Entitled

Chapter 34

Diagon Alley Adventures

You made your way through the crowded streets of Diagon Alley, two specific goals in mind. First, you needed to get to the place that sold school robes.

The arbitrary rule that girls should be made to wear skirts had always irked you, and this year, you were determined to make a change.

Once inside the shop, you tried on two different sizes of boys' trousers, eventually opting for the smaller, form-fitting size as a subtle way to poke the beast. Satisfied with your purchase, you headed towards the bustling pet shop.

The pet shop was teeming with activity, and it took a moment for you to find the sugar glider you had been thinking about for weeks. To your surprise, the girl sugar glider now had a mate, a boy that she was sleeping next to in a small hammock. You faced a difficult dilemma: do you separate them or go without her as you couldn't afford both?

You stood there, pacing in front of the case, indecision gnawing at you. That's when you felt a presence beside you and heard a familiar voice.

"What are you doing, standing there looking so conflicted?" Lucius Malfoy's voice was smooth and laced with curiosity.

You glanced over at him, trying to mask your surprise. "I'm trying to decide what to do about these sugar gliders," you replied, gesturing towards the small creatures in the hammock. "I can only afford one, but I don't want to separate them."

Lucius raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "A dilemma, indeed. Why not simply take both?"

You frowned, your frustration bubbling up. "I can't afford both. They're expensive, and I don't have that kind of money with me. I suppose I could go to Gringotts but they might be gone by the time I get back. This place is packed."

Lucius rolled his eyes, an air of exasperation about him. "Very well," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "I'll get them both for you. I'm feeling rather charitable on this particular day to the less fortunate."

You narrowed your eyes at his words. "And what will I owe you in return for this... charity?"

He smirked, clearly enjoying your discomfort. "Just keep an eye on Draco. Make sure he stays out of trouble and focused on his studies. That's all I ask."

After a moment's hesitation, you nodded. "Fine. I can do that."

Lucius turned to the store clerk with an air of command. "We'll take them both. And add a cage and enough food to last a month."

The store clerk, taken aback by Lucius's authoritative demeanor, quickly complied. Lucius haggled the price down with ease, securing the purchase at a surprisingly low cost. You watched, a bit taken aback at how well he managed the situation, taking control of it with an almost effortless efficiency.

Once outside, you glanced at Lucius, genuine gratitude in your eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. Really."

He gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable. "You're welcome. Just remember our agreement."

With the sugar gliders safely in tow, you both walked in comfortable silence towards the bookshop. The air was filled with the bustling sounds of Diagon Alley, but for a moment, there was a strange sense of camaraderie between you and Lucius, born out of mutual understanding and necessity.

Bookstore

When you arrived at Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore was packed with people attending the signing for "Magical Me" with Gilderoy Lockhart, the man who had taken Severus's desired position. The crowd buzzed with excitement, but your expression soured instantly, a clear indication of your disdain for the man.