Birthday Presents
When they arrived in the kitchen the next morning, Harry was already there, eating a piece of toast and reading a letter.
‘Post has been,’ he said, without looking up, gesturing at the pile of newspapers beside him, ‘do you guys really read all these? I've got my book list,’ he added, mouth still full.
‘Oh great, maybe we can go down to Diagon Alley?’ Remus said coming forward to unroll the papers, but Sirius cut in-
‘Did Kreacher make you breakfast Harry?’
Harry looked up and nodded, ‘yeah,’ he said, looking worried, ‘is that alright? He asked me what I wanted.’
Remus looked across the room, to where Kreacher was sitting on a stool, hands in a dirty cardboard box, all attention concentrated within. ‘You bring a growing boy here and lie around in bed while the boy is hungry. Kreacher is feeding him. Growing boys are needing breakfast,’ he muttered into the bottom of the box.
Remus turned back at Sirius, who was staring at the elf, utterly stumped.
‘Sorry -’ Harry began, ‘I can wait next time -’
‘No!’ said Sirius, suddenly, ‘no, no it's good. This is good. Thank you Kreacher.’
Kreacher didn't look up, but appeared, possibly, to nod, very slightly, nose dipping briefly below the rim of the box.
*
They took the Northern Line to Charing Cross, emerging from the underpass into the morning sunshine and wandering up the road towards the Leaky Cauldron, winding between the tourists already out for a day of sightseeing or theatre. They ducked through the pub, nodding to Tom the barman as they headed straight for the backdoor and back into the sunlight.
Diagon Alley was reasonably quiet in comparison to the Muggle street outside, but Remus saw Sirius' shoulders tighten and his head dip slightly as they emerged between the witches and wizards that milled around the cobbled walkway. He reached across to squeeze his arm briefly, and moved to his other side, sandwiching him between himself and Harry.
‘Ok,’ he said, ‘where first? Books?’ he grinned at Sirius, who dutifully smiled back and rolled his eyes.
‘Let’s pop in at Madam Malkin's first, before it gets busy,’ he said, unfolding the list Harry had passed him, ‘I’m assuming everything's too short - oh - and look- what do you need dress robes for?’
Remus peered over Sirius' shoulder, reading the entry for himself.
‘Huh,’ he said, ‘they didn't mention an event last year I don't think. Any ideas Harry? Why you'd need formal robes?’
‘Formal?’ Harry repeated, ‘what, like a suit?’
‘Yeah,’ Remus said, ‘basically - I don't think I ever owned any after about age 10 - we wore Muggle clothes to events. Sirius though, he's the expert on fancy Wizarding attire, aren't you? The Blacks had style,’ he nudged Sirius with his elbow.
‘Don’t remind me,’ Sirius scoffed, as they pushed opened the door to the shop, bell jangling, ‘there’re probably cupboards full of them at Grimmauld if you want a vintage piece?’
‘Hogwarts is it?’ a small woman emerged from a curtain at the back of the shop, a measuring tape around her neck. ‘Uniform?’
‘Uniform and dress robes apparently,’ Remus said, plucking the letter out of Sirius' hand and checking it again, ‘do you know what's happening this year?’
‘Big ball I assume,’ she said, ‘robes seem to be on most lists. We've got some lovely fabric samples here if you want to take a look while I get everything measured.’
Remus and Sirius perched beside each other on a lumpy purple daybed and watched as the enchanted measuring tape flitted around Harry who had been ushered onto a stool in the centre of the shop.
‘What about this Harry?’ Sirius called, flipping through the sample booklet, to a frilly orange velvet and laughing as Harry wrinkled his nose. ‘Or this? Something with sparkles?’
‘Stop trying to force your personal style on the child,’ Remus scolded, picking up a second booklet and turning carefully through the fabrics. ‘This one?’ he said earnestly, ‘dark blue is smart?’
‘Look Moony, it's 90% of your clothes,’ Sirius said, flipping to a brown corduroy and pushing it at Remus, ‘you should get some too and we'll have our own ball…’
‘Why would there be a ball this year?’ Harry said, ‘we’ve never had one before, usually we just have the feasts in our uniforms.’
Sirius shrugged, ‘can’t say we ever had one at school, but it might be fun. You should never turn your nose up at a party, Harry, that's important advice - oo will you take a date?’ he chuckled as Harry flushed.
‘Oh give him a break,’ Remus said, ‘what about dark green Harry? This one's nice?’
