"You are an absolute idiot Harry," Rigel said for the second time as he handed Harry and Eliza a bowl of porridge. "She was baiting you? Just like Draco!"
"I know I know. I'm sorry." Harry muttered. He had grown a few inches over the summer not as much as Rigel or Ron but good for a thirteen-year-old. Eliza however had also grown taller but was still small and skinny for her age. However, they do look much healthier and Eliza had grown out her hair longer.
"She's really pretty." Rigel thought." No, she's Harry's sister!"
The next two weeks passed in a blaze of sunshine and fresh air. The three friends spent the evenings in the pub playing either wizard chess, exploding snap, and enjoying their frequent purchases. Rigel had made them but new clothes, using the money in his Gringotts accounts, and bought Eliza's cat biscuit a collar, and cat treats.
They saw many of the Hogwarts friends passing through to get their school supplies; Neville Longbottom joined them for a memorable afternoon while his Grandmother shopped alone. They had ice cream most days at the parlor, and they bought each other's birthday presents; Harry bought Eliza a new sketch pad and Eliza bought Harry a pair of Quidditch gloves that she had seen him admiring.
For their birthday, Rigel had gotten the twin's fine robes made off acromantula silk adorned with their family crest. Ron and Hermione also sent their birthday present and told them about Weasley's trip to Egypt and Hermione's holiday to France. They were all planning to meet in the last week of August.
They were standing in Flourish and Blotts waiting for the assistant to bring them the third year textbooks when Harry pulled Eliza aside looking serious,
"Eliza, Rigel have you seen a big black dog anywhere?" He whispered indicating at the cover of a book entitled; Death omens; what to do when you know the worst is coming.
"No." Eliza shook her head.
"Yes a few times Harry and look I'm perfectly fine," Rigel said rolling his eyes
Hary seemed settled by this thought and walked back over to the assistant who was pricing up the books. Rigel and Eliza looked around at the other books in the Divination section and shook her head, Professor McGonagall had advised them against the subject during their advanced transfiguration lessons and looked at the books. The two had chosen to study Arithmancy and Ancient Runes while Rigel had also taken care of magical creatures.
They finally exited the shop weighted down by their books and resolved to head back to their room in the Leaky Cauldron and call it a day. However, as they were passing Quality Quidditch Supplies, a large crowd could be seen gathering outside the front window.
"Wanna check it out?" Rigel asked.
The twins shrugged.
Because they were now taller than the majority of the kids crowded around the window (most of them were incoming first years, if their heights were anything to go by), it was easy to crane their necks and peers above the heads to get a look at the newest broom. It looked like any other Quidditch broom, but the decorated plaque above it said otherwise:
** THE FIREBOLT **
THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART RACING BROOM SPORTS A STREAM-LINED, SUPER FINE HANDLE OF ASH, TREATED WITH A DIAMOND-HARD POLISH AND HAND-NUMBERED WITH ITS OWN REGISTRATION NUMBER. EACH INDIVIDUALLY SELECTED BIRCH TWIG IN THE BROOM TAIL HAS BEEN HONED TO AERODYNAMIC PERFECTION, GIVING THE FIREBOLT UNSURPASSABLE BALANCE AND PINPOINT PRECISION. THE FIREBOLT HAS AN ACCELERATION OF 150 MILES AN HOUR IN TEN SECONDS AND INCORPORATES AN UNBREAKABLE BRAKING CHARM. PRICE ON REQUEST.
"Well it's a pity it's not available yet," Rigel said. "When do you reckon people will start buying?"
"I don't know, but I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one. Probably going to be super expensive when they come out, though." Harry answered as they turned from the Quidditch shop and started meandering their way back to the Leaky Cauldron.
"True." Rigel conceded.
They spent the rest of the evening just chatting about anything and everything and anticipating the arrival of their friends in Diagon Alley over the next week or so. Rigel went to bed that night with his head full of brooms and Quidditch and black dogs.
"Harry, Eliza, Rigel over here!" Came a familiar voice, it was the day before the start of term and Harry and Eliza were making their way down to breakfast while Rigel was already there. Ron and Hermione were waving madly to them from across the pub. Harry sprinted across to them while Eliza made a more dignified approach.
"Good summer you lot?" Rigel grinned when Hermione leaned over to hug Eliza.
"Yeah it was great; those Egyptians really knew what they were doing."
"France was amazing, there was loads of information for the History of Magic essay!" Said Hermione slightly out of breath.
The quintet was interrupted by the arrival of Mrs. Weasley and Ginny, the latter blushed as she saw Harry but smiled at Eliza and Rigel nonetheless.
"Hello dears, how are you both?" Mrs. Weasley asked, giving the three a hug.
"Fine thanks, Mrs. Weasley, how are you?" Harry replied politely.
"Very good, very good. Have you heard the wonderful news, has Ron told you? Percy has been made Head Boy!" Ron huffed slightly but didn't speak.
"That's great news," Harry replied struggling to maintain his composure, luckily for him Mrs. Weasley's attention diverted to Eliza. Mr. Weasley came over and hugged them both before stroking Biscuit who had jumped onto the table for attention.
Mrs. Weasley kissed her children, and then Harry, Hermione, Rigel, and Eliza, before following her husband and leaving the children standing in the Leaky Cauldron in slightly awkward silence.
They visited the bookshop and the apothecary and then Hermione asked to go into the magical menagerie.
"Oh good, I need to go in there, I want Scabbers checked out," Said Ron, removing a much thinner rat from his pocket, "I don't think Egypt agreed with him."
They entered the shop and Ron started asking the witch about his rat, the prognosis did not seem good. Ron was just about to pay for a tonic when a huge cat collided with his head.
"CROOKSHANKS, NO!" Cried the witch, the cat leaped off Ron and onto Scabbers who fled quickly into the street.
"Scabbers!" Ron shouted, racing out of the shop after him; Harry followed.
The large orange cat sat on the counter and purred contently, as though it had not just attacked someone's rat. Hermione walked up to it and stroked it.
"It's lovely?" Hermione asked as the cat purred contently. Eliza and Rigel looked at each other then at their friend as if she was mad, or blind!
"He's been here for a few years but ...no one seems to want him. He's yours for five Galleons." The witch looked cautious.
"Isn't that a bit cheap?" Eliza couldn't help but ask.
"For seven I'll throw in all the accessories and a months' worth of food, that's a bargain and a half, dear!" Crookshanks lifted his paw and brushed it gently across Hermione's face, Rigel knew that hfriend was now a cat owner
YOU ARE READING
Sirius's son
FanfictionRigel Sirius Black was the son of Sirius Black. Raised in an orphanage unloved and uncared for, he was surprised he had received a letter of admission to a magical school, and even as he escapes a dreary life and enters a world of magic with new fri...
