A/N: Bleh. Chapter was a pain. Here it is. Enjoy.
As always, the cast of Naruto belong to Kishimoto Masashi and the cast of Potter belong to J.K. Rowling. Used without permission.
The Griffin and the Fox
Chapter 2
To Diagon Alley 1 – The Dusty and Very Decrepit House of Black
The interior of Twelve Grimmauld Place was a nightmare. In fact, it looked like something out of a horror movie. The sort where a group of travelers would come across the abandoned house and subsequently become prey for whatever hellish monster resided within its walls. Every table was covered in dust cloths. The portraits as well, though Hermione supposed that would be to keep them from getting depressed at the stark emptiness within the estate itself. She had seen, in her four years at Hogwarts, the sort of behavior that the portraits could resort to if they were depressed or lonely. Or just plain mad, she thought with a chuckle, recalling Sir Cadigan, who had taken the Fat Lady's place during the third year.
Worst of all was the house elf, Kreacher, who detested her and spurned any attempts she had made to befriend him. He spent his time glowering at her and those that came and went from the house. He appeared to loathe everyone, even the man who was now the sole owner of the manor, Sirius Black. Shaking her head clear of the troubling relationship between the former Marauder and his household's only remaining elf, Hermione quietly made her way up the stairs, toward the room at the end of the hall. The Black Family Library.
"So when was this house built?" Hermione asked, looking around curiously.
Sirius turned to regard her, his expression one of bewilderment. "I'll make a deal with you. If I let you into the library, will you stop asking me questions about this house? You can look at anything, have anything in there, all you have to do is stop."
As the grin spread across Hermione's face and she held out her hand, Sirius wondered if he had made a mistake with that offer.
Smiling to herself, Hermione pocketed the key as the door swung open. Glancing around, she stepped in, sighing as the lights came on and the fireplace flared to life, then died down to a soft crackle, for those who wished to read by the fireplace. Whichever member of the Black Family that had put the library in had spared no effort in its construction. Spells were set to illuminate the room whenever someone entered and responded to requests to alterations in the light as needed. It was, all in all, a very pleasant place in an otherwise depressing house. The fact that there appeared to be a routine scourgify charm in place to keep it clean was a feature in its favor.
"If only the rest of the house had that." Hermione muttered, fingers drifting across the spines of the books as she moved between the shelves, a blissful expression replacing her frown as she found the one she had marked as her next target.
"A Recent History of World Wide Wizards, Angharad Compase." Hermione read aloud. "Probably just as much tripe as the others." She flipped it open to the table of contents and scanned it with a thoughtful expression.
"Shinobi?" she blinked as she read the title of the fourth chapter. "Why...." She shook her head, pushing the question aside. The book should have answers. Without another thought for it, she went to the chair by the window, her prize clutched close to her chest and settled down, her attention on the outside world dwindling as she opened the book and began to read.
The Shinobi are one of the lesser known wizarding cultures, though they will disagree that they are wizards. (Certainly the Ministry of Magic will deny all evidence of their existence, as this author learned while researching the subject.) However, despite pressure from government officials to abandon the line of inquiry, this author persevered and has brought you this account of Latere folium pagus, or, as the residents call it, Konohagakure.(Pronounced Ko-no-ha-ga-ku-re.)
Hermione arched an eyebrow skeptically at this paragraph, then shook her head and continued on.
The exact location of the Hidden Village of the Leaf I cannot divulge, for in truth, I do not know. My entry into the village occurred after a period of waiting, where I was escorted, blindfold and under guard into the village after travelling for several days. Thus, this author can only speculate upon the location of the village, which she judges to be somewhere in eastern China, beyond the Gobi Desert. More than that, I cannot say.
A pause and then Hermione reread the paragraph, her left eyebrow beginning to twitch. "Who was the editor of this pretentious twaddle?"
Established somewhere around one hundred years ago, in the middle of what they call 'The Great Wars'. (This author can only assume that they refer to the Troubles, when the Chinese Sorcerer, Lo Pan, made his first bid for power and the chaos that surrounded.), Konoha is a village unlike any I have seen before. The area it covers is massive, streets bustling with people going about their daily business. After acclimating myself to the distinctly Japanese bent to their culture (one of the many oddities present, the entire village is clearly Japanese, but is situated somewhere deep in rural China. However, no one would speak on the origins of the village's founder.) The village itself is a curious mix of the past and present. Transportation, such as those used by those not gifted with magical ability are nowhere to be found, but other means of travel clearly exist, but, as with many things about Konoha, the exact nature of their transportation methods were, at the time, a mystery to me.
