Dark Wizard Collector: A Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 48

In Diagon Alley, I was able to buy parchment, refresh the ink in my raven skull inkwell, obtain a few items I needed for potions, and collect some treats for some of my favorite students. I was expecting to have a difficult and tense time with the Malfoy's, but I was wrong. Quickly, becoming bored with my diligence of shopping, Lucius snuck off to Quincy's Quidditch Supply. Mr. Malfoy remained with me like a shadow silently following its body. Before long, I had lost track of time from burying my head in a book. Mr. Malfoy tapped my shoulder and I started from being torn out of the text and apologized. "What is it that grasped your attention in that book more than the bustling world around you?" The man's eloquence was so natural that it did not pain me to lose myself in his words. "Miss Zeria?"

"Oh," I had gone into a daze of repeating his previous question. "I find a certain solace within the pages of books; I always have."

"I once knew a girl, the loneliest creature I had ever encountered, who kept to her books... always." Mr. Malfoy picked up another copy of the book I still clutched and perused the summary. "Since the day she disappeared, I have never stopped asking myself why books intrigued her more than people."

"Maybe knowledge was something she valued more than friendship." My blue eyes dropped to the book as I nervously stroked the gilded spine. Sighing, I replaced the book onto the shelf and looked at Mr. Malfoy with a weak smile. "Shall we be off?"

A little jingle from the shop bell echoed in the alley that was bathed in the golden glow of sunset. Slowly, I began walking toward the Leaky Cauldron entrance and Lucius came running from a side alley with a few other Hogwarts students. "Miss Zeria!" The blond practically blurted as the small cluster of young men came laughing to catch up with him.

"Hello, Lucius; who are your friends?" I looked to see three Hogwarts students I recognized only by their faces, and a young man who was the eldest of the lot. Behind Lucius, the three oldest looking ones examined me with their eyes and muttered to each other while the littlest one was being playfully shoved away from the conversation. "Avery," I called out to the boy I now recognized as a first year and a friend of Severus. "Are they being mean to you?" The small dark-brown head shook sideways and stopped trying to enter the conversation of the older three.

"Hey you lot! This is Miss Zeria; she works at Hogwarts. I'm sure you've seen her around." Lucius interrupted the conversing cluster. "This is Wilkes, McNair, and Rosier. Wilkes graduated last year."

"Charmed." My dry greeting brought all four boys to attention and I noticed a smirk appear at the edge of Lucius' thin mouth.

"Are these ruffians bothering you, my dear?" The commanding voice brought me to straighten my posture as well and I turned to see Mr. Malfoy addressing me so familiarly. Instantly, my face rouged in embarrassment; the man was holding a copy of the book I was reading in the shop. Casually, he handed me the book, "You forgot this."

I stuttered a thank you, took the book, and looked meekly at the ground.

"Father," Lucius began and uneasiness radiated from the troupe of boys. "My friends are going to a Quidditch tournament this weekend; may I join them?"

"Where?"

"The Giant's Causeway, Sir." Wilkes said, "My family will have a camp set up during the tournament; there will be plenty of room for Lucius to stay with us."

"Do not be late coming home for Christmas."

"Thank you, Father. The tournament ends the day before Christmas Eve." Lucius smiled broadly, and a heavy stone dropped into my stomach; he was still so young, still a boy. I could not bring myself to view him as anything more than an innocent boy.

"Four days it is; don't be foolish." Mr. Malfoy turned away from the group of boys and towards me. "Miss Zeria and I will be returning to the manor now." Graciously, I took the arm of my host, and we Disapparated back to Wiltshire.