They left several minutes later with a large package containing a new set of school robes and dress robes in dark green. The crowd in the street had grown, and Sirius’ jovial mood faded, shoulders hunching as they stepped onto the cobbles. A wizard in a tall hat looked up at him as he passed and gawked slightly, nudging his companion who looked back over his shoulder. Remus tried to shift himself subtly between them, but Sirius noticed, both the strangers and Remus’ attempt and his eyes darkened in the bright sunshine.
‘It’s fine Moony,’ he hissed, tone sharp, ‘let them look. I've nothing to be ashamed of, have I?’
‘Of course you don't!’ Remus exclaimed, ‘that's not what I - what? Sirius - of course I don't think that -’ he looked helplessly at Sirius, who had turned towards the shop window, face obscured. He could feel a warm dread creeping up his arms towards his chest and a need to fix it, to grab him by both hands and look straight at him so he understood. He forced himself to take a moment. Let him let it go, he told himself. He’ll be back in a minute.
‘I only need a couple of books,’ Harry said, looking nervously between them, ‘I can just pop into Flourish and Blotts very quickly if you guys want to go and sit down somewhere?’
Remus held his breath. It would be a good idea. He could take Sirius aside and calm him down. He inclined his head, looking around for a good place to go.
‘You can do whatever you want, but I’m fine,’ Sirius said stubbornly, shaking his head slightly, giving himself away. ‘Books, come on. I love books. Let's go!’ he strode forwards, heading up the street. Harry glanced at Remus, eyes full of concern.
‘It’ll be OK,’ Remus muttered, aware he had no idea if he was telling the truth, ‘sometimes he just needs a minute. It's a lot - you know?’
They hurried after Sirius, catching him as he pushed open the door. Harry headed for the textbooks and Remus tentatively followed Sirius between the displays on the shop floor, watching him apprehensively. It was just a dark mood he tried to tell himself. It was something that had been happening periodically. Completely understandable considering, and something he was working on with his Mind Healer - nothing to worry about, they'd said - but it set Remus’ teeth on edge. They often came without warning - Sirius would be fine and then, suddenly, it was like watching him disappear. It made Remus feel like Sirius was slipping away from him, falling silently into an abyss, their fingertips sliding just past each other.
He had tried to pull him out before, but it inevitably made things worse. Sirius would grow hostile and turn away. As desperate as he was to try, waiting was the better option. Remus watched as Sirius lifted a book to read the back cover, his face impossible to read.
The shop bell tinkled behind him and he saw Sirius look up, expression neutral and then - Remus turned, eyes widening - fuck. He stepped round the table, putting an arm around Sirius' shoulders, turning him away from the door and looking desperately for Harry.
‘Well well,’ a voice that cut so cleanly through the bustle of other customers, Remus thought he could almost feel it, ‘look who it is, Narcissa! In the flesh: the prodigal cousin and his pet wolf!’
Remus felt Sirius stiffen under his arm, immovable.
‘Pads, come on,’ he tried, ‘this is not for now. It's not worth it. Let's find Harry.’
‘And the plot thickens,’ Lucius’ tone was dangerous, ‘what on Earth are a criminal and a monster doing school shopping with little Harry Potter?’
Remus turned at that, to see Harry standing just a few steps away, holding his books, staring back at Lucius Malfoy, who stood, a nasty smile on his face, with his wife at his side and his hand resting possessively on his son's shoulder.
‘Harry-’ Remus began.
‘Good morning, Mr Malfoy,’ Harry said, cutting him off, ‘Draco,’ he added, nodding to the other boy. ‘What are you doing here? Got a stack of Voldemort’s teenage poetry to slide into copies of the Standard Book of Spells Grade 4? Luckily I've already got mine so-’ he waved the book he was holding at them. ‘See you at school Draco.’
Harry turned and grabbed Sirius' arm, steering him round the Malfoys with a wide berth. Remus glanced at Lucius as he hurried after them, who looked almost purple with rage, and then Narcissa, whose gaze was fixed on Sirius' retreating back. He pushed through the door, suddenly much further behind them than he had realised and had to jog to catch up, noticing only at the last minute that Harry was guiding them through another door and straight into a cool leather covered booth in Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlour. He looked between them - Sirius still had not spoken, but was staring at Harry with a look of disbelief on his face.
‘What - what did you just say to him?’ Sirius said gruffly, just as Harry incredulously uttered the question: ‘cousin?!’
