Magical Bonds

III. The meeting on Diagon Alley

"You've got everything, right? The parchment, the money, and a few bags to carry everything on the list are in your pockets, aren't they?"

I burst out laughing at my own worry, then nod seriously, pulling out the mentioned items to reassure her. She always does this when I head off to Diagon Alley to spend time with Draco and his friends—unless Narcissa, the blond troublemaker's mother, is around. Apparently, she and my mother are good friends, having known each other since their school days.

The funny thing is that my mother can't stand her husband, Lucius, and hasn't been able to since then. I never dared ask her why; I was afraid she would either shut down or say things she might regret. I sigh, smiling at the woman who gave me life, and kiss her on the cheek, assuring her that everything is fine. She waves as I Disapparate from her side, reminding me not to stay out too late.

Being a vampire, I can Apparate before the legal age or take those lessons that wizards are required to take. Plus, the Ministry doesn't intercept my Apparitions; it's a safe way to avoid trouble—who knows when it might come in handy in the future.

I slowly open my eyes, raising an eyebrow as I take in my surroundings. Severus asked me to Apparate into a dilapidated building near Tom's bar so we could enter without any issues. I wrinkle my nose at all the dust around, sneezing as I make my way toward the door with peeling paint—just perfect for the most sinister scenes from horror books. All that was missing was a murderer chasing the protagonist, and we'd have a perfect scenario that would sell like hotcakes.

I push the door hard, not realizing that someone on the other side is trying to enter, so I end up colliding with the person's chest. I groan in pain, holding my nose between my fingers and straightening it back to its normal shape, then look up. I meet a pair of black eyes, like the beads from my mother's necklaces, which fill my soul with joy. I wrap my arms around his waist, hugging him tightly as a sense of safety washes over me.

I hear him take a deep breath, probably controlling himself from giving me a lecture about how much he hates being hugged in public. I couldn't care less; I've missed the man who tries to appear as the coldest person in the world when it's clear as day that he's one of the sweetest and most trustworthy. If his aura wasn't similar to my mother's or if I wasn't familiar with him, I would have kept my distance.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Evans, that I hate it when you do that?" he mutters under his breath, so only I can hear.

"As many times as you want, Sev, you know I'll still do whatever I feel like."

I step back from him with a wide smile on my face. I'm glad he agreed to let me come with him; he could have come up with the lamest excuse, but he didn't.

"I missed you," I say honestly.

"You're making me believe you, troublemaker," he says with amusement, making room for me on his right. "How come I was the only person you turned to?"

"You know Wings can't, and Grandma is busy with something. I could have asked Draco, but I remembered our conversation before the holidays, and that's how I ended up here."

"I'm starting to think Draco is a bad influence on you; otherwise, I don't know where you've inherited all this cunning from," he admits with a small grin.

"It's not his fault; I've always had it. Otherwise, how would I have evaded Filch for so long?"

He nods slowly, opening the door to Tom's bar for me, and I enter, thanking him. It's already crowded; I don't even know how I'll make my way through them to get to the back. I glance over my shoulder at Severus, then nervously grab his arm. This place is filled with both negative and positive energy. Almost everyone has a gray aura, but there are a few with an extremely dark one, which scares me quite a bit.