got to his feet, pulling his travelling cloak back around himself. "I'll try and send some
pictures in a few days' time. Everyone at home will be so glad to know that I've seen you."
After fastening his cloak, Remus made his farewells, hugging the women and
clasping hands with the men. Then, still beaming, he returned into the wild night.
"Godfather Harry." Bill grinned and patted Harry on the back.
"Yeah." Harry smiled, still clearly dazed by the request. "Sirius, what does a
godfather even do?"
"I'm not exactly an expert." Sirius shrugged, looking sadly down into his goblet of
wine. "You just... take care of him. He's your family now. As good as yours. Keep him
safe. The first couple years are relatively simple," he counselled, looking as though he was
trying to sweep away the sadness that had suddenly clouded the conversation. "Spoil the
hell out of him."
With a loud sigh, he set his cup down on the table and cleared his throat. "All right,
enough of this sappy nonsense. We've got a Malfoy to mug tomorrow!"
May 1st, 1998The plan was simple.
Sirius Apparated to a back street, just off Knockturn Alley, immediately shifting
into Padfoot and making his way to the end of the road where his focus could be glued to
the entrance of Gringotts. Ron had been transfigured and was now sporting black, messy
hair that fell past his ears and a long goatee. He looked like a displaced Death Eater from
Durmstrang, more Igor Karkaroff than Weasley. It was the best any of them could come
up with on such short notice. Harry and Hermione were hidden beneath the Invisibility
Cloak, eagerly awaiting Sirius's signal.
The plan had been to stake out the bank and wait for Draco and Lestrange to pass
by, and then attack them when they exited, hopefully with Horcrux in hand. Ron was
supposed to stand guard while Harry and Hermione attacked, at which point Sirius would
rush in and snatch up the package, and the four of them would Apparate back to Shell
Cottage.