The strange sound that came out of Remus’ mouth was somewhere between a laugh and a whimper, and took him by as much surprise as the others, who both turned, forgetting their questions for each other.
‘You alright there Moony?’
Sirius was back. Remus could see it in his eyes. He was in there now. It was OK. He sank against the powder blue seat, resting his head back and gazing at the ceiling.
‘You two,’ he said and without further explanation, closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, Sirius was sliding a chocolate sundae with a long spoon in it across the table and settling himself back into the booth opposite Harry, who was carrying a banana split and an obscenely large ice cream sandwich.
‘Yes, Narcissa is my cousin,’ Sirius was saying, ‘but that's all there is to that really. The Blacks are related to everyone - it's what happens when the pool of ‘pure bloods’ is so small. She's on the family tree back home, I'll show you later.’
‘So that makes Draco like -’
‘Yeah, sorry about that. To be fair though, that's the first time I've ever met him. By the time he was born I was very much not welcome at family events so…’ Sirius chuckled at the look of disgust on his face. ‘Narcissa actually wasn't that bad when we were kids… not the worst sister by a long way, although I suppose that's not really saying much…’
‘She was looking at you,’ Remus said, quietly, ‘as if she'd seen a ghost.’
‘Mmm,’ said Sirius, ‘I guess that's the effect I'm having on some people at the moment,’ he sucked his spoon and turned back to Harry, ‘what were you on about Voldemort in textbooks? Lucius looked like you'd slapped him.’
‘A couple of years ago,’ Harry said, ‘all the stuff with the Chamber of Secrets - you guys heard about that.’
‘Yes, some,’ said Remus as Sirius shook his head.
‘Oh blimey,’ said Harry, snapping off a section of wafer and crunching it thoughtfully. ‘Well…’
It took Harry a good half an hour to explain the events of his second year. The voices he'd heard and the messages on the walls, the attacks on the students, including Hermione. Moaning Myrtle and the spiders. Their trip down to the Chamber, Lockhart in tow and the confrontation with Riddle and the Basilisk.
‘And then it turned out that Ginny had been writing in the diary all year, right from the beginning of first term and Dobby sort of reminded me of when we'd met the Malfoys in Flourish and Blott’s when we got our books and I remembered I'd seen him put something into her cauldron…’
‘That bastard,’ Sirius said, breathlessly, ‘and you're sure?’
‘He as good as admitted it,’ Harry said, ‘although-’
Sirius raised his eyebrows, ‘although?’
‘Although he was quite distracted because I put it in my sock and he took the sock off it and dropped it and Dobby sort of - caught it - and yeah, was free. Malfoy was really annoyed.’
Sirius snorted, ‘are you hearing this Moons? He freed his elf!’
Remus rubbed his eyes. ‘I’m hearing it. I'm sorry Harry, you're going to have to give me a minute on this one.’
Sirius, who seemed less disturbed by the full story, went on -
‘So what, Voldemort was in the diary and Ginny Weasley writing in it released him? How does that work?’
‘I don't know really,’ said Harry, ‘it was weird - he was like a sort of ghost to start with, and then got more and more real. He was young - a 16 year old version of himself. I didn't recognise him until he told me who he was.’
‘What did Professor Dumbledore say?’ Remus asked, ‘when you showed him the diary.’
‘Um,’ Harry paused, ‘He just said Riddle had been an impressive student and then told me that the reason I can speak to snakes is probably because Voldemort transferred some of his powers to me when he-’ Harry touched his fingers to his forehead, ‘- he didn't really explain it to be honest.’
Remus rolled his eyes, ‘Well there's a surprise,’ he said. ‘A sentient diary that can produce a - a what? An apparition? That's not - I don't know what that is. Dark magic certainly but - does it sound like anything to you Sirius?’
Sirius looked down at his ice cream, mashing the last bit of banana with the back of his spoon.
‘Mmm,’ Sirius mused, ‘it sounds like bad news to me.’
*
On the morning of Harry's 14th birthday, Remus woke early to find Sirius' side of the bed already cold. He pulled on a t-shirt and crept quietly past Harry's room, down the stairs to the kitchen, thinking he'd get breakfast on and a strong cup of tea in before they embarked on the pile of presents which Sirius had wrapped the evening before, but when he pushed open the door it became apparent his contributions were not needed.
The kitchen was filled with balloons. The entire ceiling obscured by orbs of colour, floating just below it, moving gently in the slight breeze that was drifting in from the back door, which stood ajar. The presents had been arranged on the long table, the golden star tags Sirius had attached to them, sparkling in the sunlight.