Indeed, the entire village appears shockingly mundane. There is no evidence of magic to be found anywhere and I began to wonder why the Ministry of Magic had been so intent on denying my efforts to research the Shinobi. So, after receiving little information beyond a rote recitation of the founding of the village, I began to search, intent on peeling back the layers shrouding the mystery of this curious village.
"This woman," Hermione muttered. "Is an idiot."
One of the things that had me perplexed was the apparent lack of any sort of industry. There appeared to be no means by which the village sustained itself. Puzzled, I began investigating on my own. The first focus of my investigation was the Academy, where the young of Konoha are taught. What I found there, painted, to be frank, a disturbing picture.
The children of Konoha are, as soon as they can walk, trained as weapons. The entire village is supported by the mercenary activities of the Ninja, who are taught lethal skills from an early age and exist as little more than cold-blooded assassins.
Hermione closed the book in disgust. "What utter garbage. I cannot believe someone allowed this woman's tripe to be published!" She threw the book at the door, gasping as it opened to reveal Sirius, who had just enough time to deftly catch the book.
"Did it upset you that much?" he asked, looking at the spine curiously.
"The author of that book is a complete idiot. She has no concept of how to write at all and her editor is an idiot as well for letting that trash be published without heavy revisions!" Hermione fumed, rising from her seat to stalk through the shelves.
"Let me guess," Sirius murmured, flipping through the book idly. "The Shinobi section, right?"
The brunette's head tilted back from one side of the shelving, looking at Sirius. "How did you know?"
"That's why I bought it...well, had Remus buy it." He bounced the book on one hand. "I have an...interest in the Shinobi."
"Are there any useful books on them in here?" Hermione demanded.
"Sadly, no." Sirius replied. "But I know a little about them." He chuckled darkly.
She stepped out from between the shelves, a frown creasing her features. "It's not something you want to talk about, is it?"
Sirius shrugged. "It was a long time ago. I try to keep my ears open for information about them after I visited Hidden Stone Village."
"You were at one of their villages?" Hermione peered at him suspiciously. "And you're not pulling some prank on me, are you?"
"Yes, I was. No, I'm not." Sirius answered. "During my time at Hogwarts, I was forced to spend several summers among the hidden village of stone." He paused, his eyes going distant. "To further my knowledge of combat and other 'useful skills'. I suppose I shouldn't think on that time so badly, since it was one of those skills that helped me survive Azkaban, but...it was something my family made me do."
She looked at him for a moment. "Were you going to use those to kill him?"
He blinked, then met her gaze. "That's a very personal question." After a moment, however, he looked away first.
"I'm sorry." Hermione said. "It was presumptious of me."
Sirius waved a hand absently. "Forget it. Let's talk about Shinobi instead." He held up the book. "I'm sure you're wondering how much of this was actual tripe and how much fact buried under the condescending babble of that woman?"
"Pretentious twaddle." Hermione corrected. "Babble isn't as bad as what's in there."
He chuckled, thumbing through the book. "Lucius, Narcissa, Bellatrix and I were all sent to Hidden Stone in the hopes we'd learn useful skills for our future as dark wizards. We all thought it was rubbish, really, since they didn't teach us much of anything beyond a few physical combat skills and some concentration aids. Said it was too hard to try and teach us when we weren't born into that life."
Hermione looked up at him, catching something in his voice. "One of those was useful, wasn't it?"
Sirius glanced at her, then away once more. "Yes. I told Harry that it wasn't a happy thought that kept me sane in Azkaban. And while that's true, it isn't the whole truth. If it weren't for the concentration techniques I had learned, I'd have never been able to focus on that one thing to the exclusion of all else and screened them out."
"How did..." Hermione began, then stopped herself. "No, never mind. Let's see what we can do to get something to eat."
"Food, how I've missed thee," Sirius declared dramatically. "To be without thine succulent presence is to be denied the sun."
