Hide My Eyes

Chapter One: Flour, Leprechauns, and Firebolt 5000s

*-*-*-*-*-*

"So.. Tell me, Harry, did there really used to be a three-headed dog in Hogwarts? And is it still there?" said Scarlett Black, attempting to retain her childhood innocence and miserably failing.

"Scarlett, the three-headed dog, whose name was Fluffy, is no longer in Hogwarts. But yes, Fluffy was there." Harry looked rather exhausted; he had a right to be, having had to look after a fourteen-year-old, three rather annoying eleven-year-olds, a ten-year-old, and a seven-year-old for the past four hours. He made a mental note to himself that he would strangle Sirius and suffocate Hermione for leaving him alone with the children. Sirius, Scarlett, and Caitlynne Black, along with his son, James, and his daughters, Claire and Lily, were the children he was forced - well, okay, not forced, but very nearly forced - to look after. Sirius and his wife, Katherine, had dragged Hermione off to some Arithmancy convention in London and were not due back until seven that evening. Thankfully, to him, it was five in the afternoon, and Lily was taking a nap up in her bedroom - one less child to worry about bruising their shins, blowing something up, or something equally worse.

"Ooh, interesting!" Caitlynne and Scarlett squealed together - anything with three heads, it seemed, was 'interesting' to them, and if it was even somewhat related to a dog, they were goners - Harry supposed it was due to the fact that their father's Animagus form was a dog. He looked over to Sirius Junior, who was deeply immersed in a large book. Forget the studiousness of it, though; the book was titled 2650 Hexes, Jinxes, Charms, and Spells for the Young Mischief-Maker, by Erin Whisp. She was daughter to the renowned author Kennilworthy Whisp, known for writing books such as Quidditch Through the Ages, He Flew Like A Madman (a biography of "Dangerous" Dai Llewellyn), The Wonder of the Wigtown Wanderers, and Beating the Bludgers - A Study of Defensive Strategies in Quidditch.

"Having fun over there, young Sirius?" asked Harry, raising an eyebrow at the boy.

Sirius, who looked an insane amount like his father, gave a mischievous grin to his god-brother and nodded. "Yes, Harry," he replied, and buried his nose back in the large tome.

The youngest of the group, Claire, wandered over to the chair her father sat in and looked up at Harry with emerald green eyes, the same as his. "Daddy," she asked softly, "when is Mum going to be home?" Her bottom lip was trembling, and her eyes were filling with tears as she spoke.

He frowned and held out his arms, to which his daughter fled into, curling up in his lap. "She'll be home soon, lovely, don't worry," he said softly into Claire's ear, stroking her auburn hair. It seemed that Harry's mum's hair colour had skipped a generation with him and gone over to Claire, who held a striking resemblance to Lily Potter - never you mind that her hair was somewhat bushy. James, however, was almost a mirror image to Harry, only with hazel eyes instead of green. And Lily, their youngest, had wavy light brown hair and green eyes. Harry turned his attention back to his sniffling daughter, keeping a wary eye out for James, Scarlett, and Caitlynne - Sirius did not need to be worried about at the moment, for he was on summer break from Hogwarts, and could not do magic. However, once he returned to school...

*-*-*-*-*-*

"MUMMY!" Claire sprang from Harry's arms and threw herself at Hermione. Hermione, Sirius, and Katherine had just Apparated in, looking exhausted and, on Sirius's part, thoroughly bored.

Hermione looked from the girl-child clinging to her waist to Harry, an eyebrow raised. "I take it she missed me," she mused, and bent down to kiss Claire on the forehead. Hermione watched Harry nod, and smiled as she spotted a brown head descending the stairs.

A tired-looking Lily wandered into the living room, yawning and stretching as she stumbled into her father's arms. "Hi, Daddy," she said softly, and looked around. "Hi, Mummy," she added, and wiggled her way onto Harry's back.

Harry started chuckling as Sirius came into the sitting room. "You're going to have a problem with yon over here," he said, motioning to Sirius Junior, who was still deeply immersed in his book. "He's taken a liking to that book. Hasn't surfaced since you all left, except to go to the loo and whatnot."

Sirius looked at the title and groaned, suddenly regretting that he had given his son permission to go into his library at home and retrieve any book he thought looked interesting. "I'm having a tremendous case of foot-in-mouth syndrome right about now," he moaned, and looked around. "Where are the Troublesome Three?"

As if an answer to Sirius's question, a loud boom emitted from the kitchen, followed by three shrieks of mingled mirth and horror. Everyone took off for the kitchen, and found a rather amusing sight - Scarlett, Caitlynne, and James were drenched in flour, but looked extremely pleased with themselves as they held up what were fake wands - but were now three very live, very grumpy-looking leprechauns.

