The Slytherin Mudblood: Book 2

Chapter 3

A CHARM OFFENSIVE

I woke up at eight o'clock, bright and early. 

I had exactly one hour before I could go to Diagon Alley to possibly see Draco. I put on a black shirt and some jeans and my normal black robes and raced downstairs with my gold. I knew needed a restock so I would first visit Gringotts. 

When I went out back to the brick wall I realized I had nearly forgotten my wand. I went back into my room, grabbed my wand, and rushed straight back to the wall. I drew my wand and tapped the special brick which moved with the rest and formed an archway. I walked inside and was met with the many shops that filled Diagon Alley. Shops with books, food, creatures, brooms, wands, clothes, and so many more wizardry tips and tricks.

I headed straight for Gringotts where I was greeted by goblins offering to help me. I was famous there because I was one of the richest people there. I went to my vault and stocked up on Golden Galleons, Silver Sickles, and Bronze Knuts. I almost forgot I stored all my jewelry in here, so I took a pearl necklace and walked out.

My stomach made a large grumble, I had forgotten breakfast. Even though it wasn't exactly a good idea, I thought why not have Ice Cream for breakfast? I know it's silly but that would be amazing! I mean, come on! Ice cream for breakfast! 

I skipped over to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor where I paid 7 sickles for a simple vanilla ice cream. I walked the streets licking my delicious ice cream and scanning for the mysterious blond boy, but he was nowhere to be seen. It was alright though, it was only eight-fifty.

I finished my ice cream and headed over to a place I needed to check out, Quality Quidditch Supplies. This was the store where you buy your brooms and other quidditch gear. They have the latest Cleansweeps, Comets, Shooting Stars, and Nimbuses. I had a Nimbus Two Thousand and I remembered one of the beaters on the Slytherin Quidditch team suggested I get a broom servicing kit. It would help polish my broom, clip the tigs, and it had a clip-on compass. I paid ten galleons for it and turned around to leave.

But as I turned around, I bumped into someone. Whoever it was had knocked my kit out of my hands, it dropped on the floor with a thud. I was mad, I spoke angrily, "Hey! Watch it— Merlin's Beard, Draco!"

It was Draco Malfoy I bumped into. The blond boy was taller and he looked different. His face looked more mature and his features were more complex. His widow's peak was less refined which was probably a good sign he wouldn't have that slicked back hair for too much longer now. He picked up my kit and handed it to me smiling, "Sorry, Haynes. My mistake."

"No, No, it's fine. I'm the stupid one here. I wasn't looking where I was going. I was just buying something for my broom," I explained, trying to calm down. "What are you doing here?"

"The new Nimbus 2001 Broom is out now! Father's going to get it for me. Aren't you going to get one? You'll need it for Quidditch," he asked.

"Um, I don't know. I didn't notice it was there!" I replied, looking back at the store.

"It's okay. Let's go!" Draco responded, grabbing my wrist.

~~~~~~~~~~

Draco pulled me into a random store, it was full of books. I recognized the store as Flourish and Blotts. We ran in to find a large group of people, crowding around a man in the back of the shop. I didn't bother, I went straight to the owner to grab the textbooks for second year. The Standard Book of Spells: Grade 2 was easy enough to find, but when I saw the price on only one of Gilderoy Lockhart's books, my jaw dropped. "Forty Galleons a book! Three-Hundred galleons for books for school! That's complete rubbish!"

"For rich people like us, that shouldn't seem like a problem," Draco glared at the books over my shoulder.

"Yeah, but I don't want to waste money on an autobiography," I said, then I sparked an idea. " I have an idea!"

"What's that?" He looked at me intrigued, "Haggle the price down? Say you're poor?" He laughed.

"No, I'm going to pull a charm offensive," I smiled. "Watch and learn playboy."

I flipped my blue hair out of my face, turned around and stepped downstairs and through the large gathering to find a man with luscious golden locks, blue eyes, and blue robes, and a perfect set of white teeth. I looked at him as Draco watched from above, peeking down from a railing on the second floor, looking carefully at my actions.

My royal blue hair immediately caught his eye and he smiled, looking at me intrigued. I put a charming smile on my face as a part of getting his attention. He spoke proudly, extending his hand to me, "Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award. And who might you be, my dazzling darling?"

I took his hand gracefully and giggled while smiling even brighter. I spoke as though in awe by his presence, "Charming indeed. I'm Victoria Haynes. I'm here for your autograph and I have always been so amazed by your striking smile, your tough actions, and the way you fight off those dangerous creatures."

He seemed so bedazzled and charmed thinking I was actually interested in him that he kissed my hand. But that's a part of charm offensive. I giggled even more to charm him, I voiced with plea, "Please, can I have your autograph and your picture please?"

"Absolutely Miss!" He said profoundly, "You can get as many pictures as you want!"

The room filled with clicks and flashes of cameras taking pictures. I smiled and cheered for the cameras. He then looked towards me then back towards the crowd of camera's for publicity, "Miss Victoria Haynes, a simple school girl charmed by my magical prowess and quite possibly my biggest fan. Because of her kind heart and her knowledge of myself, she will leave Flourish and Blotts with my entire collected works! All completely autographed, free of charge."

A round of applause filled the room as I cheered in amazement and fake surprise. He grabbed a pen and started signing his works in its entirety. Gilderoy gave them all to me as we took even more flashy pictures. Gilderoy took all the photos taken of us and gave them to me, "You have yourself a nice day, Miss Victoria," he smiled.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Lockhart," I smiled cutely.

I walked off towards Draco and my smile dropped at the stunt I'd just pulled. Never again! I went up the stairs and dropped all of the books on a table with a THUD and an UGH! I dropped the act and Draco looked at me in awe, "What in Merlin's beard was that?"

"A Charm Offensive," I answered with a huff. "Playing nice to get under peoples skin and get them to let down their guard. If you act like you're interested by using your charm, your charisma, or sounding helpless, they think you seem nice and friendly. Now, if you get them to like you, they will do anything to woo you. I repeat, anything."

I winked at him and he smiled, amazed at what I just pulled off. I looked around to see that no one was watching us, so I took out my wand, pointed it at the photos and whispered, "Incendio."

A flame shot out of my wand, the photos caught fire and melted onto the ground, disintegrating into ash. I made sure that none of the surrounding books caught fire or else the store owner would have my head.

I looked back at Draco, "It's a tactic used mostly by women to get what they want from men or their husbands to pay for something or get something for free. They use their good looks, their bodies, and their cutesy voices. And that is what I did, I played Mr. gullible Gilderoy Lockhart to get all his books for free. Tada!"

"That is bloody amazing," he complimented. "But never use that on me."

"I'm certainly not going to pay two-hundred eighty galleons for only seven measly books," I said looking through the stories.

As I sat on the table next to my books, Draco paid for his books and we sat together looking through all the other books there. As I sat there, lost in knowledge, Draco peered over the edge of the railings watching the crowd, hoping it'd dissipate. It wasn't until we heard a commotion downstairs that Draco finally moved and he stormed his way downstairs. A wicked grin plastered on his face, he was disgusted by something or someone below.