She gave him a look. "Harry's never told you that you're very strange, has he?"
"No..." Sirius murmured.
"Well, you are." Flashing a grin at him, she descended down the stairs toward the kitchen. "Very, very strange."
"So they've said about me." The adult chuckled. "In fact, they always thought I was positively queer."
She looked back over her shoulder at him. "And you're proud of this fact?"
"That they never knew what to expect from me?" Sirius nodded. "Never let them know what to expect, Hermione. That leads to being boring. And boring usually equals dead."
Hermione started to say something, but stopped as an owl flew in, bearing a note clasped in its talons.
"Ms. Granger,
We hope this missive finds you in good health, enclosed you shall find your required books for your fifth year of attendance at Hogwarts.
As usual, you will need the books for the courses you have chosen, in addition, due to a guest professor who will be joining us, you are required to seek out Kurosawa and Li's A History of the Shinobi, One Thousand Years of Strife. This text will be required for your Defense Against the Dark Arts classes this year.
Sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGongagall,
Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts
Sirius looked the note over. "No, no, I don't. I know where to find it, though."
"Flourish & Blotts?" she asked hopefully.
Sirius shook his head. "No. There's a shop on Knockturn Alley. It sits next to this creepy broom shop. They keep it stocked."
"Creepy?" Hermione asked, incredulous. "How can a broom shop be creepy?"
"This guy makes brooms from things like the Whomping Willow." Sirius shuddered. "That's an experience I don't care to repeat."
"How...never mind." Hermione shook her head. "I really don't want to know."
"You really don't." Sirius agreed. "So, you're going into Diagon Alley to pick up your books?"
She decided she didn't like the look in his eyes as he asked that. "Yes... why?"
"Well, I figured you'd need your faithful protector Snuffles to come with you, in the event you need to go down and retrieve that book." Sirius explained.
"Absolutely not," Hermione told him firmly. "It's too dangerous."
"I have been cooped up here for weeks," Sirius replied. "Snuffles is coming with you. Whether you like it or not."
She sighed. "I could get Professor Lupin, you know."
"Seriously, Hermione," Sirius said, a touch of desperation in his voice. "I really do need to get out of here for a little while. Please?"
Silent for a moment, Hermione slowly nodded. "Fine. But you go as Snuffles. You do not come out of that form for any reason, whatsoever. Are we clear?"
"Yes, mom." Sirius Black muttered, giving her an amused look. "Gather your things, so we can go."
Rolling her eyes, Hermione turned on her heel, heading toward her room to gather the few things she would need, hoping that this wasn't a terrible mistake. She stopped, then glanced back at Sirius.
"If Flourish and Blotts doesn't have it, we'll see about going down there, but don't get your hopes up."
-
"Oi, Ero-sennin," Naruto muttered, adjusting his backpack. "How much further do we have to go? I'm tired."
"Fool!" Jiraiya retorted. "You're a terrible ninja if you can't deal with a little training."
"You call that a little training?" Naruto shouted. "You're the fool!"
Jiraiya ignored him, stopping at a brick wall before them. With a frown, he tapped several of the bricks in a pattern, then smiled approvingly as the wall began to move, shifting and folding in on itself until it formed an arch.
"How the hell did it do that?" the hyperactive ninja demanded. "Oi, ero-sennin? How'd it do that?"
"It's magic, stupid." Jiraiya told him, walking through the archway without waiting for Naruto, who followed, muttering questions about the entrance. He ignored them all. "It's late. What do you think about finding someplace to sleep and meeting up with the others tomorrow?" he asked as they walked down the mostly empty streets.
"Sounds good." Naruto said, forgetting his earlier complaints as he yawned.
"This way then." Jiraiya nodded, leading them down the road. "I know a place we can stay, then. It'll be just like home."
-
Naruto stuck his hands behind his head as he looked around. The ero- sennin was still sleeping off his hangover and so he'd taken the opportunity to go looking around without the stupid hermit looking over his shoulder. He didn't have much in the way of the money used here, so he mostly wandered in and out of the shops, eyes wide at many of the things there. He continued wandering around, humming to himself and not really paying attention as he descended a set of steps.
"Ah...fresh meat..." he heard someone murmur. He lowered his arms, looking around to find himself surrounded by a group of incredibly scruffy looking people in bizarre clothes.