"What the..." Harry mumbled, eyebrows raising.

"THAT ONE THERE!!" shrieked the leprechaun Scarlett was holding, pointing furiously at Caitlynne. "SHE STOLE ME LUCKY CHARMS!"

Caitlynne merely feigned a look of complete innocence, while Scarlett and James sniggered into their free hands. "I have no clue what that little fellow is talking about." No, Caitlynne, just forget about the charm bracelet around your wrist, hm?

Katherine walked over to the table, raising an eyebrow at Caitlynne, her hands placed firmly on her hips. "Caitlynne Nicole Black, what have you got around your wrist?"

Cait looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "Nothing, Mum. Just a bracelet Scarlett gave me..."

"And where," Katherine said, in clipped tones, "did you get this bracelet, Scarlett?" She turned to her oldest daughter - for that's what Scarlett was, if only by six or so minutes.

The black-haired girl grimaced, as if her mother was putting her through great pain, and looked up at her, the violet eyes she had inherited from Katherine looking wide-eyed and innocent. "I swear, Mum, one minute, we were just playing around with the fake wands Fred and George gave us, and then they all turned into leprechauns and this one here hurled a charm bracelet at Cait." Scarlett nodded her head in the direction of the brown-haired, purple-eyed girl beside her.

The leprechaun squeaked indignantly, glaring at Scarlett. "I did no such thing! That one scorched me with her hand and stole them from me! She stole me lucky charms!"

Scarlett glowered at the little creature. "Shut it, you."

After much negotiations on Sirius and the Head Leprechaun's part, with a lot of angry squeals from James, Scarlett, and Caitlynne, the head leprechaun got his luck charms back and all was right for the moment.

"How did you manage to get yourselves covered in flour?" Sirius Junior asked the three of them.

"The leprechaun that Cait had threw a tantrum and grabbed the flour bag, then proceeded to drop it on our heads. He got a great laugh out of it, let me tell you, but he didn't get the last laugh," James said, still sulking about having the leprechauns taken away.

"Cheer up, Jamsie-boy, you'll get lucky charms again someday," the older boy replied, grinning at the group.

*-*-*-*-*-*

Sirius Junior, Scarlett, and Cait gawked at the new broomstick in the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies, marveling at the sleekness of the cherry wood handle, the silver footrests at the base of the twigs, the sheer simplicity.. That was what made it a Firebolt. A Firebolt 5000, to be exact. The label, "Firebolt 5000", was printed in cursive at the end of the broom handle, the print in silver metal. They read the label:

The Firebolt 5000 is the newest model of the Firebolt Series,

and perhaps the best out of them all: its hand-picked twigs

are a sure-fire approach to speed' and agility on the Pitch,

and it has been 'enchanted to be the most comfortable broom

in the broomstick market. Price on request.

"Price on request!" Sirius moaned, eyeing the broomstick, his hand playing absentmindedly with his gold pouch at his waist. He wondered if he had enough money for it.

"That is the best broomstick I've ever seen," Scarlett said, wanting to reach through the window and touch it.

"Yeah.." Cait agreed, eyes slightly glazed over. The Blacks were known for their love of Quidditch; Sirius was a Chaser for the Gryffindor House Team. "If I had enough money, and first years were allowed broomsticks, I'd buy it.."

Sirius, struck with an idea, began grinning. "You guys stay here," he said, and bolted into the store. A few minutes later, he came out, looking shocked. "It costs a hundred Galleons," he said faintly, eyeing the broomstick enviously.

"A hundred Galleons?!" The twin girls gasped, jaws dropping as they stared at their older brother.

"Here, count how much money you two have," he said, and went over to a table in front of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, dumping his bag of gold out. He counted the gold, silver, and bronze pieces. "21 Galleons, 19 Sickles, and 20 Knuts. How much do you to have?"

"10 Galleons, 5 Sickles, and 2 Knuts," Scarlett chimed in, looking rather forlorn.

"12 Galleons, 5 Sickles, and 7 Knuts," said Cait, looking at Sirius with a frown. "It only comes out to be 43 Galleons, 29 Sickles, and 29 Knuts, Sirius."

"Ah, wait. Twenty-nine minus seventeen.. That comes out to be twelve, so we've got 44 Galleons.. and.. approximately 13 Sickles. So all we need is..." Sirius seemed to be doing a lot of math in his head. ".. 56 Galleons, and we're all set."

