Snivellus

12

Summer came and went, Darah's Hogwarts letter had come in the post, it was time to take a trip to Diagon Alley.

Darah travelled with her house elf, Pooky. They arrived in The Leaky Cauldron.

Tom, the innkeeper, acknowledged their presence as they walked through the pub to Diagon Alley.

Darah tapped the wall and the bricks fell back revealing the bustling streets.

'Master Snape has asked for you to buy what's on the list, no less, no more.' Pooky spoke croakily. He was a reasonably old house elf, not much emotion but tended to have a kind heart. He tried to obey strictly to the rules he was given but often gets caught up in other thoughts and manages to forget things.

'Sure.' Darah brushed him off as she walked down the street, Pooky rushing to catch her up.
'Do I need any robes Pooky?' Darah asked staring up at Madam Malkin's Robes shop.

Pooky panicked and searched for a list he had tucked in his pillowcase garments somewhere. 'You will need...' he searched up and down the list. 'No robes, Miss Darah.'

Darah carried on walking, looking through shop windows in awe. 'What about books?' She asked confident there's some she needs.

'Y-yes, books is here. You will be needing The Standard Book-'

'Wow! Pooky look!' Darah cut him off as she gaped at the sign on Flourish and Blotts door.
'Gilderoy Lockhart.' She said in amazement. 'He's due to come out any minute, quick, come on.' She ran inside, desperate not to miss him. Pooky travelled along quickly behind her, reluctantly.

She looked around the store, 'what book was it you said I needed Pooky?' She questioned obliviously.

He coughed nervously. 'Erm well-' he was cut off again.

'It's Harry Potter, and it's friends!' Darah exclaimed quietly to Pooky.

Pooky looked worried. 'Well erm I'm sorry Miss Darah but Master Snape has not allowed me to allow you to go near Mr Potter. He forbids it.' Pooky announced wisely.

Darah looked at him dumbfounded. 'Why not? He's literally just a normal guy.' She told herself. 'Come on, let's go say hi.' She dragged him along to the back of the store where Harry was stood.

'Harry!' She waved. Pooky hid behind her leg, timidly peering out from behind.

Harry jumped. 'Oh, Darah. Hi. Erm, you shopping for school stuff too then?' He asked awkwardly.

'Yeah. You seen the sign outside? Is it true?' She said hopefully.

'Oh yeah.' He turned around to look for the sign. 'Yeah it's true, my friend Hermione is a big fan, we're here to see him.' He said looking around the shop for Hermione.

'Cool.' Darah stood there awkwardly now not knowing what to say. Just then Hermione popped over with a red headed boy and girl.

'Hi. You're Darah Lucie, aren't you?' Hermione said. 'I'm Hermione, we had quite a few lessons together last year.' She spoke kindly even though she was aware Darah hung around with Slytherins she knew Harry did not like.

Then everyone looked at the boy stood with us. He gave them all questioning looks then realised. 'I'm Ron.' He smiled. 'And this is Ginny, my sister.'

Just then Lockhart appeared at the back of the shop. He swung his arms out and put his hands on his hips as though he was a superhero. 'Tis I, Gilderoy Lockhart.' He announced boldly. All the girls in the room fluttered with sighs.

'I suppose you're all here to see me.' He winked. 'Well, you're in luck because today I have brand new, yes that's right, brand new copies of my books and-' his eyes widened as he looked down, gaping at his audience.
'By god, is that Harry Potter?' He exclaimed, squinting his eyes.

He called Harry up to his platform to get him to sign books with him. After Lockhart had finished everyone left the shop. Darah was about to leave when she spotted Draco lingering with his father.

'Draco.' She walked up to him and said hi.

'Oh, Darah.' He acknowledged her. 'This is my father, father this is Darah Lucie.'

Draco's father looked at her. 'Lucius Malfoy.' He stuck out his hand to shake with hers. He had a firm grip.
'Say.' He paused, thinking. 'I've never heard of the Lucie family.' He looked at Darah questioningly.

'Oh yeah, we're half-bloods, not many people know us.' She said quickly.

'Where do your parents work?' He asked. Draco made a murmuring noise to him.

'Well my father does... odd jobs, stuff with the ministry and erm Gringotts. Hard to keep track really.' She laughed nervously. 'My mother isn't around. I've never met her.'

'Oh.' Lucius raised his eyebrows and said no more. He walked to the exit, 'Come Draco.'

'Well, see you at school.' Draco shrugged and set off.

A load pop noise sounded beside Darah. She looked down at her leg confused. 'Pooky?' Pooky was stood there with a towering pile of books and school supplies that he was struggling to balance as it wobbled all over the place.

Pooky looked up at Darah from behind the pile. 'Pooky has got everything on the list.' He squeaked as he tried to concentrate on everything he was holding.

'Great!' Darah said plainly. 'Let's go then.' She smiled. She walked out of the shop, Pooky, once again, running to catch up with her.