"Now remember to stay right by me, there are people who aren't so nice in the big wide world."
Draco was too exited to pay much attention and almost skipped into the fire that would take him to Diagon Alley. He loved going, the place buzzed with all kinds of interesting and weird things, stuff that fascinated any ten year old whether they were Wizards or not.
He spat out a horrible piece of wet clammy ash as he tumbled out of the grate. His Father arrived just in time to see that and shot him a reproving glance as he discretely brushed down their robes. The trip was merely for errands but his Father always insisted on standards.
The first stop was Gringotts bank. The Malfoys had a top-security vault deep down in the chambers below Diagon Alley. They were here to get money for Draco so to his extreme delight he was allowed to ride the cart down. He was laughing in excitement and fear as the cart banked and rolled, far from the judging eyes of other wizards his Father didn't object.
With his purse filled up Draco pulled away from his Father and headed for the Cherise Emporium. He could never stay in that place long enough, it was the best place in England for toys and they had some good ones. They had toy broomsticks and mock up potions kits for turning your friends funny colours, fold out landscapes that you could get lost playing action man in and Draco's favorite. It was an extremely large stuffed toy. Shaped like a Dragon it even growled and blew flames (charmed to be cold). It would lumber around the little shop making all the six year olds squeal. He had to have it.
The last and by far most boring task was re-stringing Draco's violin which had complained loudly since it had been dropped. Draco was bored, his Father was going on about musical stuff and the cost of stocks to Aldous McNair. Being as quiet as he could he slipped out into the street. He could come back in five minutes and his Father would never notice.
He wandered over to the broomstick shop and joined other children who had their noses pressed to the glass.
"Wow a Nimbus 2000!" Gaped a small sandy haired boy about his age.
"I wish I could have one."
"Yeah it would be fantastic, but they don't let you fly at school....."
"I'm getting one." Draco said triumphantly. The statement had the desired effect. Every child went silent and turned to stare at him.
"You?.....do you have any idea how expensive these things are."
"150 galleons, it says there." Draco didn't understand why that mattered particularly.
"Yeah exactly, I mean we'd have to save up for agggeeeees. " agreed a red haired boy.
"Not me, I have 3000 galleons in Gringotts."
"No you don't, you'd have to be like mega rich."
"My Father is rich he said so."
The red haired boy seemed to get quite agitated.
"What's your name then?"
"Draco Malfoy, what's yours?"
The whole street seemed to quieten down a shade, People turned round. Draco had no idea why.
"You are Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy's son?"
A woman who hadn't even been listening now spoke up.
Wordlessly Draco nodded. The woman sounded very hostile. She turned to one of the store holders and muttered something. He grinned and handed her a large rubber ball. She poked it with her wand and it emitted a flash of light.
"Well you can give him this from me young Mister Malfoy." She spat.
The next thing he knew something hard impacted with his shoulder. It was a rotten cabbage. It spattered all over his robes. The crowd bayed with laughter.
"You show 'im Dulcie"
Another spat, this time on the back of his neck. It was cold and horrible and slid under the collar of his robes and down his back. There wasn't even a pause this time. More objects hit him he whirled round trying to find a way out. There wasn't one. The entire crowd had closed in. Terrified out of his wits he did the one thing that he thought could help him.
"FATHER!"
The high pitched scream of terror jerked Lucius out of his conversation.
"That sounds like Draco" He said worriedly as MacNair hurried out of the shop to see what was wrong.
"Lucius quick!"
Draco was on the ground truing to shield his face. The wall of noise and leering grins was dizzying. Cried of "Deatheater scum" and "Bad blood" filled the air. Lucius could feel his temper rising up as he fought his way to the front of the crowd. MacNair followed as did a young Hogwarts professor.
Muttering a few words Mr Malfoy brandished his wand. A long bright green Dragon rushed out the end. That finally got the crowd's attention. They fell silent looking somewhat fearfully at the enraged man.
"Lucuis take the boy. I will deal with them."
Mr Malfoy dismissed him with a scowl. "I will not have my son treated that way." He faced the crowd, turning so they could all see his face.
"Why? Why have you attacked my son?"
From the safety of anonymity a voice yelled out. "We deserve our revenge."
"Revenge on a child? Tell me why does a boy who cannot even transfigure a quill to a pen deserve your revenge."
The silence was sorrowful now. Draco was just getting to his feet and staring fearfully around.
"You think you were justified in what you did to a child today. We will see how I can justify what you.."
MacNair interrupted once more. "Lucius threatening them is no good," he hissed. "take your son home. We will make these people accountable. With one more poisonous look at the pale faces Lucius swept Draco into his arms and disappeared down a side alley.
