The Death Eater [HARRY POTTER]

5

Calla had been confined to Minerva's office once again, despite her most sincere protests. But the witch had not been pleased at Calla's blatant disregard for her own welfare, and her ignorance of the rules the year before, so there was little that Calla could do to lighten her sentence. She had woken up after most of the excitement happened, Harry and Ron venturing into the Chamber of Secrets to save Ron's youngest sister, Ginny from the preserved memory of Tom Riddle. In fact, Calla had been pleasantly surprised to find that their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had ventured down into the chamber with the two boys, and through a series of unfortunate events he was hit by a memory charm and was left completely incompetent. The last Calla had been told, he would be given a place at St. Mungo's permanent ward, where he would live out his days on a steady diet of fruit cake and pudding.

Which was no small relief for Calla, who had been growing rather annoyed at his persistent flirting, and obnoxious presence.

"Please, Minerva," Calla begged, literally on her knees in front of the immovable woman. Thankfully, however, Calla's keen eyesight was able to capture Minerva's face softening a little bit at her pleading tone, and through years of experience Calla knew this meant she was about to get her way. "I just want to go to Diagon Alley to get my school supplies. Usually father goes, but he's been particularly busy preparing Professor Lupin's first doe of wolfsbane potion, and he said I was free to go if I liked."

After a short moment, Minerva sighed and her shoulder wilted. Calla fought to keep the victorious grin off of her face.

"You may go on one condition," Minerva allowed, and Calla entirely missed the small smirk playing at the corner of the older witch's lips.

"Anything," Calla promised, her green gaze sincere.

Minerva smiled victoriously.

*******
"You keepin' up alright, Calla?" Rubeus Hagrid asked as his large form lumbered in front of Calla, far enough ahead that Calla hoped no one would think they were together and close enough that Calla could hear and respond to his persistent questions. Unfortunately, by the time that Calla had discovered what Minerva's one condition was, it had been too late to turn back without hurting the half giant's feelings.

"I'm doing fine, Hagrid," Calla said patiently, as she tried to peer around the large man to see what store was coming up ahead of them. "Although I would like to ask if it would be okay for me to go into the bookstore alone. It's always so cramped, and I don't want you to feel claustrophobic."

In all actuality she didn't want to deal with the mess if the large man knocked into a shelf and sent a tower of books toppling, but she would never say that to the man. He had always been nice to her, even after she was sorted into Slytheirn. He made a habit of telling her she was welcome down at his cottage any time, and he always ensured she left with a hefty plate of his horrible rock cookies, which weren't half bad if she let them soak in a cup of tea for a few hours before she tried to eat one.

Hagrid looked at her over his large shoulder, before peering into the second hand bookstore she was intending to walk into. After a short deliberation he seemed to come to the same conclusion that she had, that he would never fit through the door, and he reluctantly nodded.

"I don' mind waitin' out here until yer done," Hagrid agreed, leaning back against the rough brick wall beside the shop window. "Jus' take yer time and come out when ya have all yer school books, ya hear?"

Calla nodded easily, and gave the large man a parting smile before she slipped into the door. Instantly, it felt like a massive weight was lifted off of her shoulders as she, for a short time, escaped her babysitter. She loved Hagrid, she did, but spending so much time with him trying to hear him through his thick accent was absolutely exhausting, and unfortunately Hagrid had been dragging her all over the place to get one thing or another that he needed at Hogwarts. He was so excited over his recent teaching position that he wanted to make sure everything was perfect. And as a result Calla had been trudging behind him since the early morning.