A Black Family Reunion


After a quick stop at Florean Fortescue’s for some ice cream (it was still as good as he remembered), Sirius moved on to Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions. He quickly selected several sets of school robes, a set of dress robes and a variety of casual clothes. Thankfully, the shop was not busy and he was first in line to submit (albeit impatiently) to the usual session of pinning and fitting with the store’s proprietor.

“A fine looking man such as yourself should have his robes fitted just right,” the woman chattered around a mouthful of pins as Sirius complained for what felt like the hundredth time that the robes looked just fine as they were. He knew that his two hours of freedom were rapidly running out and he didn’t prefer to spend more time then he had to being stuck like a pin cushion. He hadn’t even had an opportunity to see Harry, who he was sure must be around. This was the most popular day to shop for school…

“And such fine taste you have,” the woman was undaunted, “some of my best fabric.” This thought abruptly caused Madam Malkin to notice the lack of an authority figure accompanying her young customer.

Sirius picked up on the robemaker’s pointed look around the store, “don’t worry, I have the money,” he replied, “are we almost done?” he asked again.

The woman’s face brightened, “just a few finishing touches… There… And there… Done!” she declared, surveying her handiwork. “How many sets do you want?” She indicated the large pile of fabrics that Sirius had piled up.

Sirius looked at his reflection in the mirror, maybe it was all those years of not having anything new, but he had to admit that he liked the woman’s work. “I’ll take them all,” he decided.

Madam Malkin beamed, “you’re going to break some hearts!” she clapped her hands together.

Sirius smiled and attempted to ignore this comment, he knew what it usually lead to. He took out his bag of galleons in an attempt to speed the transaction along…

“The girls are going to love you,” the robemaker gushed, “My niece, Tina, a lovely girl, she goes to Hogwarts too. Fifth year, Hufflepuff, you should look her up.”

Sirius promised politely that he would do so as he stacked the rest of his selections on the counter to be rung up.

As Madam Malkin folded up the boy’s purchases, accepted his name and payment, and promised to have everything sent off to Hogwarts, the bell above the door chimed, announcing that another customer had entered the shop.

“Oh dear!” she exclaimed, “you haven’t selected your house colors!” The woman reached beneath the counter and pulled out a drawer full of ties and house emblems to be affixed to the school robes.

Sirius hesitated with his hand over the red and gold Gryffindor colors. The Slytherin green and silver seemed to mock him sitting there… “No colors just yet,” he sighed with regret, deciding not to risk it. “Special case,” he added by way of explanation. “I’ll send an order along later.”

“Draco darling,” a voice called from across the shop. “Come and have a look dear.”

It was then that Sirius noticed the customers who had entered the store. A good looking young man his own age was standing nearby observing Sirius with interest. If the boy’s pale coloring and aristocratic features did not give away his identity, his intelligent grey eyes would have made him instantly recognizable as they were quite like Sirius’ own grey gaze. An inheritance from a mutual Black family ancestor, those eyes sized Sirius up with the instinctual recognition of another wizard of wealth and class. Sirius could detect no hint that the boy knew who he was as he came over to address him.

“Going to Hogwarts?” Draco asked, though Sirius was sure that the boy already knew the answer. “I’ve never seen you there,” he finished almost accusingly.

“Well, you wouldn’t have, as I’ve never been there yet,” Sirius replied in kind, “private tutoring, you see.”

“Draco…” Narcissa called from across the store.

Draco cast a scowl in his mother’s direction, and then turned back to Sirius, “yeah, I know what you mean. She would have had me study at home too, if she had her way,” the boy gestured toward the back of the store. “I personally would have chosen Durmstrang, but Hogwart’s will do for now.”

Sirius agreed to this statement while doing his best to keep his back toward his cousin. With a quick glance, he spotted her blonde hair coming in their direction to investigate what was holding up her son. Sirius figured that Narcissa would have no reason to suspect that the teenager before her was the same young man who had played pranks on her at Black Family get-togethers so many years ago, and had even less reason to connect him to the escaped prisoner whom she believed dead, but even if Draco did not realize it, the family’s good looks were plainly evident in Sirius’ features and it was best not to risk any awkward questions.

“The name’s Malfoy, by the way,” the blond youth extended his hand for Sirius to shake, "Draco Malfoy, Slytherin House. I expect I’ll see you there.”

“Darling?” Narcissa was almost upon them, “who are you talking to?”

“I’m Brian Wulfric,” Sirius hastily shook Draco’s hand. “See you at school,” he agreed, while thinking the boy should not count on seeing him in the Slytherin Common room, not if Sirius had anything to say about it…

Sirius’ last glance as he made his way out the door was of Narcissa and Madam Malkin converging on the scowling Draco. Sirius felt a brief sympathy for the boy being so clearly overmatched, but all thoughts of his cousin left his mind as he raced out of the shop and headlong into a man passing the store from the opposite direction…





A legendary LadyV type cliffie... :evillaugh