"And how, do you think, we're going to get 56 Galleons, oh smart one?" Scarlett asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she glared at her brother. "Besides, what do we get out of this?"

"Ah, my dear sisters, you get to ride on the broomstick whenever you want. Unless I'm using it in a Quidditch game," he said, adding this last statement as an afterthought.

"Fair enough," said Cait, and smiled. "Let's ask Da, maybe he'll take pity on your old Nimbus 2006 and get you a new broom."

*-*-*-*-*-*

"No."

"But, Da, I need a new broom!" Sirius whined, looking at his father with pleading eyes.

"It's 56 Galleons, Sirius," their father said, crossing his arms over his chest. "56 Galleons needed to buy your sisters' school equipment."

"Da, we came up with 44 Galleons on our own, from our allowance money! Please, Da?" Scarlett and Caitlynne moaned, looking up at their father with the same look of pleading in their eyes as was in Sirius Junior's.

Looking at his children, then to his wife, he sighed. "Maybe for Christmas, Sirius," he said, frowning. "That's the best I can do right now."

Noticing the sad looks on her children's faces, Katherine smiled suddenly. "Who's up for some ice cream?" she asked, and grinned when all three of the children's faces lit up.

*-*-*-*-*-*

"Thanks, Mum, Da!" All three of the children cried out once they were finished with their ice creams.

"No problem," their father said, smiling at them. He felt a small pang in his chest, and thought guiltily that James and Lily should have done this with Harry, and if they had had any more children, them.

The children rushed off towards the new joke shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, and he watched them, frowning. Katherine put her hand on top of his, her violet eyes questioning. "You're thinking about Lily and James again, aren't you?" She had known Lily and James at school, and had been good friends with Lily, although she had been a Ravenclaw to Lily's Gryffindor and a seventh year to Lily's sixth.. Her mentor, you could say, because Katherine Llewellyn (Katherine was a distant cousin to Dai Llewellyn) had been Head Girl, top of her class, and had made 15 O.W.L.s and 16 N.E.W.T.s, very high accomplishments. On the other hand, Sirius had only made 11 O.W.L.s and 13 N.E.W.T.s. Come on, people, he was smarter than he looked and acted.

"I just feel bad that Harry didn't have the same childhood that my children and his children are having. If I hadn't given Peter Secret-Keeper duties, I bet that Lily and James would still be alive today." He bowed his head, closing his eyes and remembering that day.

*-*-*-*-*-*

"Sirius, I do not think you should give the Secret-Keeper duties to Peter," Dumbledore said gravely, frowning at his once-student, now confidante in keeping Lily, James, and Harry Potter alive.

"But, Albus, do you not think that the Death Eaters who knew us at school will tell Voldemort that James and I were best friends?" Sirius replied, pain filling his eyes at the thought of James, Lily, and Harry dying. "Voldemort will come after me and kill me, I'm sure of it, and then Lily, James, and especially Harry will be completely vulnerable to him. I can't let that happen!" He said vehemently, clenching his fists.

"We are not sure where Peter's loyalties lie, Sirius," the old man replied, patting Sirius on the shoulder. "We cannot risk it."

"Peter? In league with Voldemort?" He snorted. "Preposterous. Peter couldn't hurt a fly. Don't you remember McGonagall telling you that Peter had trouble on his N.E.W.T.s for her, because he couldn't bring himself to transfigure a cat into a desk?"

".. If you are sure, Sirius, then he will become Secret-Keeper," said Dumbledore, looking very tired.

*-*-*-*-*-*

"Oh, Sirius," Katherine said, and went around the table, wrapping her arms around him. "Do cheer up." She kissed him softly on the cheek, frowning at him. She cleared her throat. "Now. Let's go get this shopping over with, shall we?"

He smiled at his wife, and nodded. "Sounds like a plan," replied Sirius, and gathered the twins' things that had been bought earlier that day.

*-*-*-*-*-*

Katherine, Sirius, Hermione, and Harry stood on the platform, watching their children get on the train. Claire was at Hermione's side, holding tight to her hand and looking tearful; Lily, on the other hand, was in Harry's arms, her head resting on his shoulder as she slept peacefully. She did not enjoy getting up at nine in the morning on a Sunday to come to King's Cross; however, her father's shoulder would do just fine for her. Hermione smiled to Harry, who smiled back, and kissed him on the cheek. "Those were the days," she sighed wistfully, going starry-eyed for a moment.

"Oi, Harry, Hermione!" A familiar voice called out; startling them until they realized whom it was that was calling them. They started grinning immediately.