‘Do they all need a tag?’ Remus had asked, the night before, as Sirius fussed over them, ‘I think he's going to know they're for him, from us…’
‘I like them,’ Sirius had pouted back. ‘They look good. And they're stars.’
Kreacher was busy at the stove, several pans sizzling. He was muttering inaudibly to himself as usual, but Remus thought there was a chance his tone was ever so slightly less bitter. A huge banner had been hung on the chimney breast, the words ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!’ spelt out in bold red script.
Sirius was nowhere to be seen, so Remus crossed the kitchen and opened the back door, stepping onto the grass in bare feet.
‘How long have you been up?’ he asked as Sirius came into view, wand raised above his head as he delicately erected a purple and silver striped marquee, directing the pins into the ground. ‘The place looks incredible.’’
‘Not sure, an hour maybe? Balloons took forever.’
‘Need a hand?’
‘Nope, think it's just about - there!’ with a flourish, Sirius drove the last pin into the grass and turned, the grin on his face so wide, Remus couldn't help return it. He looked so beautiful, he thought suddenly, eyes crinkled against the morning sun, hair rumpled, still in his pyjamas. Without thinking, he stepped forward, and kissed him.
Remus’ felt as if his mind had short-circuited. For a few seconds, all he could do was feel: Sirius' mouth against his, warm and soft, and the hand that he'd brought up to press against the small of his back. It felt so strange and yet so familiar. For two months they'd been living together, sleeping in the same bed, holding each other. Not talking about it, just doing whatever felt like the thing to do. They had kissed: hands and shoulders and cheeks, corners of mouths even, but somehow, somehow they hadn't done this.
Sirius released him and stepped back ever so slightly, eyes still closed, just for a second. When he opened them, Remus held his breath, searching them for some kind of indication of what he was thinking.
‘Sorry-’ he started to say, ‘I-’
‘No,’ Sirius whispered, holding his gaze. He slid his wand into his back pocket and threaded his fingers through Remus’. ‘Do it again.’
There was a clatter from the kitchen, and Remus jumped slightly at the noise, breaking whatever spell they'd been under. He turned back to the door, to see Harry standing in the centre of the room, gazing at the balloon covered ceiling. Sirius had seen him too, and he released Remus' hands, hurrying forwards.
‘Happy Birthday Harry!’ he called, ‘Happy Birthday!! Oh what's happened, oh the toast! Nevermind Kreacher, don't worry we’ll put more on. Harry! Come and sit!’
Remus followed them back inside and settled himself opposite them at the table. ‘Happy Birthday Harry,’ he said, smiling ‘hope you like balloons.’
Harry laughed, looking up again. ‘Honestly,’ he said, ‘you guys didn't need to do all this, usually I just-’
‘I couldn't have stopped him if I tried,’ Remus said, kindly. ‘Do you want breakfast first - oh no - scratch that, if you don't open a present right now I think Sirius might implode.’
There were quite a lot of presents: clothes and a pair of trainers, new pyjamas that would actually fit. More books to fill the shelf in his room, and a handsome quill case Remus had seen in a stationary shop. There were boxes of sweets and a chocolate Snitch like the one Remus had given Harry at Easter - ‘I love these!’ Harry had said, ‘they fly!’. There was a pair of padded gloves for flying, some broom handle polish, and a huge box of dung bombs.
‘You can never have too many dung bombs, Harry,’ Sirius told him solemnly. ‘They may seem simple, but I can't tell you how many times a few well-placed explosions saved our skins at school. Always have a couple in your pocket, just in case.’
Kreacher had served breakfast about half way through the pile and Harry laughed through the mouthful of bacon roll he’d just bitten off. ‘I’ll make sure to follow that advice,’ he said. ‘This is amazing, thank you - you really didn't need to -’
‘Oh stop,’ said Sirius, dismissively. ‘We did. Anyway before you go all mushy on us, there's one more,’ he handed Harry a small velvet covered box, with a golden star tied round it to match the other presents. Harry pulled the ribbon off and lifted the lid, tipping a hand-sized mirror onto his palm.
‘Merlin,’ breathed Remus, ‘is that? I haven't seen those for years,’ he looked searchingly at Sirius.
‘They were in the box of my things,’ Sirius said, gruffly, ‘pocket of a pair of jeans.’
