The Marauders and the Fetch of Hogwarts

"Well," Phineas said with a wry smile. "Nice to know we're mostly up to snuff with the Black family."

"Are they as bad as Sirius says?" Remus asked, folding the letter and setting it next to his plate.

"More than likely," nodded Phineas. "They've always been high in the instep and overly proud of their pureblood lineage. Too much inbreeding will do that, you know." Phineas chuckled and Remus gave a small smile.

The smile faded as his eyes fell on the letter. "He hates them, he says."

Phineas gave a small grin. "As passionate as Sirius seems to be, I wouldn't doubt it. Your friends you can choose, Remus, your family you cannot."

Teffie readied a room for Sirius and on Wednesday morning Phineas and Remus took the Floo Network to Hogsmeade, the only wizarding village in Britain, nestled invisibly in the wilds of Scotland. Phineas decided to make the most of the trip and had brought extra Galleons for a bit of shopping. He wanted to buy his son an owl or some other pet for school.

They arrived slightly sooty at the popular tavern The Three Broomsticks and cleaned up before they wandered out to find the Black family. Remus window shopped while Phineas strolled, dressed in clothing that Remus privately thought made his father most distinguished. Judging from the female attention the elder Lupin was receiving, Remus wasn't alone in his assessment. His father favored old-fashioned attire and his current Mugglish ensemble of a double-breasted frock coat, flowing trousers, cane, bowler hat in a distinct non-Muggle pattern of indeterminate origin seemed incongruous with the robed wizards around them.

"Ah, Lupin!" The voice called to them from across the street. A family of four headed toward them. Remus recognized a sulky Sirius as well as a younger boy also with black hair and handsome features. In fact, the whole family was quite good-looking. Mr. and Mrs. Black both had hair dark as raven's wing, with sharp blue eyes that seemed to miss nothing. Mrs. Black would be considered beautiful if it weren't for the pinched nostrils and pouty lips that, to put it plainly, indicated she was more of a bitch than anything else. Mr. Black was astere and haughty in his demeanor.

"How are things, Mr. Black?" Phineas nodded his head politely to them.

"Still eccentric, I see," sniffed Mrs. Black, her eyes boring into Remus. Remus tried not to look nervous or let her rude gaze make him obviously uncomfortable but sensed the none of the Blacks were to be trusted. Except the sulking Sirius, of course.

"I have to give you someone to gossip about, Mrs. Black." Phineas was amused, Remus knew, despite his outwardly somber mien. "Well, I understand you've agreed to take our rebellious Sirius underfoot for the remainder of the summer holiday?" Mr. Black turned his sharp blue eyes on his eldest son, who glared insolently back.

"Remus will be glad of the company," Phineas told them. "It gets lonely with no friends around, especially after having met so many new people at school." Remus nodded his agreement.

Mrs. Black's eyes narrowed maliciously. "I understand Mrs. Lupin recently...passed on?"

Both Lupins tensed, as did Sirius. "Mother, that was rude!" Sirius exclaimed, almost involuntarily.

Mrs. Black flicked the side of Sirius' head hard with her thumb and forefinger, eliciting a startled "ow!" from her son. "Shut your mouth. You're lucky we're letting you go after the little stunt you pulled last night."

"Yes, Mother," Sirius said through gritted teeth.

Remus was startled by Mrs. Black's viciousness and obvious loathing of her oldest son.

"Mrs. Lupin has been deceased for some months now, yes," Phineas stepped in smoothly. "Have you all your things, Sirius? I need to make a purchase and then we need to get home. Teffie will be waiting on us."

"Teffie?" Mrs. Black jumped on the name. "Who is," she sneered, "Teffie?"

"Our house elf," Phineas informed them nonchalantly, pulling Sirius from the bosom of his family and behind him in a subtle yet protective motion. "She will have lunch ready soon."

The Blacks gasped in dismay. "You let your house elf dictate to you?" Mrs. Black looked as if she could scarce believe her ears.

Phineas bowed formally to them. "Since the death of my wife, Teffie has been invaluable in helping keep the household together. Sirius' things?"

"The Three Broomsticks," Sirius muttered thickly.

"Right then. I'll see that he sends owls. Good day." Phineas tipped his hat and turned on his heel to head toward The Three Broomsticks.

"Bye," Remus managed to say as he pushed Sirius in front of him after his father. He heard Mr. Black murmur, "Extraordinary household..." before they got out of hearing distance.

Sirius was fairly quiet throughout their minor shopping expedition and Phineas was so angry at the Blacks treatment of their son that he forgot that he was going to purchase an owl for Remus. It was only when they arrived by Floo to the Lupin home that Phineas remembered another reason for the trip to Hogsmeade. With a mental shrug he decided to purchase the owl instead in Diagon Alley when they went to get the next school year's supplies.

Teffie was waiting anxiously when they stepped out of the fireplace, her huge yellow eyes fixed warily on Sirius. Remus tried to smooth the awkward moment between his school friend and the friend he'd had since childhood. Sirius picked up on the fact that Teffie disapproved of him and looked inquiringly at Remus.

"I'll explain later," Remus whispered as the elder Lupin made the introductions.

"Hello, Teffie," Sirius said, his expression just as wary as the house elf's.

"Teffie is pleased to welcome Mister Sirius to our house." Teffie made it clear to everyone that she didn't think Sirius belonged and Sirius scowled, causing Teffie to widen her eyes in fear.

"Teffie, if you could help us with Sirius' things and then get dinner ready, that would be most excellent," encouraged Phineas tiredly.

"Yes, Master Phineas," Teffie complied, snapping her fingers and causing Sirius' bags and trunk to float into the air.

"Doesn't like strangers much, does she?" asked Sirius as they climbed the staircase. His tone was low.

Remus just shrugged his shoulders. "She's just very protective," he commented lamely. Sirius only grunted, keeping his eyes on his floating belongings and the house elf responsible for their care, as if waiting on her to do something to them.

Remus thought things weren't starting off well.