Robes and Wands
After leaving Gringotts Hagrid steered Harry towards Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. They stopped outside the shop.
"Listen Harry, I need to do a couple things. Do yeh mind going in on yer own? I'll be back by the time yeh've finished and yeh've still got Shadow teh take care of yeh."
Harry frowned, thinking. He scratched Sirius's head for a moment before nodding.
"Alright then. Don' worry. I'll be back soon." Hagrid walked off quickly.
Harry stared at the door for a few seconds. Sirius nudged him towards it gently. He smiled at the dog before opening the door and heading inside.
"Hogwarts dear?" Madam Malkin said. She looked a lot like what Sirius remembered from his school days, still squat and cheerful looking. "Got the lot here- another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."
Harry forced a small, weak smile at her. Madam Malkin noticed Sirius with a frown.
"Your dog is going to have to wait outside."
Sirius felt a flash of annoyance. He'd forgotten that most wizards wouldn't know about service dogs, but still, couldn't she read his jacket? Harry needed him!
Harry held the scruff of Sirius's neck. He swallowed a few times, sweat broke out of his forehead. "I- I can't..." he shook his head, tears filled his eyes. Sirius turned, licked his hands, and rubbed his head on the boy's stomach. Harry relaxed. No one had- or would- take Sirius away from him.
Madam Malkin sighed. "I suppose I could make an exception. I assume a, uh, service dog. is a muggle thing?"
Harry nodded a little, he was shaking slightly.
"Alright. Come on back and we'll get you fitted."
Another boy was standing on the stool next to Harry's. The boy looked like Lucius Malfoy, who'd been a couple years above Sirius and his friends in school. Sirius figured this was his son. He had no idea what the boy's first name was.
Harry had to let go of Sirius's leash as he stepped onto the stool. He knew Harry was afraid of pulling on Sirius's leash too hard and hurting him. Not that he would, but holding his arms up with a leash around his wrist would've been uncomfortable for both of them so Sirius supposed it was for the best.
"Hello." Malfoy said, "Hogwarts too?"
Harry swallowed and nodded, not meeting the boy's eyes.
Sirius rolled his own eyes and zoned out of the conversation. He paid attention to Harry's body language, of course, but not whatever Malfoy was saying. At least not until Malfoy noticed him.
"Say, how'd you manage to get a dog in here!"
Sirius huffed before stepping over to sniff him.
When Malfoy reached down to pet him the witch adjusting his robes scowled. "Do keep still! I'll end up pinning you if you start moving."
Malfoy rolled his eyes, but held still. His attention was drawn to the window as Sirius went back to Harry's side.
"I say, look at that man!"
Hagrid stood outside with two large ice cream cones. When he saw Harry looking at him he grinned and pointed at them to show why he hadn't come in. Harry relaxed a little when he saw him.
"Is he with you?" Malfoy asked.
Harry nodded once. He was chewing his lip nervously. Sirius could only hope that Malfoy continued only asking yes or no questions. Naturally once he thought that Malfoy stopped doing it.
"Why is he with you? Where are your parents?"
Harry froze completely. Sirius rubbed his head on Harry's leg, comforting him as best he could. Harry's hand dropped to Sirius's fur despite Madam Malkin asking him not to.
Malfoy frowned. "Are you alright? Did I say something?"
Harry hesitated before nodding slowly. Then his eyes widened, he looked over at Malfoy and shook his head wildly. Sirius figured that Harry was scared Malfoy would be offended and hate him if he blamed him for anything.
Malfoy looked confused for a moment before realization dawned on his face. "Are they um, dead?"
Harry nodded looking away again.
Sirius blinked at the blond boy. He seemed to take after his father, but for just a second he could see his mother- and Sirius's cousin- in him. When they were younger Narcissa had been the second most compassionate. For awhile Sirius even thought she'd be more like Andromeda than Bellatrix. Unfortunately, Narcissa always wanted to please her parents. She never became as cruel as Bellatrix, just cold. Sirius missed the younger Narcissa, they could've been friends if she was a little more rebellious.
Sirius realized he'd zoned out again. Harry was finished and picking up his leash so they could leave.
Outside, Hagrid grinned and handed him and ice cream cone. "There's chocolate in tha' so don' let yer dog at it." Harry smiled up at him and they continued down the street to get the rest of Harry's things.
------------------line break------------
They had almost finished shopping, Harry just needed his wand, when Hagrid brought up the fact that he still hadn't gotten him a birthday present. Harry looked at him in shock when he mentioned it and shook his head to let him know that it wasn't necessary. Hagrid just smiled.
"I know, I'll get yeh a pet." he glanced down at Sirius, "Er, another one I s'pose. Let's see. Toads are out of fashion- people might tease yeh fer havin' one. Cat wouldn't be good either. I'm not a fan of cats, and neither are dogs, wouldn't want to distract Shadow. How abou' an owl? They're dead useful. All the kids wan' owls nowadays."
Sirius sniffed out any owl Harry looked at, just to be safe. In the end he got a beautiful female snowy owl. As they left the shop Harry couldn't seem to stop stammering out his thanks. Hagrid reassured him that it was alright, kids were supposed to get presents on their birthday, and he was only sorry that Harry had't gotten more over the years.
Sirius's tail was wagging like crazy as he realized that this was the most Harry had ever said to Hagrid. He was very proud of his godson right then.
When they reached Ollivanders Sirius started to get a little worried. He knew Mr. Ollivander could sneak up on people really easily- Sirius still wasn't sure if he did it on purpose or not- and he didn't know how Harry would react.
Sirius pressed against Harry's leg as they entered the shop.
"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. Harry jumped, his fingers digging almost painfully into Sirius's fur. Not that he minded, of course.
Once again Sirius didn't pay much attention to the words being said, just Harry's body language. When Ollivander moved too close and touched Harry's scar, Sirius growled softly at him. Ollivander just looked down at him and frowned thoughtfully.
"Interesting." he murmured.
It took Harry a long time to find a wand. Sirius didn't remember it taking this long. And he was sure one of his friends would've mentioned it if it had for any of them.
After the fifth wand Harry started to apologize for being so difficult. Ollivander reassured him, but a few wands later he was apologizing again, and then he apologized for apologizing. This time Hagrid and Sirius comforted him as best the could. The wands were piled pretty high on the counter when Harry broke. He sobbed once, and apologized for being a nuisance and so difficult to find a wand for. Ollivander looked a little surprised. Harry's breath was choppy and he shook as he continued apologizing for causing a scene and making so much trouble for them and rambling on like he was. Sirius could tell he was on the verge of another attack. He barked twice before rubbing against Harry, nuzzling his hands and stomach and licking him. Hagrid tried to comfort him again and Ollivander pulled down a couple more wands- he put away quite a few as well, just in case.
Harry calmed down after another few minutes and Ollivander asked him politely if he'd like to keep trying. Harry hesitated before nodding.
Another 10 minutes, and several apologies, later they found the right wand for Harry. He smiled weakly and paid. Naturally he apologized again before they left the shop.
Hagrid bought them something to eat before getting them on a train back to the Dursley's house. He gave Harry his Hogwarts ticket and a bit of information (date and time) as well as getting Harry to promise he'd send his owl with a letter for him if the Dursley's gave him any more trouble. After he left Sirius realized he'd forgotten to tell Harry how to get onto the platform. He sighed. Well, at least Sirius remembered. Now all they had to do was wait until September 1.