"Ron, Parvati; how lovely to see you both," said Hermione, smiling at the couple headed towards them. One of their children was already on the train; the other three, too young to go to Hogwarts, tagged along with them. Their youngest daughter had dark auburn hair and blue eyes; their youngest son had brown hair and brown eyes; their oldest daughter had brown hair and blue eyes, and their oldest son had red hair and brown eyes - true-blooded Weasleys. "And Laurel, Alexander, and Diana. Hello, dears," she said, smiling at the three Weasley children.

"Hey, 'Mione," Parvati said, giving her a hug - but felt slightly off to Hermione.

Harry chuckled, nudging Ron. "Way to go, mate," he said softly, and Hermione gasped and Parvati blushed, but giggled. "Fifth one.. What's it this time, boy or girl?"

"Both; it's fraternal twins. A girl and a boy. We're naming them Juliette and Michael," Ron replied, grinning.

Five children scrambled off the train and ran to the gathered people; it seemed as if Scarlett, Caitlynne, James, and Sirius Junior had met up with Ron and Parvati's oldest, Adam. They wandered over to the group, grinning.

*-*-*-*-*-*

Most of that morning went by in a blur: Remus Lupin and his wife, Jacquelyn showed up, ushering their two on the train; Ginny and Draco showed up, ushering their oldest, Savannah, onto the train; Fred and George and their wives, Angelina and Alicia, came by and ushered their children onto the train; and mostly, all of the other Weasleys with their children. Oliver Wood and Katie Bell-Wood ushered their two children onto the train; Lavender and Seamus, Dean and Tara (a Muggle), Neville and Padma, all with their children; alas, it was September 1^st again, and their children, like they did so many years ago, were off to Hogwarts.

*-*-*-*-*-*

"What house do you think you'll be in, Scarlett?" said Daniel Longbottom, a boy with dark blonde hair, tanned skin, and brown eyes.

"I'm hoping Gryffindor," she said proudly, "because that's what house my Da was in, and that's the house my brother is in. I've heard Gryffindor tower is really beautiful, from what Sirius tells me. It's decorated in all scarlet and gold, with overstuffed scarlet armchairs and couches, and it has a painting of Godric Gryffindor that talks to you when he sees you're all by yourself in the common room."

Willow Wood, a first year like themselves, nodded appreciatively. "Well, Gryffindor tower does sound really nice, but I want to be in Ravenclaw, myself. That's the house my brother Matt is in; he says it's really grand and majestical, with all blue and bronze furnishings - he even says I look a bit like Rowena Ravenclaw!" She said the last statement in hushed tones, smiling at the group.

Rosalyn Lupin, a quiet girl with the brown hair of her father and gray eyes of her mother, smiled at the group, shaking her head. While she was good friends with Scarlett and James, she always thought them a bit too - well, mischievous - for her tastes. Caitlynne was not quite as bad as those two, which was why Caitlynne was her best friend. "I'll be in Gryffindor," she said quietly, and the group looked at her. "I mean, it's obvious, isn't it? Both my parents were Gryffindors, and so is my brother."

"So were mine, but that didn't stop my brother Matt from being a Ravenclaw," Willow added, raising her eyebrows at Rosalyn.

"Well, I want to be a Ravenclaw," Caitlynne said firmly, looking at Scarlett as she said this. "Sorry, but I want to be different. Not so different as to where I'm a Slytherin, but I have a feeling I'll be in Ravenclaw. That's Mum's old house, and look at me, I'm like a mirror image of her. It's only fitting," she finished, smiling at everyone.

"I'll be a Slytherin," said Savannah Malfoy, shrugging. "I mean, my father's whole family has been in Slytherin. It's not likely to override the Weasley blood in me, even if all the Weasleys have been in Gryffindor."

A red-haired, green-eyed boy of about sixteen stood in the door. "Not so, little cousin," Robert Weasley said, grinning at Savannah. "It's said that the Weasley bloodline comes from Helga Hufflepuff herself, although somewhere in there we mixed with a descendant from Gryffindor and here we are now, almost all of us Weasleys, in Gryffindor." He was the Keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and son to Charlie Weasley and a Romanian lady named Gwen. "You should look up your bloodlines more," he said, and left.

Adam scowled. "I hate the way he does that. Always pops up, gives a bit of useful information, then disappears. He's rather like Uncle Charlie in that way, only his information isn't only about dragons. And he doesn't Disapparate, either."

The compartment started laughing, and talk turned away from houses to Quidditch.

A/N: I hope you liked it. Blah, I did this on a whim, and hopefully I won't stop writing it in the middle of the story. Anyway, review and tell me what you think of it, all right? Thanks. ~K.