Snivellus

34

He had his back turned to her, but it was no doubt him. His blonde hair was obvious from a mile away.

'Pooky, you get the books.' She shoved the tiny, scrunched list with illegible writing, into his hand. 'I've just gotta do something.' She said staring at Draco, distracted.

Pooky quivered, unsure but knew he had to partly obey to Darah's commands, so he clicked his fingers and left.

Darah walked up to Draco and tapped him on the shoulder.

He swung around, she could've sworn he was taller than at the party.

Darah sighed some relief when she saw his face thinking, thank god it's you and I didn't just tap a random person's shoulder.

'Lucie.' He smiled at her, noticing her hair. 'Didn't get rid of it then?'

'What? Oh yeah.' She shrugged. 'Well I don't have the spell to change it back so.'

'I know the spell?' He pulled out his wand discreetly, knowing you can't do magic outside of Hogwarts when under age.

She pushed her hand out, forcing the wand back. 'Oh no. It's fine, I mean it's kinda cool, the change.'

Draco put his wand back in his pocket. 'Yeah.' He smiled.

They both stood there in awkward silence of a minute.

'So er, why you here?' Draco broke the silence, scratching the back of his neck, as he always does when he's nervous.

'Last minute Hogwarts shopping.' She shrugged, picking up a random book she was closest to. 'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. Fun.'

'I don't think that book is required this year.' Draco looked at her dumbfounded.

'Yeah.' She trailed off and threw the book back on the table. 'I sent my house elf to get most of the stuff.' She shrugged.

'My house elf left at the end of last year. Now we've got a terrible one. Father didn't even want to risk sending him here to get my school stuff, he can barely dust a cupboard without braking something.'

Just then Pooky apperated beside Darah with a toppling tower of books and supplies.

Draco looked down at him and smiled. 'Hm.'

'Give me those.' Darah took a couple books off the pile so Pooky could balance it all properly.

'Miss Darah-' he began but stopped as he saw Draco looking straight at him and he yelped quietly.

'This is Draco Malfoy, Pooky.' She said slowly and carefully, careful not to frighten him.

Pooky gulped and forced a smile. He then whispered out of the corner of his mouth to Darah. 'Master said no talking to strangers.'

'Draco isn't a stranger. He's our... friend?'

Draco held out his hand to the house elf.

Pooky scrambled trying to figure out how to shake it back without dropping everything.

'Never mind.' Draco pulled his hand back.

'Draco!' A loud voice came from behind Darah. A big shadow crept over her, making Pooky quiver.

The both of them turned around to see a man with long blonde hair, the same platinum colour as Draco's, with a long cloak, similar to Snape's, and a cane with a serpent's head at the top.

'Ah, Miss Lucie, is it?' He smirked as he recognised her face.

'Y-yes, sir.' She didn't know whether to bow or what.

He circled slowly around them. 'Lovely house elf.' He prodded Pooky with his cane to which he winced at.

'Father.' Draco started.

Lucius interrupted him. 'You know, I didn't see you at our party a couple weeks back.' He eyed her. 'Draco, did you send an invite to her?'

Draco began to open his mouth to talk but Darah stepped in instead. 'Yes, yes, I was there. I had to leave early.'

Lucius raised his eyebrow. 'Oh.' He glanced at her simply.

'Well, Draco, we best be off.' He grabbed Draco's sleeve and turned towards the fireplace that was inside the shop. He grabbed some flux powder and said, 'Malfoy Manor.'

She watched them both disappear as Draco had a half apologetic, half disgusted look on his face.

Pooky shuddered.

'Come on Pooky, let's go.' Darah headed out the shop, towards the brick wall and into The Leaky Cauldron.

She entered the pub and saw another familiar face. 'Ron?'