Dark clouds cast a shadow over Malfoy Manor. It was still morning and yet it seemed as though it were close to midnight. Torrential rain poured from the skies above, trapping the Malfoys inside more so than the enchanted wrought-iron gates at the edge of their property. Inside the house the air was thick and heavy, the atmosphere tense. The incessant commands of Mrs. Malfoy echoed throughout the house as per usual; her shrill voice cutting through the walls as though they were thinner than paper.
Upstairs, Clara ignored her mother's fussing. After 11 years she knew never to intervene when either of her parents were angry with the house elves. Instead, Clara sat comfortably on her brother's bed and cradled her cat, Smudge, in her arms. Raising her hand, she let her fingers trail through his soft ash fur and softly kissed the top of his head. He purred when she scratched him behind his ears and swished his tail against the side of her arm in appreciation.
"Is there something you'd like to discuss?" Lucius asked from behind his desk. Clara hadn't spoken for several minutes, choosing to wait patiently until he finished penning his letter before making her request. He had noticed her presence a while ago but was too preoccupied with writing to look up.
"You love me, right?" Clara began. Lucius sighed at his sister's ridiculousness. Everyone knew how much Clara was treasured in the Malfoy family, especially by he and his father.
"Of course," Lucius replied, folding his note and passing it to the brown owl perched on the lip of his windowsill. The bird quickly took flight and disappeared off into the distance amidst the pouring rain.
"Then could you please hide my set of gobstones in your trunk? Mummy refuses to let me pack them," Clara explained. "She says the game is juvenile and quite unbecoming for a girl my age to play."
Lucius chuckled, amused by his sister's childish concern. "Most students don't play Gobstones anymore."
"Well then they're missing out," Clara countered. "Please, Lucius," she begged, staring at him with pleading eyes.
"Fine," Lucius easily conceded, unable to resist spoiling her. She grinned and scurried out of the room, returning moments later with a small wooden box in her hands.
"Here," she smiled, handing him her collection of gobstones. She kept an entire stash in there ranging from ones made from stone to others made of gold. "Please keep them safe so that Mummy doesn't find them."
"I will. Now lets get some breakfast." Turning to face Clara, he accepted the box and placed it on his desk. Then he ushered her out of his room and down the large staircase. When they entered the dining room their parents were already seated and waiting for them to join them. Lucius took his usual place at one end of the long dining table, and Clara hers on the right of her father. Once they were settled and Clara had her napkin folded neatly on her lap, plates of fruit, eggs, and other breakfast dishes burst through the kitchen doors. Beginning with Mr. Malfoy, they floated smoothly before him and hovered just long enough for him to select his desired number of sausages and place them on his plate. They then proceeded to his left and served the family in order from oldest to youngest. When everyone had chosen what they desired, the plates flew back into the kitchen to be washed and put away.
"Do you have much to purchase today, my dear?" Abraxas Malfoy asked, taking a slow sip of his coffee. He liked his black – strong, simple, and no-nonsense. Meanwhile, his wife enjoyed a hot cup a tea, Lucius water, and Clara a glass of orange juice.
"Not really," Clara replied. She stabbed a slice of peach with her polished silver fork and lifted it into her mouth. "All I need now is a telescope and a set of crystal phials. Oh! Could I also get Smudge a new collar? His one he currently has is starting to look a little shabby."
"Of course, darling," Mrs. Malfoy said, doting on her youngest child.
"And your brother?" Mr. Malfoy asked more sternly. Lucius informed him that he needed a new set of tailored robes and a thicker winter cloak. They were making a trip into Diagon Alley after breakfast so he would purchase them then.
"Good," Abraxas said, nodding his head ever so slightly. He cut cleanly through one of the breakfast sausages on his plate and ate the pieces one by one. On the other hand, Mrs. Malfoy chose to stick to her breakfast parfait.
"You will be sure to help your sister select the appropriate equipment, correct?" Abraxas asked, though more in a statement than a question.
"Not those cheap ones that fall apart by the end of term," Mrs. Malfoy interjected.
"Yes," Abraxas said, agreeing with his wife. "Diagon Alley has fewer and fewer quality stores these days.
"Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment has always been trustworthy," Mrs. Malfoy added.
Sure it is, except that you have to sit and listen to the senile shopkeeper spout nonsense for twenty minutes. Clara rolled her eyes and shovelled a spoonful of scrambled eggs into her mouth. She hated shopping with her parents and was grateful this afternoon's trip would just be her and Lucius.
"Manners, Clara," Mrs. Malfoy warned, eying her daughter scarf down her breakfast as though she hadn't eaten in days. "You are not some rogue beast we picked up off the street." Clara obeyed and resumed eating in smaller more delicate bites.
"I'll make sure she gets all she needs," Lucius assured them.
"Excellent," his mother smiled.
The rest of breakfast continued on in the same manner. Thirty minutes later, Mr. Malfoy gathered everyone together in the front foyer. Checking his watch, he leaned in to kiss his wife and daughter goodbye, gave his son a quick nod, and then apparated off to work. Mrs. Malfoy then herded her children towards the fireplace and ushered them inside. She plucked a small silver pot from the mantle and removed the lid. Lucius grabbed a fistful of the fine powder inside and clearly announced his destination as Diagon Alley. Throwing the powder to the floor, green flames rose above his head and carried him off. Clara followed suit and soon found herself standing alongside her brother in the shopping area. Immediately, the duo headed towards Twilfitt and Tattings to begin their shopping.
After only a short while inside the shop, Clara began to doze off.
"How much longer will this take?" she grumbled. She was sitting on a navy upholstered chaise longue, her chin resting on her hand, watching the tailor fit her brother for a new set of robes. They'd already been there for half an hour and had only altered two outfits. "I feel like we've been here forever."
"Have patience, Clara," Lucius commented, his arms stretched out as though he were a scarecrow. "Don't be so eager." Clara rolled her eyes and let out a clear harrumph, blowing a strand of white-blond hair from her eyes. Did Lucius have to chastise her like their mother?
"But this is so boring," she complained, crossing her arms to signal her frustration. "Can I at least go to the Magical Menagerie to look at the pet supplies?"
"No."
"Please."
"Clara, it's on the other side of Diagon Alley," Lucius pointed out.
"So what?"
"So that means that you can't go there alone."
"But-"
"That's enough, Clara. I told Mother I would keep an eye on you, and I wouldn't call letting you run off as upholding that responsibility," Lucius firmly reminded her, turning his attention back to his reflection in the mirror. The dark black fabric contrasted handsomely against his light hair, giving him a noble elegance few fifteen year olds possessed.
"But Mummy also said I could get Smudge a new collar," Clara pointed out, trying to use Mrs. Malfoy's earlier comments against him. Unfortunately, Clara's stubbornness was no match for Lucius' convictions, nor was she as smart as she thought she was.
"Which we'll do once I've finished here," Lucius said sternly, beginning to get annoyed with his sister's relentless complaints. This morning she had been wonderful and sweet; but now her age and immaturity were revealing themselves. In response he was being equally stern. "Stop acting like a petulant child."
"I am not," Clara protested.
"You are."
"Well you're being an unreasonable troll," she stated, reduced to petty insults. She believed her words to be disparaging when in reality, Lucius simply found them laughable. His little sister still had a long way to go if she wanted to go toe to toe with him in a battle of wits or insults.
Although he was facing away from her, Lucius could feel Clara glaring at him. Her angry gaze was sharp and dug deep into his back. Had she known any hexes, Lucius was certain she'd have zero qualms sending a barrage of them his way. Sighing inwardly, he knew he'd be better off appeasing her than have her sulking about all day embarrassing them both. Knowing her temper, Lucius resolved that the best course of action was to cut her a tiny bit of slack.
"How about I give you a couple of galleons and you go get something from Sugarplum's Sweet Shop?" Lucius suggested, tossing Clara a small pouch with three galleons inside. The sweetshop was only a couple of stores down from where they were currently.
The expression on Clara's face instantly brightened and she moved towards her brother. Careful not to prick herself on the dozen pins sticking out from his robe, Clara gave Lucius a quick hug and then dashed out the shop, leaving Lucius shaking his head and smiling; his little sister was easy to placate.