The Feather In the Fangs | Draco Malfoy

3. DIAGON ALLEY

a/n: hello readers! thanks to all who have favorited, viewed, and reviewed The Feather In The Fangs! i have some awesome hopes for this story and can't wait for you all to get to know Fay.
a little background on her: she has Nordic ancestry, just remember that!

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August 31, 1996

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Sleep was impossible for me that night and I couldn't keep from shivering. Sweat dribbled down my forehead in large beads and I could not bring myself to cry. What I had seen and the way Draco held me against the wall had frightened me so. I sat in my bed, knees to my chest and hands clutching my duvet.

When the morning sun trickled through my window and the birds began to sing, I pulled the covers up even higher and sank lower into my bed. How was I to face this day with the knowledge of Draco Malfoy in the back of my mind?

     'You will do as I say, I own you now, Ravenclaw. If I suspect you running about under my nose and behind my back even once, I will make you rue the day you were born.'

His cold words echoed in my head and I buried my face into the duvet, tears now threatening to spill. I had just unwillingly signed my life over to possibly the most dangerous student at Hogwarts. Not even my supposed Ravenclaw wit and cleverness could help me out of this one.

There was a knock at my door that caused me to jump rather harshly in bed, "Who is it?"

"Who else would it be?" my mother called out from the other side, "Now get up and get ready, Diagon Alley can't wait any longer!"

I ran my hands over my face and tugged at my hair, "Give me a few minutes, mum."

My head thrummed and my heart pounded, the thought of seeing Draco's face made me want to vomit. Upon standing I found that I was dizzy and did indeed feel nauseous. After emptying my stomach of nearly nothing, I sat on the floor of my bathroom and cried quietly. This year at Hogwarts was not going to be easy.

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Diagon Alley was not yet crowded and from the looks of it, I didn't think it would get much busier. The streets were littered with posters and newspapers detailing of Azkaban prisoners escapes and who were most wanted.

I shivered at the face of Fenrir Greyback, a savage werewolf that paid no mercy to his victims. His photo screamed and writhed with anger and made you want to cry.

Mum held the twins close and continually looked behind her shoulder, she had obviously not seen this coming. The streets were not lined with students eagerly waiting to receive their first wands and robes, instead there were families that hurried from store to store with fear in their eyes.

We did just the same, hurrying from store-to-store, gathering what we needed quickly and keeping our heads down. Figures lurked in the alleys and it seemed that frequent visitors of Knockturn Alley were filtering into the streets of Diagon Alley.

At the end of the street was a fairly new building that had a brightness about it. It was the only thing that seemed untouched by whatever darkness had infiltrated the once buzzing Diagon Alley.

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes stood tall and towering above the rest of the alley and the laughter of those inside could be heard as we approached it.  The face of a Weasley twin, I could not tell which, sat above the storefront with a rabbit on it's head.  The twin placed a hat over his head and when he lifted, the rabbit was gone.

A smile crossed my face at the use of magic that Muggles commonly parodied, such as the disappearing rabbit trick.  They truly did not understand the beauty of magic and unfortunately never would.

"Alright, go on." mum said with a wink to the younger boys. Jacob and Rolf looked at each other with pure glee and sprinted to the front steps of the store. I laughed to myself and trailed after mom into the store. I took one quick glance behind me, shivering at the emptiness of the street.

Immediately I was greeted with familiar faces of students that would be returning to Hogwarts the next day and my heart was lifted a little. A few of them waved at me, fellow Ravenclaws and Gryffindors that knew me through my brother, Jacob.

Rolf and Jacob had been devastated when they were sorted into different houses their first year. It was the first time they had ever been truly separated and for awhile, they seemed lost. However, they began to shine in their own ways once becoming acquainted to their new surroundings and they thoroughly enjoyed the houses they were in now. Jacob often greeted me with tall tales about Harry Potter whenever we ran into each other in the halls.

I found myself in a small corner of products titled 'Self Defense For the Defenseless.' These were products for the kids who couldn't get past bullies and needed quick escapes, I figured.

Included in the corner were Decoy Detonators, Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder and a collection of Shield Hats, Cloaks and Gloves called the Jinx-Off Collection. I reached for the Darkness Powder when my hand brushed against someone else's.

"Hullo, Fay."

My eyes met Harry Potter's bright green orbs and I smiled, "Hello, Harry!"

Harry and I had become acquainted through Jacob, of course.  He looked up to him in so many different ways, claiming he was his Quidditch inspiration.  Harry had taken Jacob under his wing during hiss lonely first year without Rolf.  I appreciated the famous boy's kindness and deemed him a suitable mentor for my younger brother.  I could count on Harry to keep an eye on him while I wasn't there. 

"I've seen Jacob running around, how is he?"

"He's great, actually, been practicing his charms all summer with Rolf." I responded quickly, my nerves beginning to tingle, "Really hoping to get on a broom this year, too." I quipped with a nervous chuckle.

Harry Potter was Draco Malfoy's enemy and I had just practically signed my sixth year over to him. What would Harry and the Gryffindors think of me if they ever found out? It would ruin Jacob and he would surely hate me. Perhaps some of the Gryffindors would exclude him; hate him as well.

Harry's brow furrowed somewhat as he noticed my silence. But it was quick and his smile was still there.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

I nodded my head, "Yes, sorry, just thinking of my Animagus training that I have this upcoming year. . ."

Harry grinned, "That's wonderful, Fay. I hope it goes well for you."

My grin returned and I reached back for the Darkness Powder, "Thanks, Harry, I'm sure it will be smoother than I am anticipating."

We said our goodbyes and I placed my Darkness Powder into a small drawstring pouch. I let out a sigh of relief as I turned to explore another corner of the magical store. 

I admired Harry and considered him a friend, ever-thankful for what he had done for Jacob.  My mind reeled in shame as I thought of Harry's face and what he didn't know of my life.  He could never find out about my unintended alliance with Draco.

My heart skipped a beat when I looked back at the Defense items. I had never considered using these objects, my life had never been in any danger.

However, with this year's activities looming over my head and Draco Malfoy, I felt the need to buy all of it. I knew I couldn't actually do that, so I decided to grab one Decoy Detonator and purchase my items up front.

Mother and the boys were nowhere to be seen so I hurried to the counter and grabbed two packages of Chocolate Frogs to make my purchase seem less suspicious. I didn't recognize the boy that completed my purchase, but he bore a Hufflepuff crest on the sleeve of his shirt and I smiled at him. Seeing all of the students around me made me feel better and I knew that I had friends to turn to at school for the difficulties that lay ahead of me.

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