‘What is it?’ said Harry, looking curiously between them.
‘It’s a two-way mirror,’ said Sirius, pulling an identical version from his back pocket. ‘They’re a pair - if you need to speak to me, just say my name into it and I'll be able to speak to you through it. Look, try it -’
Sirius got up from the table and hurried across the kitchen, disappearing through the back door. Harry stared after him and then down at the mirror in his hand.
‘Say his name,’ Remus prompted, nodding towards the mirror.
‘Er- Sirius?’ Harry asked it, looking down at his own reflection, ‘oh! Hi!’
Sirius' face had appeared in the mirror, grinning. ‘Hi!’ he said, ‘see, that's how they work, any time, any where. Much quicker than owls.’
‘Amazing!’ said Harry, smiling back. ‘Like a walkie talkie with a picture.’
‘A what?’ said Sirius just as Remus added, ‘a picture and unlimited range. They work anywhere.’
Harry glanced back down at Sirius' likeness, ‘is that right? These work anywhere?’
‘I’ve never found somewhere they wouldn't,’ Sirius confirmed, ‘anyway, stop lurking in the kitchen, you two should come out here we need to…’ he turned away from his mirror, mumbling and Harry looked up at Remus, shaking his head slightly in disbelief.
‘These are awesome,’ he said, ‘you guys had these at school?’
‘Sirius and James did,’ Remus said gently, and Harry's eyes rounded as he looked back at the mirror in his hand. ‘That was your dad's, Harry. They used to use them over the summer too, I think. It's a special thing he's given you there, look after it.’
Harry nodded, laying the mirror carefully back in it's box and snapping the lid shut, just as Sirius’ face appeared round the back door.
‘Come on!’ he called, ‘we have things to get ready!’
‘Ready for what?’ Harry asked
*
Sirius, it turned out, had not forgotten how to throw a party. After a morning of ordering them both about, carrying furniture and hanging decorations, plus a swift trip back to the flat for ‘some decent music’, the marquee was ready. Remus watched from the kitchen door, bottle of beer in his hand as Sirius arranged Harry amid fairy lights and streamers and instructed him to smile for photographs.
‘Moony come here,’ he barked over his shoulder, ‘I want one of you both.’
Harry sighed theatrically as Remus joined him, but seemed to be mostly enjoying the attention. ‘Just one is enough, Sirius, come on, Harry's friends are about to arrive!’
It wasn't long before they did: about half the Weasleys tumbled from the Floo, Molly bringing with her her four youngest children and Hermione, who leapt from the fireplace and hugged Harry hard.
‘Happy Birthday!’ she said, excitedly, ‘we thought we weren't going to see you for another month!’
‘Are you going to show us around then?’ Ron had said, peering across the cavernous kitchen, and eyeing the basement door with its burn mark curiously.
‘Plenty of time for that later!’ Sirius said, ushering them towards the garden, ‘boys help Molly take this food out to the tent.’
The fire had glowed green once more, to reveal Neville, a slight wild card possibly, but Remus had told Sirius about Alice's boy and they'd written to Augusta to see if he'd like to come. He stepped nervously out of the hearth, hastily pulling off the bow tie he was wearing and stuffing it into his pocket.
‘Neville!’ Remus had smiled at him, ‘come on through, the others are in the garden. This is Sirius.’
Neville had nodded and shaken the hand he was offered, looking frankly terrified at the sight of Sirius, before hurrying through the back door where he was met with shouts of welcome from Harry and Ron.
‘Blimey,’ Sirius said, turning to Remus, ‘you were right. He looks just like her.’
They watched them from the doorway for a few moments, Molly laying dishes of party food on the table, the twins already ensconced in a corner of the marquee rummaging in a box Remus hadn't noticed them arrive with. He was about to investigate when the doorbell chimed, and both he and Sirius had to hurry to the hall to answer the front door and defuse Walburga’s portrait.
It was Hagrid, huge in his moleskin coat, despite the July heat, an enormous cardboard box balanced on one hand and a pair of driving goggles in the other. Remus had to flatten himself against the wall to allow Hagrid to pass, and they shuffled awkwardly in the doorway for a few seconds as Sirius struggled to close the curtains over the screaming painting.
‘Hagrid! So glad you could make it,’ Sirius said, breathlessly as he made his way towards them. ‘Harry is going to be so excited. They're all through this way - Remus’ll sort the door -’
‘Jus’ a second Sirius if yer don't mind,’ Hagrid said, smiling down at him, ‘I’ve brought yer summit. I did try an’ come round the back way but those are some mighty wards you've got there, I couldn't find the garden.’
