Chapter Two
Harry woke the next morning and stretched. Shoving his glasses on his nose, he could hear Severus trying to get Danica to put some shoes on in the room above them. She was going through a stage a wanting to do everything herself but her little fingers were still struggling with buckles.
Harry turned his attention to the tapping of a beak on his window. He opened it and the proud brown owl flew into his room, landing gracefully on Harry's bedside table. Harry took the letter and gave him a quick stroke before the bird flew back out the window.
It was Harry's Hogwarts letter, an arrival that he was both looking forward to and dreading. He heaved himself up and plodded down the stairs. Lily and Sirius were both sitting at the table talking intently.
"Hi." Harry said, not wanting to interrupt.
"Come on over Harry." Lily smiled, pulling out the chair next to them.
Harry sat down and pulled a warm croissant onto his plate, "My Hogwarts letter has arrived." He said pushing it forward.
Lily picked it up and turned it over, running her fingers over the purple seal. They were joined quickly by Severus and Danica, now wearing her shoes.
"Ah your letter has arrived." Severus smiled, putting Danica onto her chair and carefully watching the amount of chocolate spread she put on her breakfast.
There was a tense pause between the adults; Lily had been very vocal about her not wanting Harry to go back to Hogwarts that year. It had been so dangerous and Harry had been nearly killed both years he had attended so far, it was understandable that she was worried about his safety.
Sirius and Severus, however, thought that Harry was safest at Hogwarts and pointed out that if Harry hadn't gone charging into danger he wouldn't have been in the danger. It had caused a lot of arguments, which is why Harry had mixed feelings about his letter arriving.
"Does you wants me to take Missy Danica to the kitchen?" Kreacher asked looking between Lily and Severus.
"No that's all right Kreacher." Lily smiled, "I've been talking to Sirius and we just got some news, Remus has been given the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Harry grinned excitedly.
"Really? Even given his condition?" Severus asked carefully.
Sirius nodded, "You'll still be able to brew the potion at Hogwarts and he's never hurt anyone."
"I know that, I meant people's view of him." Severus clarified.
Harry saw his godfather stiffen and braced himself for another fight, he was rather protective of his best friend.
"Most people don't know." Lily pointed out soothingly, "And they don't need to know, there are plenty of Hogwarts teachers with secrets. Hagrid is also going to be teaching this year, which mean there will be three people there if something goes wrong so… so I'm willing to allow you to go back."
Harry could have jumped out of his chair in excitement, "Really?! Thank you! Thank you so much!" He threw his arms around his mother in a huge hug.
Lily hugged him back and laughed, "Calm down, there will be rules, and if anything happens you're not going back next year."
"Don't worry so much Lily, everything will be fine." Sirius assured her.
Lily took a deep breath and resisted the urge to list all the things that hadn't been fine and she should be worried about.
"Anyway, as you'll be going back to school I think we should have a shopping trip." She smiled, "Eat up and then go and get dressed, nicely please."
Harry grinned and ate quickly. He rushed up the stairs and quickly pulled on some clothes, swapping the first T-shirt he'd put on for another as the first one had a few holes in it.
He was back down stairs, waiting in the hallway for the others within five minutes.
"Would it kill you to put a brush through that hair of yours?" Walburga Black's portrait spat at him, "Filthy half blooded traitor."
Sirius walked down the stairs, adjusting the cover on his mothers painting so she couldn't harass them quite so easily.
"We really need to find a way to get rid of her." Sirius huffed, straightening his robe sleeve, "She's been screaming at everyone who comes into this house, and she really upset Hermione, who seems lovely by the way." He winked.
Harry rolled his eyes and ignored Sirius's last comment, "I know, she's a huge pain. You'd think after all these years she'd be bored of tormenting us."
Sirius let out a snot of laughter, "My mother get bored of tormenting people? Harry your great great great great great great… great grandkids are still going to be tormented by that picture."
Harry smirked, "Well maybe between all the powerful adults in this house you can find a way to get rid of her, maybe just paint it white and let Danica go to town."
"What's that?" Severus said, holding Danica's hand as she walked down the stairs. Harry was suddenly struck by how grown up she was. She'd be five that year, Harry couldn't remember when she suddenly became not a baby any more.
"Harry? Are you OK?" Lily asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Harry shook his head, "Yeah I'm fine, sorry. Just lost in my own little world."
They joined hands and there was a loud pop as they disapparated out of the house, landing gracefully in Diagon Ally.
"Well what's on the list this year?" Severus asked, holding tightly to Danica who was trying to go off into the pet shop.
"Umm not a huge amount, new standard book of spells, something called 'The Monster Book of Monsters' they really thought the name through there, and then just the normal boring stuff." Harry grinned at his step father who managed to suppress his grin into a small frown.
"Well boring stuff first then." Sirius said, pointing towards the robes shop.
The small bell tinkled as they went in and Madam Malkin smiled and came over.
"How can I help you? My my look how much Danica has grown!" Madam Malkin said fondly.
Danica blushed and smoothed down her skirt.
"We'll be fitting you for your own robes before too long." Madam Malkin said jokingly.
"We have a few years thank the gods." Lily laughed, "Although I'm sure they'll fly by as quickly as the last ones have. Harry on the other hand has grown out of everything, so if you don't mind fixing him up with some new ones."
"Not at all my dears, Harry would you like to come through." Madam Malkin said with a smile, gesturing through to the back of the shop.
