Chapter 6
Regulus and Harry didn’t leave Mary and Remus’s flat until the next morning. While the boy slept, the three adults schemed.
“The first problem is access,” Regulus said. Azkaban was not only isolated but completely hidden under the strongest concealment charms. Most who tried to get in or out with proper clearance ended up lost at sea, or worse. No one knew exactly what guarded the prisons other than Aurors and Unspeakables, but there were rumors of mermaids, sirens, and even krakens.
“Ah, if only we had a high-level Auror about to be transferred to Azkaban,” Mary sighed.
“You’re joking,” Regulus deadpanned. Mary grinned.
“You found us at the right time,” Remus said, shrugging. Regulus felt, for the first time in a long time, just a bit hopeful.
“Our next problem is the horcruxes. We don’t know anything about them. There are only a few places that carry information on dark magic, one of them being Hogwarts’s Library,” Regulus muttered, trying to remember if his family had ever carried any books on the subject.
“Ah, what a shame. If only we had a Professor at Hogwarts with unlimited access to the Restricted Section,” Remus sighed, imitating Marry.
“It can’t possibly be this easy,” Regulus insisted.
“It’s not. But it’s a damn good start,” Remus countered.
They spent the next few hours theorizing, making possible contingency plans, writing down useful spells, and researching. Eventually, the conversation turned back to Harry.
“So, you’re going to keep him?” Remus asked, absently jotting down notes.
“No?” Regulus said, trying to sound certain. Mary chuckled. “I’m just taking care of him for now, until I can find a better place for him.”
Neither Mary nor Remus looked convinced.
“And where would that be?” Regulus paused at Remus’s question, trying to come up with an answer he knew he didn’t have. Finally, he sighed.
“I don’t know. But Harry needs better. He deserves better,” Regulus said resolutely.
“I don’t know, Baby Black. He seems he’s doing just fine with you,” Mary said.
As if to prove her point, Harry walked into the sitting room, blanket tossed over his head.
“I had a bad dream,” he whispered. Regulus immediately walked over to him, picked him up, brought him over to the chair, and swaddled Harry as tightly as he could.
“It’s alright, faon, it's only a dream,” Regulus whispered back. He glanced over at Mary and Remus, who were silently cooing at them. He gave them his nastiest glare as Harry fell back asleep in his arms.
When Harry was finally back in bed, Regulus returned to matching smug smiles.
“Shut up,” he growled.
They stayed there for a bit, talking about Harry and James and Lily. Regulus had done his best not the think about the Potters for so long, freely reminiscing felt like coming home for holiday. It was nice, being around people he could trust.
I told you, a little voice in his head rang out.
They had breakfast with Mary and Remus the next morning, and Harry was eager to sneak his way into the kitchen to help. He ran around, chasing eggs that were floating through the air, weaving in and out between Remus’s legs as Mary and Regulus set the table.
The whole time, Regulus felt odd. It felt so normal, to eat breakfast with friends after a late night and yet it was something he had never experienced, save for early Sunday mornings with Pandora Rosier back at Hogwarts.
Still, he and Harry lingered in the flat until almost midday, when Regulus remembered Harry’s poor excuse for shoes.
“Alright, one thing before we go.” Regulus pulled out his wand and Harry bounced in place. “You and I are quite popular among wizards-”
“We are?” Harry asked, sounding more worried than excited.
“We are. So, we’re going to go in disguise,” Regulus confirmed, pulling out his wand.
“Like spies?” Harry whispered conspiratorially. Regulus chuckled.
“Exactly like spies.” He cast glamour charms over them, and a concealment charm for good measure.
When they finally stepped into the Vestis Shopping District, Harry was immediately entranced by the magic that surrounded them. He pointed at the floating lanterns in the sky, the window displays that swapped every few minutes, and the glowing butterflies that sounded like different instruments with each flap of their delicate wings.
“Don’t wander off! It’s a big place!” Regulus warned. Vestis was indeed one of the biggest shopping districts in wizarding England. Most families opted to go to Diagon Alley, which was much smaller and often less crowded. But it didn’t hold a candle to the variety and quality that Vestis offered.
Harry grabbed Regulus’s hand and started tugging him towards every shop he could see.
They were only there for shoes. Just one pair of shoes. But…
Harry only had muggle clothes, he should get used to wizard robes. And he needed different styles of course. He might need formal robes. Maybe.
“Is he your first?” a shopowner asked as Regulus pulled yet another robe set off the racks.
“Pardon?”
“The kid.” he nodded towards Harry, who was struggling out of a navy blue robe.
“Umm, yes. He is,” Regulus said. The man smiled.
“I remember when my little girl was this age. Spoiled her rotten,” he said, laughing a bit. Harry ran up to them.
“This robe tried to eat me,” He whined, huffing dramatically. Regulus just smiled and took ti from him.
“Try this one, it should be more your size.” As Harry ran off, Regulus turned to the shop owner. He’d meant to just ask the price of something, but instead, he said, “How are you supposed to even properly care for a child?”
“Hell if I know, you just try your best to make them happy.” The man clapped Regulus on the shoulder. “Ya get the hang of it eventually.”
Harry and Regulus spent the rest of the day at Vestis. They did get Harry new shoes. Ten new pairs of trainers and two formal pairs to be exact. Along with countless robe sets, jumpers, and a pretty necklace with a tiger lily that bloomed and closed whenever you tapped it. Regulus was quickly learning why James was never allowed to buy things for Harry without supervision. It was far too easy to buy anything the boy so much as glanced at.
They quickly headed back to the Floo hall, eager to set down the dozens of bags they were holding. Harry tugged on Regulus’s robe.
“Yes Harry, is something the matter?”
“Thank you,” the boy whispered, a huge smile on his face. Regulus smiled back, that familiar tightness in his chest returning once again. He shook his head softly.
“If you think this is good, wait until you meet Sirius,” he joked. Harry giggled.
“I’ve never been shopping before, it was fun,” Harry explained. Regulus pursed his lips, seriously considering tracking down The Dursleys right then and there. Instead, he shifted all the bags to one arm and held his hand out for Harry.
“Well, that won’t do. I think you should see much more of the wizarding world, don’t you?”
Harry’s face lit up with excitement as they stepped through the floo.
Regulus, resigned to his fate, started making a mental list of all the places he was going to show Harry.