𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐥𝐞 | h. granger

xxiii | gilderoy lockhart

Knockturn Alley

── •✧• ──

𝐋𝐘𝐑𝐀 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 stuck getting her school books with Lucius Malfoy. Narcissa wasn't able to come with her this time. She'd tried begging her to take her on a different day, but Narcissa said that with school starting so soon, she needed to get her supplies now before the shops ran out.

She walked with Draco through the dark and foreboding Knockturn Alley. Lucius had some business to attend to in one of the shops before they went to Diagon Alley.

"I hate this place," Lyra whispered as Draco pushed open the door to Borgin and Burkes, the bell chiming as they walked in.

"Woah, Lyra, look at this." Draco went over to one of the items in the shop and reached out to it. He flinched when his father's walking stick hit his hand away.

"Don't touch anything, Draco," Lucius spat. He glared at Lyra. "The same goes for you, Lyra."

"Yes, Father," Draco replied at the same time Lyra whispered, "Yes, sir."

The two children followed Lucius through the shop. The owner, Borgin, was standing behind the counter. He smiled when he saw the man.

"Mr. Malfoy, what a pleasure to see you again," Borgin greeted him. "And young Master Malfoy, too. Delighted. The lovely Miss Black, welcome."

Lyra hid behind Draco, clinging onto his Slytherin robe. He had gotten taller over the summer break and was looking more and more like his father. She hadn't done much growing, but Narcissa said that she was starting to look a lot like she had when she was younger.

"I must show you, just in today and very reasonably—"

"I'm not buying today, Borgin," Lucius interrupted. "I'm selling."

"Selling?"

"Draco."

Draco stepped forward and placed a box on the counter. While Lucius spoke with Borgin, he and Lyra took a look around the shop, the older boy breaking his rule about not touching anything.

Lyra saw a strange cabinet. It had the face of a person and small, cloudy windows for eyes. She squinted; she could've sworn she saw someone inside. She reached out to open it, but Lucius hit her roughly in the back of the head with his walking stick.

"What did I say?" Lucius asked, his gaze cold as he glared down at the terrified girl.

"N-Not to touch anything," she replied.

"Exactly. It's bad enough that I got stuck with you today. The very least you can do is obey me."

"Yes, sir," Lyra whispered, blinking back tears. "I-I'm sorry."

Lucius glared at her before turning away. "Come on. We're going."

"It's a pleasure to do business with you, Mr. Malfoy," Borgin said as Lyra hurried out of the shop, Draco following her. Her breathing was rapid, and her heart rate had sped up.

"Hey, Hey, Lyra, breathe, okay?" Draco put a gentle hand on her back, rubbing comfortingly. He put an arm around her shoulders and led her towards Diagon Alley. "I'm sorry he hit you. A-Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm bloody great," Lyra muttered as she pushed open the door to Flourish and Blotts. She rolled her eyes when she saw a group of people gathered inside for a meet and greet with Gilderoy Lockhart. She walked up to the second level. She rested her arms on the railing and looked down at the crowd below, sighing longingly when she spotted her best friend, Aliyah Coleman.