Draco was too exited to pay much attention and almost skipped into the fire that would take him to Diagon Alley. He loved going, the place buzzed with all kinds of interesting and weird things, stuff that fascinated any ten year old whether they were Wizards or not.
He spat out a horrible piece of wet clammy ash as he tumbled out of the grate. His Father arrived just in time to see that and shot him a reproving glance as he discretely brushed down their robes. The trip was merely for errands but his Father always insisted on standards.
The first stop was Gringotts bank. The Malfoys had a top-security vault deep down in the chambers below Diagon Alley. They were here to get money for Draco so to his extreme delight he was allowed to ride the cart down. He was laughing in excitement and fear as the cart banked and rolled, far from the judging eyes of other wizards his Father didn't object.
With his purse filled up Draco pulled away from his Father and headed for the Cherise Emporium. He could never stay in that place long enough, it was the best place in England for toys and they had some good ones. They had toy broomsticks and mock up potions kits for turning your friends funny colours, fold out landscapes that you could get lost playing action man in and Draco's favorite. It was an extremely large stuffed toy. Shaped like a Dragon it even growled and blew flames (charmed to be cold). It would lumber around the little shop making all the six year olds squeal. He had to have it.
The last and by far most boring task was re-stringing Draco's violin which had complained loudly since it had been dropped. Draco was bored, his Father was going on about musical stuff and the cost of stocks to Aldous McNair. Being as quiet as he could he slipped out into the street. He could come back in five minutes and his Father would never notice.
He wandered over to the broomstick shop and joined other children who had their noses pressed to the glass.
"Wow a Nimbus 2000!" Gaped a small sandy haired boy about his age.
"I wish I could have one."
"Yeah it would be fantastic, but they don't let you fly at school....."
"I'm getting one." Draco said triumphantly. The statement had the desired effect. Every child went silent and turned to stare at him.
"You?.....do you have any idea how expensive these things are."
"150 galleons, it says there." Draco didn't understand why that mattered particularly.
"Yeah exactly, I mean we'd have to save up for agggeeeees. " agreed a red haired boy.
"Not me, I have 3000 galleons in Gringotts."
"No you don't, you'd have to be like mega rich."
"My Father is rich he said so."
The red haired boy seemed to get quite agitated.
"What's your name then?"
"Draco Malfoy, what's yours?"
The whole street seemed to quieten down a shade, People turned round. Draco had no idea why.
"You are Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy's son?"
A woman who hadn't even been listening now spoke up.
Wordlessly Draco nodded. The woman sounded very hostile. She turned to one of the store holders and muttered something. He grinned and handed her a large rubber ball. She poked it with her wand and it emitted a flash of light.
"Well you can give him this from me young Mister Malfoy." She spat.
The next thing he knew something hard impacted with his shoulder. It was a rotten cabbage. It spattered all over his robes. The crowd bayed with laughter.
"You show 'im Dulcie"
Another spat, this time on the back of his neck. It was cold and horrible and slid under the collar of his robes and down his back. There wasn't even a pause this time. More objects hit him he whirled round trying to find a way out. There wasn't one. The entire crowd had closed in. Terrified out of his wits he did the one thing that he thought could help him.
"FATHER!"
The high pitched scream of terror jerked Lucius out of his conversation.
"That sounds like Draco" He said worriedly as MacNair hurried out of the shop to see what was wrong.
"Lucius quick!"
Draco was on the ground truing to shield his face. The wall of noise and leering grins was dizzying. Cried of "Deatheater scum" and "Bad blood" filled the air. Lucius could feel his temper rising up as he fought his way to the front of the crowd. MacNair followed as did a young Hogwarts professor.
Muttering a few words Mr Malfoy brandished his wand. A long bright green Dragon rushed out the end. That finally got the crowd's attention. They fell silent looking somewhat fearfully at the enraged man.
"Lucuis take the boy. I will deal with them."
Mr Malfoy dismissed him with a scowl. "I will not have my son treated that way." He faced the crowd, turning so they could all see his face.
"Why? Why have you attacked my son?"
From the safety of anonymity a voice yelled out. "We deserve our revenge."
"Revenge on a child? Tell me why does a boy who cannot even transfigure a quill to a pen deserve your revenge."
The silence was sorrowful now. Draco was just getting to his feet and staring fearfully around.
"You think you were justified in what you did to a child today. We will see how I can justify what you.."
MacNair interrupted once more. "Lucius threatening them is no good," he hissed. "take your son home. We will make these people accountable. With one more poisonous look at the pale faces Lucius swept Draco into his arms and disappeared down a side alley.