"Hello, little boy." The middle-aged woman said, reaching one hand out, almost claw-like.
"Go away, ya old hag." Naruto snorted.
"The pup has bark." One of them behind him said, drawing laughter from all the rest.
Cracking his knuckles, Naruto looked around at them, weighing the odds. "Alright. Let's make this quick." He brought his hands together in a seal.
"Henge!"
-
Hermione emerged from Flourish and Blotts, the cart of books floating along behind her. She glanced at the steps, where Snuffles had been waiting when she'd gone in. He wasn't there.
"Now where did that dog wander off to?" Hermione muttered, glancing around. Sighing, she started down Diagon Alley, glancing around for any sign of Snuffles. She was just about to pass the entrance to Knockturn Alley when a tremendous gust of wind ripped up from the narrow passage. Startled, she managed to grab hold of her skirt as the winds tore at it and then a shadow passed over her. She looked up in time to see someone slam into the wall opposite the entrance. Curious now, she rushed forward to see what was going on. Her eyes widened at the site of the slender blonde, who was, for some reason, completely naked. She was surrounded by a loose circle of Knockturn Alley's denizens, most of whom were unconscious, apparently from having their noses busted.
Hermione frowned at the scene, her eyes scanning the area and stopping on the one man who was pushing himself up, wand held with the clear intent to fire off a spell at the girl.
"Look out!" Hermione found herself shouting, her own wand dropping into her hand. "Protego!" The shield sprung into existence, blocking the streak of purple fire that had been aimed for the girl's back. Flashing a grateful look at her, the blonde turned and kicked the man between the legs, drawing a collective groan for the crowd. Grabbing her cloak, Hermione started down the steps, watching as the girl cracked her knuckles and scared off the remaining attackers.
"Come on." She said, settling the cloak around the girl's shoulders. She backed up a step as the girl's arm came up, ready for a punch until she recognized Hermione.
"Um..." the girl said, embarassed. "Thanks for your help."
"Never mind that." Hermione said briskly, her trepidation forgotten. "Save your thanks until we've got you out of here. Hold that cloak tight and come with me. Why were you wandering in Knockturn Alley, anyway?" She grabbed the girl's hand and lead her through the dispersing crowd, just ahead of the quickly arriving Aurors.
"I got lost." She muttered. "And what's Knockturn Alley?"
"I'll explain once we're away from here and have gotten you some clothes." Hermione looked as if she were about to stop, but chose not to and continued on, not relinquishing her hold on the girl's hand. "What happened to yours?"
"Well, they attacked me..." the girl began.
"I see." Hermione replied, muttering to herself and thus, not hearing the girl's mumbled statements. She lead the girl into the Leaky Cauldron, catching the faint look of panic as the girl noticed someone in the ground floor, but not stopping to see who as she all but dragged the girl up the stairs to the room she'd taken while she was here.
Flustered, the girl nearly stumbled as Hermione finally came to a stop. "Now, then. Are you hurt? Do you need a mediwizard?"
"No, I'm not hurt." The girl said, raising one hand slightly, then dropping it.
"They didn't do anything to you, did they?" Hermione asked, businesslike as she shuffled about the room, going through her trunk and the wardrobe within the room. "I mean, they obviously took your clothes somehow. Was it a jinx?"
"Um. Yeah. About that..." she began.
"Here." Hermione pressed one of her older robes into the girl's arms. "We're about the same size. That should fit you until we can get you some clothes. Where are your parents?"
"Don't have any." The girl muttered, glancing at the floor.
"Running off to Knockturn Alley to rebel against your guardians then?" Hermione asked, a note of disapproval in her voice.
"I told you." She replied, her eyes flashing. "I got lost. This is my first time here. Didn't know the place was dangerous."
"No one tried to stop you? You're clearly underage."
"The stupid fool's still sleeping it off." The girl muttered, the sullen look at the floor returning.
"I...see." Hermione frowned, at a loss. "Well, get dressed. I'll be waiting outside, then we'll go see about getting you back to your guardian." She headed over to the door, noting the odd facial markings the girl had, like whiskers, as she glanced back at her before closing the door.