‘Ah, yeah they are hefty,’ said Sirius, ‘what is it?’
Remus looked through the still open door, to the curb at the bottom of the stone steps that lead to Grimmauld’s grand front door, and his jaw dropped.
‘I’m ever so grateful,’ Hagrid was saying, ‘to yer fer sortin’ Buckbeak, and well, it does need a clean up but - it worked on the way over here and - it's yours after all.’
Sirius ducked round him, coming to stand at the doorway beside Remus, and froze. There, parked innocuously between two Muggle cars, stood an enormous black motorbike. Sirius' motorbike.
‘If it's a nuisance I can -’ Hagrid began, tailing off as Sirius bounded down the steps, and onto the pavement, eyes fixed on the bike. Remus watched him run his hands over the handlebars and down onto the leather seat. He looked back up at them, his eyes shining.
‘Er- is he alright?’ Hagrid asked, quietly.
‘Yeah, I think so,’ said Remus, his eyes not leaving Sirius’, ‘why don't you go on through Hagrid, Molly's in the garden with the kids. Go and check Fred and George haven't set anything on fire and get yourself a drink. We’ll be along in a minute.’
Hagrid shuffled off down the hall, giving the portrait a wide berth and through the kitchen door. Remus stepped out onto the doorstep, carefully shutting the door behind him, and made his way down to where Sirius was still standing, both hands resting reverently on the seat of the bike. Remus put a hand on his shoulder.
‘You ok, Pads?’ he asked softly, ‘happy to see it?’
Sirius nodded slowly, ‘Just a shock. I lent it to him - that night -’ he didn't need to clarify. ‘Did you know he still had it?’
‘Not a clue,’ said Remus honestly, ‘bit of a blast from the past huh?’
Sirius shook his head. ‘We’d better get back inside, Harry will wonder - do you think it's ok here? We should probably put it round the back but I'd have to - you know -’ he glanced up and down the street, ‘fly it….’
‘Heh,’ Remus laughed. ‘Yeah. Let's just -’ he tapped the bike with his wand and a thick chain wound round its front tyre. ‘It's not going anywhere, we’ll sort it out after the party.’
‘Feels like it's me that's getting all the presents today,’ Sirius said quietly, threading his fingers through Remus' as they made their way back up the front steps.
*
It was a good party. By the time Remus and Sirius re-emerged in the garden, things were in full swing. The twins seemed to have orchestrated some kind of elaborate game involving both antique racing brooms and various obstacles they'd set up across the garden, and the adults settled around the large table Sirius had set up under the marquee to watch.
‘Gosh, Molly, Ginny flies well,’ Sirius remarked, as she took her turn, effortlessly catching the apple Fred hurled towards her and depositing it in a bucket that had, for some reason, been hung from a tree.
‘Oh yes, she's at least as good as any of the boys, at most things,’ Molly had nodded, sipping at the glass of plum wine Remus had poured for her.
‘I’ll take some of that if yer pourin’ Remus,’ Hagrid chipped in, holding out the tankard he had just emptied of mead, and waiting until it was filled to the brim.
Gradually the children had come to join them around the table, grabbing sandwiches and slices of pizza. Remus had chosen a record and they'd settled beneath the fairy lights as the sun fell, tucking into pieces of the enormous cake Hagrid had brought with him.
‘So how's it been?’ Remus heard Ron say, nudging Harry as he licked icing off his fork, ‘they seem - cool.’
‘Yeah they are,’ Harry whispered back, ‘it’s been amazing. I love it - I wish I could stay all summer.’
Remus glanced across at Sirius. He was looking away, gazing dreamily across the garden, he wondered if he'd heard them.
‘And, for the grand finale…’ came a shout from the end of the garden, and Remus turned, realising with trepidation neither of the twins were currently visible, ‘ladies and gentlemen please prepare yourselves, for Dr Filibusters finest -’
They didn't hear him finish, a wheel of light shot into the sky with a shriek and exploded in a shower of multicoloured sparks. Harry and his friends leapt from their seats, gathering at the edge of the marquee, eyes skyward.
‘Boys!’ Mrs Weasley yelled, clambering off her bench and marching forwards, peering into the dark.
‘Happy Birthday Harry,’ they cheered, as a second rocket fired into the sky.
Sirius looked round at Remus, and grinned.