death Eaters and werewolves were taken out?"

"Fifty-seven werewolves and fourteen Death-Eaters," Moody sounded proud and Garth couldn't help but whistle impressed at the knowledge five teenagers still in school had managed to take out fourteen Death-Eaters by themselves with mostly no injuries to themselves.

"At least none of the victims will turn," he tried to comfort the kid. "They'll have scars but they won't turn."

"That's at least one consolation," Sirius agreed softly, lightly bumping into him. "And have a new preference for raw meat that'll disgust their friends and family."

"Oh?"

"Long story," he smiled up to him. "And I'd love to keep on chatting, but I think Moody is right in that James' parents will be worried sick if we don't return soon as they know we were here."

"You should get home, kid," he agreed, pulling him into his side and realised the hugging thing was actually something they'd already been doing after all. Just in a different way as Sirius leaned into him the way he usually did whenever he did that.

They quickly checked they had all the supplies they needed before they surprisingly all handed James money as Fabian placed the list onto the counter with what were clearly details of exactly what they had taken.

"They'll accept that?" He couldn't help but ask.

"The witch working here knew I was coming today and already has my account information. She'll be able to withdrawn the amount we spend without us having to wait until she eventually returns," James explained.

"Benefits of being the heir to a Noble House," Fabian added. "Me and Gid wouldn't have to try it."

"You could if you'd want. I doubt your parents or Billius would mind," resting a hand on the kitten, Sirius helped James shrink down what hadn't fit into the carrier the first round, stuffing it inside without a problem.

"That's true, but this works just as well," handing over the last few shrunken items, Fabian closed the carrier and James picked it up.

"All right, it was nice to meet you Mister Garth," Alice smiled at him, nodded at Moody and James before pulling Sirius into a hug, something Fabian did as well while Gideon instead got distracted by petting the kitten.

"Come on Gid," shoving his brother away from the kitten he'd immediately taken a shine to, the other twin quickly hugged Sirius as well before all three hurried off with a wave and a promise to meet up in the train; Moody following after saying his own goodbyes.

The sudden silence was rather disorientating and Garth realised the kids had quickly grown on him despite the rowdiness and he approved of every single one of them.

But even though he rued the sudden peace and quiet at their departure, he also found himself relishing the calm as Sirius and James stood beside him in silence as they waved their friends off before James lightly nudged his brother before he smiled at Garth.

"It was nice to meet you, I hope we can do it again sometime."

"Same and you're always welcome to join him," he found himself promising easily, genuinely having enjoyed his company and shook his hand before James walked off.

"Aren't you going with him?" he asked confused as Sirius remained at his side.

"In a minute. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, are you?" he shot back and the kid huffed out a laugh.

"I didn't mean physically, you doofus. I meant are you all right, because I know they can be a lot and it was never my intention for you to meet everyone. Especially not those three."

"It's not like you could've predicted there would be a Death Eater attack today of all days. And although I resent that you dare call me a doofus, I did genuinely enjoy meeting a bunch of the ones you are friends with, they're good kids."

"Yeah, they are," the fond smile that crossed over Sirius' lips was entirely too adorable, so instead of simply smiling like he'd normally do, he did what he could now freely do and pulled the kid towards him for an embrace; careful to hurt neither him or the kitten still sleeping in his coat.

The kid happily returned his hug before checking the little furball was still secure. "Thank you."

"I didn't really do anything, kiddo. Your friend..."

"I don't mean for the gifts, idiot," rolling his eyes, Sirius lightly bumped into him before stepping away from him. "Merry Christmas, Garth."

"Merry Christmas, Sirius," staying in place as the kid gave him one last smile before hurrying towards James, he raised a hand as they both waved and kept waving until they disappearing down the street and from his view.

Sighing at the utter silence around him, he turned around to make his way back to the White Wyvern for a warm bed for the night before feeling a small package sticking out of his coat and, raising an eyebrow at how the kid had sneaked it in there, he pulled it out.

Huffing out a laugh at what was clearly a Christmas present, he carefully opened it to reveal a bag of the sweets he liked along with a small Christmas card. "Merry Christmas, kiddo."

Popping a sweet into his mouth, it occurred to him that he had another bag of food shrunken in his other pocket and pulled it out, it automatically changing back to its original size exactly as Sirius had charmed it. Checking to see everything had survived today's activities, he slipped the bag of sweets inside and slung the rucksack around his shoulder.

Shivering slightly in the cold, he dug his hands into his nice and warm pockets, only to freeze as his fingers touched four cold round things and he pulled them out to reveal four Galleons.

"That bloody rascal!"