-
Naruto waited until the door was closed, then tossed the robes the girl had given him onto the bed. Quickly pushing the window up, she glanced around, dispelling the henge and dropping onto the nearby rooftop and heading off back toward the inn he'd been staying with Jiraiya. With his luck, Neji had seen him being dragged upstairs when in the common room. He'd seen the genin there, sitting in a corner with their jounin escorts, and had almost turned and ran, but for the girl's grip on his hand.
"Crap." He muttered. "I didn't get her name." He smiled a bit. She'd been nice, if a bit bossy. His smile broadening, he dropped down into the street, noticing the flutter of the cloak as he landed.
"...." Shaking his head, he removed the dark cloak, folding it neatly and stuffing it into his backpack before calmly walking into the inn where the ero-sennin was.
"Where have you been?" Jiraiya called out, sitting a table in the common area. "I told you to bring breakfast."
"I got busy, ero-sennin." Naruto muttered. "Quit yer complaining. You're eating, aren't you?"
"Che! No thanks to you." The white haired man rolled his eyes. "You really are nothing like Yondaime in personality. He, at least, had manners." Jiraiya gestured for him to sit. "Where have you been?" the elder asked again as he watched Naruto help himself to the food spread out on the table between them.
Naruto, surprisingly, turned red and stared at the food intently. "Nowhere special. Got a bit lost. Met someone who gave me some directions." That was true, sort of.
Jiraiya snorted. "And that's why you're beet red? You can do better than that."
"It's none of your business, ero-sennin!" Naruto snapped, rising. "I'm going to go find the others. I think I saw Neji when I was wandering." He stalked off without a further word, leaving Jiraiya staring after his back with a faintly curious expression that turned into a smirk once the boy was gone.
"Met a girl, did he?" Jiraiya chuckled, returning to his food. After a short time, he rose, leaving the money for the food on the table and set out, looking around. It had been a while since he'd been here to London and he too wanted to look around before joining up with the others. Glancing around quickly, he ducked into a nearby alley, cackling to himself.
"Just a quick look." He murmured quietly, bouncing up onto the roof before he could be spotted and crossing over toward the baths on Shikigami Way. Without breaking stride, he dropped silently into the most advantageous position and glanced through his ready made peephole. "Still here, even. Sloppy, sloppy." After a few minutes of watching the baths, he stilled, becoming aware of an observer. Turning his head slightly, he found himself face to face with a very large black dog.
"...Hello." He said after a moment. "Come to watch too, have you?"
The dog said nothing, merely lolling its tongue as it sat down on its haunches.
"Well, fine, but I'm not moving so you can have a better look. You'll have to make do on your own."
The dog still said nothing.
"You're a terrible conversationalist." Jiraiya remarked. "But, as peeping accomplices go, you're not half bad. Quiet, at least." He tilted his gaze at the dog. "You are going to be quiet, aren't you?"
The dog nodded solemnly.
"Good. Nothing like that noisy brat." He said. "Always yelling and getting me caught. Had a perfect record before he came along, now I have to make up training exercises just to keep him occupied so I can research in peace. Know all about that, though, don't you?"
The dog's head shook in a negative.
"No disobedient and disrespectful brats floating around that you have to take care of?" Jiraiya smirked. "Count yourself lucky, then." He took a deep breath, then rose. "Well, time for me to get back to business. It's been fun. Oh, and..." He bent down to look at the dog closely.
The dog matched his gaze.
"I won't tell if you don't." Jiraiya cackled, turning to go. "Later, then." He walked off, humming to himself. After a moment, he glared down at the dog, who had fallen into step with him.
The dog grinned up at him.
Jiraiya sighed. "Ah...one of those types, are we? Thinking you'll get a treat because I was nice to you, I bet."
The dog nodded.
"Sorry, no treats today." Jiraiya smirked, starting up onto Diagon Alley. The dog continued to follow him, but its gaze was no longer fixed on him. Raising an eyebrow, Jiraiya followed the line of sight to a trio of teenagers. "Friends of yours?"
The dog didn't bother to reply, merely walking forward. Honestly curious, Jiraiya followed.
-
"Stupid pervert." Naruto muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets as he trudged down the road back up toward Diagon Alley. He made the right turn that would take him back by the place he'd seen Neji. "Thinks he has to know everything. Always butting in, never telling me anything. Figure it yourself, he says, it's good for you." He continued muttering, not paying attention to anything else.
