Chapter 17
“James,” Lily said approaching me later the next day “Do you think your dad would mind taking us to Kings Cross a bit earlier tomorrow morning?”
“I shouldn’t think so,” I replied thoughtfully, “Why? What do you want to do?”
“Well mum and dad gave me some money for an owl at Christmas but I didn’t get a chance to go to Diagon Alley and buy one. I know I could probably get one from Hogsmeade later in the year but I would prefer to start the new term with one.”
“Yeah, all right Lily, I’ll go and ask although I don’t think it’ll be a problem,” I replied, eager to get away from Lily. I’d almost been avoiding her, I didn’t want to be near her at the moment, that meant talking and I just wasn’t in the mood.
Remus’ dad came to collect him early the next morning. It was full moon that night and to avoid complications he was going to stay at his house for three days and say that his mum had been taken ill again. Jess and Ellie weren’t up to say good bye so Lily, Sirius and me waved him off. Lily did hug Remus, but only briefly and I was surprised to see that Remus didn’t seem to mind, perhaps he was going off Lily.
An hour later, at eight o’clock, after hugging Catherine, kissing my mum and enduring one of Mike’s rough embraces, we too set off for London in Sirius’ car.
“Dad, remember that Lily needs to stop off at Diagon Alley on the way there,” Sirius reminded his father.
“Yeah I will don’t worry, I’m not senile yet you know,” Sirius’ dad reminded jokingly. “Anyway I need to go there too, I’ve got some business at Gringotts bank.”
And hour and a half later we piled out of the car and walked along the busy street to the Leaky Cauldron.
“Hello Mr Black, Mr Potter,” the bar-man Geoff said cheerfully “Anything to drink?”
“Sorry Geoff,” my dad replied, “Got to get the kids to the station on time, just a flying visit really.”
“Oh all right then, I’ll see you later all right?” My dad nodded and we all followed him outside into the yard.
When we stepped through the arch into Diagon Alley Ellie and Jess rushed off to Madame Malkins after promising they’d be back in an hour. Mine and Sirius’ dads went off to Gringotts and Lily, Sirius and me went off to the pet-shop.
“So Lillian, what do you want?” Sirius said as we stepped into the dark shop. Sirius was the only person who she’d permit to call her Lillian, but that was only because she couldn’t get him to stop.
“An owl I guess, they’re the most useful.”
“Well what type?”
“Oh how am I supposed to know Sirius? Look it’s not like they’re brooms or anything - one ‘make’ isn’t better than another. I’ll get the one I like the best,” Lily snapped back irritably. Sirius rolled his eyes at me and I grinned. “What are you smiling at James? Honestly you two really know how to get on my nerves! You may as well go outside and wait, you’re no use in here and I won’t be a moment.”
“Girls!” Sirius said sighing deeply as we stepped out into the bright street again.
“Hmm,” I replied, not really taking much notice of my best friend.
“Look I’m going to go inside the ice-cream parlour, are you coming?”
“I dunno, yeah I guess I’ll come in, Lily will know where we are.”
We went up to the counter and ordered two ice-creams and sat down at one of the tables. The place was deserted.
“Anyone sitting here?” a voice asked. It was Lily, standing there smiling like an idiot. She pulled up a chair and placed a wicker basket on it, then sat down in another chair opposite Sirius.
“What are you eating?” she asked looking suspiciously at mine and Sirius’ steaming bowls of ice cream.
“Ice cream - duh! It is an ice cream parlour,” Sirius said sarcastically.
“Duh - ice-cream doesn’t steam! What flavour is it?” she asked suspiciously.
“Hot chocolate,”
“I should’ve known,” Lily said laughingly as she snatched Sirius’ spoon and helped herself to some before he could protest.
“Hey you little thief!” Sirius said grinning. I could tell he didn’t mind.
“That’s me,” Lily smiled cheekily.
“So what’ve you got in that basket Lily? Surely not an owl, you wouldn’t be so cruel, after all owls aren’t brooms you know,” Sirius asked smartly.
“Oh ha-ha! No it isn’t an owl actually it’s a cat, well a kitten really. I went into the shop and couldn’t decide what type of owl I wanted so I looked at the other animals and fell in love with this one.”
“Well come on then, are you going to show us?” I asked offering her some of my ice-cream.
“Yes but not in here, I won’t be allowed. I’ll show you on the train,” she stopped and took my spoon.
“Shouldn’t we be getting back now?” she asked as she glanced at her watch.
“Nah, Jess and Ellie will take ages, I reckon we’ve got about another ten minutes and I want to finish my ice cream,” Sirius said confidently.
To our surprise we were late back, Jess and Ellie had managed to get back before us and my dad was worried that we’d miss the train.
We managed to get to the station with good time and found an empty carriage at the end of the train. Jessica and Ellie decided that they’d had enough of us for a ‘lifetime’ and sat with some other friends in another carriage so it was just Lily, Sirius and me (and Peter whenever he turned up).
“So come on Lily, show us this cat of yours,” Sirius asked.
“Well okay, James shut the door I don’t want her running out,” Lily asked, lifting the lid of the wicker basket. She put her hands into it and there was a soft mew before she drew out a tiny ball of grey and white fluff.
I laughed. “Aww that's actually quite sweet,” I said as Lily unrolled the little bundle and sat it on her lap, “And it’s probably more useful than a baby sister.”
“Don’t be so mean about Catherine, I know you love her really,” Lily teased. “So Sirius, what do you think?”
“Umm it’s all right I guess,”
“Aww poor Sirius, unable to show his emotions. What are you going to call it Lils?”
“I dunno,” she said stroking the kitten who had now gone to sleep. “The witch thought it was a girl but she’s not sure so I’ll have to give it a name which suits both.”
“It kinda looks like a cloud if you do this,” Sirius said squinting his eyes and tilting his neck. Lily laughed. “Actually she does doesn’t she? Yeah I think that’s what I’ll call her - Nimbus. No, not after the broom Sirius, don’t be so dumb, after the cloud. Haven’t you learnt anything about geography?” Index
Chapter 18
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