REBEL | a harry potter fanfiction

eighty-two

— 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐭 𝟐 —

' *•.¸.•** . **•.¸.•*'

CASSIOPEIA REMEMBERED WHEN SHE USED TO ENJOY going to Diagon Alley; it had previously been full of diverse and exciting shops, with Cassie discovering a new one each time. Now the colourfulness and joy of the alley had been sapped out; the fear caused by the Dark Lord's return led to several stores being boarded up. The vibrant window displays were replaced with wanted posters of death eaters and advertisements for useless defensive items.

The one place Cassiopeia thought she could shy away from reality had been corrupted by the Dark Lord's influence.

It had felt weird shopping for school supplies; something that was supposed to be completely normal was ruined by the thought of her main purpose for returning to Hogwarts. Still, Cassiopeia entertained the idea of trying to ignore it that day completely. 

Draco and Cassiopeia were led and closely watched by their mother as they made a stop at Madam Malkin's. Cassie insisted she did not need any new robes, but her mother had been persistent on them going. Though Cassie did not want to, she went along anyway — it was the least she could do for her mother. On the other hand, Draco was very vocally unwilling; he continued to argue about her watching over them despite the fact they were just a year away from being of age. Their mother wanted to keep an eye on them in Diagon Alley, and Cassiopeia was not particularly surprised.

Cassie allowed Draco to be fitted first. She was uninterested in observing and so instead she lurked behind the various racks, looking at each robe without the intention of buying them.

"Perhaps after this, we might go get your books for the year," her mother suggested as Draco's robes were being pinned.

"For the last time, I'm not a child, in case you haven't noticed, mother. I am perfectly capable of doing my shopping alone."

"Now, dear," said Madam Malkin, "your mother's quite right, none of us is supposed to go wandering around on our own anymore, it's nothing to do with being a child—"

"Watch where you're sticking that pin, will you!"

Cassiopeia rolled her eyes and then returned to inspect a blue robe on the rack.

"If you're wondering what the smell is, mother, a mudblood just walked in," Draco had said suddenly, making Cassie look up. She could not see much from behind the rack, but she had a small inkling about who the muggleborn might have been. She slightly hoped it was not who she was thinking it was, because it meant if she was here, there was a large enough chance that a certain someone was too.

"I don't think there's any need for language like that!" said Madam Malkin. "And I don't want wands drawn in my shop either!" she added hastily. Cassiopeia stepped forward slightly to see that indeed, Hermione, Ron and Harry were standing at the entrance of the shop, with the latter two having their wands pointed at Draco, not seeming to notice Cassie standing next to the racks.