Harry smiled and stepped up onto the platform, "Hermione." He beamed.
Hermione turned around and smiled, "Harry. I wasn't expecting to see you. You here to get your Hogwarts things?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah. Mum seems to think that my clothes need to fit and look nice or something." he smirked.
Hermione let out a laugh.
Madam Malkin came over with a pile of robes for Harry to try on, "You're all done Miss Granger, here you are," She said handing over a large parcel wrapped in brown paper.
Hermione thanked her and paid before turning back to Harry, "Do you want me to wait for you and then we can shop together?" She asked, tucking the parcel into a large shopping bag.
"Yeah that would be good. Mum and everyone are waiting through the front if you want to go see them." Harry smiled, "I need new everything so this might take a while."
Hermione grinned and nodded making her way through to the front of the shop.
"Hermione!" Danica shrieked running up for a hug.
Hermione laughed and spun her round, "Hi Danica, Mrs Snape, Professor. Is Mr Black not here?"
"He was he just had to 'run some errands'." Lily smiled.
"That's grown-up talk for smoochies." Danica whispered in her ear.
Hermione laughed, "Harry said I could tag along for shopping if that's OK?"
"Of course Hermione." Severus smiled.
"Thank you. I do have to go to the pet shop though, I've got a little bit of my early birthday funds to get myself a pet." Hermione smiled, "I know Harry already has Hedwig, so I don't want to take you out of your way."
Danica's eyes little up and she started bouncing up and down on the spot slightly, "CAN WE GO!?"
"Harry we're just popping to the Magical Menagerie are you OK to meet us there?" Lily called through.
"Yeah I think I can manage to walk half way down the street by myself." Harry called back, rolling his eyes.
Lily took a moment to remain calm, "See you soon."
They wondered down the street, Hermione holding tightly to Danica's hand.
"It's my favourite shop." Danica babbled excitedly, pulling Hermione along, "I try and get Mummy or Daddy to always take me. Uncle Sirius always does because he always does what I ask."
They entered the shop and Severus picked Danica up, putting her on his shoulders so she couldn't play with something that would hurt her.
"What sort of pet do you want Hermione?" Lily asked looking at a tank of fancy black rats that were doing somersaults.
"I'm not sure, I was thinking an owl, maybe, but I want something that can be in the dorm with me. The other girls can be a bit stand offish." Hermione blushed, "I mean…"
"It's OK Hermione, we're both well aware of how students can be." Severus smirked with a superior look towards Lily, who ignored him and turned her attention to Hermione.
"Well maybe a cat? It would be more loving than a toad."
"Can I help?" An older man, his small amount of remaining hair was a dull steel grey asked coming out from behind the counter, "Looking for something specific?"
"I was just looking for a pet." Hermione said.
"I see, how about one of these lovely pure-bred rats?" he suggested, "They live for twice as long as common rats and can be trained to be rather impressive as you can see."
Hermione watched as the rats did a small tap dance and bowed towards her, "One of my house mates has a rat but I'm not very fond of them. They're not on the school pet list either and I was hoping for something more cuddly."
The shop owner nodded, "I see, Hogwarts I presume?"
Hermione nodded.
"Well I would suggest a cat." he said leading her to the back of the shop, "Very cuddly and loyal."
Hermione nodded and looked over the shelf of cats, she liked the idea of having a cat, "Danica would you like to help me pick?"
Danica beamed with pride and nodded, Severus put her down and watched with a smile as she walked over to Hermione and took her hand.
Hermione looked over the cats, there were too many to choose from. One was a silky long haired white cat with striking blue eyes, three black cats with fur of various lengths; one was lying on it's back purring loudly. A pair of ginger toms were loudly playing with a toy mouse and a cardboard box held a mother tabby and her four kittens.
"Which one do you think Danica?" Hermione asked.
"Kitten." Danica said pointing at a small white and tabby patched kitten.
"Sorry the kittens wont be ready for another few weeks. I can reserve one for you?" The shop keeper suggested.
Hermione shook her head, "It's OK I'd rather get an adult anyway. Second choice?"
Danica frowned and looked over the row of cats, "Hmm maybe that one?" She pointed up to the far corner of the shelve where a ratty ginger cat was sitting, "I like his nose." she said squishing her nose up like the cats.
"Can we say hello?" Hermione asked the shop keeper.
"Of course." he beamed, "He's been here ages, not really pretty enough for most folk, bit of an ugly bugger." he climbed up on a step stool and lifted the cat down.
Hermione took him and gave him a stroke, he needed a good brush and possibly a few matts trimming but his fur was soft and he had beautiful green eyes.
Danica reached up and dug her fingers into his fur, "He's beautiful."
Hermione nodded.
"I'll give you a good deal on him if you want." The shopkeeper said scratching his head, "He's been here so long I was starting to worry he'd never find a home. Say three galleons?"
Hermione nodded and dug out her purse, with some difficulty as she didn't want to put the cat down. She paid the money and a little extra to buy a smart wicker carry basket and they left the shop.
"Hello I was just coming to find you." Harry smiled, "All the robes are ordered, she's going to send them to the house. Did you find a pet?"
Hermione nodded, "Yep; Danica helped me pick out a beautiful cat. I'm going to call him Crookshanks."
Harry grinned.
"Umm Mummy, Daddy? Can we get a cat? Please?" Danica said a little too sweetly.
Harry watched as a sad look came over his mothers eyes and made a mental note to ask Sirius.