"I'm telling you, Ron, she was about my height, with blonde hair." A familiar voice said, right before his shoulder smacked against someone.
"Excuse, mate." Someone told him.
Naruto snarled, looking up at a considerably taller red-headed boy. "Watch where you're going." His eyes flicked across to the red-head's companions, a shorter boy with messy black hair and...her.
".....Sorry, my fault." He shoved past them without another word, wishing he wasn't a shinobi and able to tell that she was watching him go.
Hermione stood there for a moment, frowning, then turned back to Ron and Harry. "Anyway, I was going to help her get back to her guardian, but when I came back into the room, she was gone. And she'd taken my cloak with her."
"Probably a dark witch or something." Ron muttered. "The whole thing sounds suspicious, if you ask me. Naked in the middle of Knockturn Alley?"
"You see dark wizards under the bed, Ron." Hermione retorted, glancing at Harry for an opinion.
The Boy Who Lived said nothing for a moment. "She didn't take anything else, did she?"
"No, just my cloak." Hermione confirmed.
"I wouldn't worry about it then. It isn't the weirdest thing we've seen and maybe she's going to be at Hogwarts, you could get your cloak back then." He said.
"I suppose." Hermione replied, frowning before glancing back through the crowd for any sign of the boy Ron had bumped into. "Anyway. How was your summer, Harry?"
"Dreadful." Harry answered, glum. "The Dursleys made me do housework all the time until I was able to head over to the Burrow and finish the rest of the summer with Ron."
Nodding, Hermione's eyes widened as she spotted Snuffles. "There you are. I've been worried about you."
"Is this your...dog, then?" the man next to him said. Hermione glanced upward, eyes widening at the imposing figure. He had spikey white hair, gathered in a ponytail that reached halfway down his back and was still rather spikey then as well. A metal headband covered his forehead, a Japanese symbol etched onto it. And, oddest of all, what looked like an oversized scroll was fastened onto his lower back.
"That's right." Hermione nodded, cautious.
"Good dog, he is." The man said, bending down to rub Snuffles' back. "Knows how to keep a secret, he does." With a faintly disturbing smile, the man rose again.
"Well, I've got places to be, so, now that I've reunited you with your friend, I'll be on my way. Ja." With that, he slipped past them, whistling to himself as he disappeared into the crowd, though his hair remained visible for some time until he had rounded a corner and was gone.
"What the bloody hell was that all about?" Ron asked, confused.
Harry and Hermione exchanged glances, then Harry spoke. "He knew."
"What?" Ron glanced at them.
"About Snuffles." Hermione added, exasperated. "Come on. We'd better get back. I knew this was a bad idea."
"I'll take him." Someone said. All three teens turned, expressions of trepidation changing to relief, then guilt.
Remus Lupin stood there, his hand firmly on Snuffles' neck, and looking quite displeased. "I'm not going to mention this to anyone, but I am very disappointed in you, Hermione. You know it's dangerous for Snuffles to go out due to his fragile disposition."
Hermione nodded slowly. "I'm sorry, Professor."
"Now, you three go along and finish your shopping. I'll take care of Snuffles here." He gave the dog a little squeeze, eliciting an almost comical expression of worry on the dog's face. "Let's go, Snuffles."
The trio stood there for a few minutes, watching Lupin disappear before Ron broke out laughing. "I think Snuffles is going to be taken care of, for sure."
"Don't be crude, Ron." Hermione muttered, glowering at him. "Let's go get some food." She turned her back on the others and the three headed back toward the Leaky Cauldron, talking amongst themselves.
-
Draco Malfoy did not, typically, like to wait. He liked waiting on strangers even less. So, as he stood in Flourish and Blotts, waiting on this incredibly timid girl who was taking forever to count out the funds for her purchase. Apparently unfamiliar with the currency here.
Wait until I tell father about what sort of idiots they're letting in now. Can't even handle money properly. Aloud, he said. "Hurry up, already, would you? Some of us are important and have places to be."
The girl turned to face him, revealing wide, pale eyes that took one look at him, then turned down to the floor. "S-sorry..."
"Whatever, you pale-eyed freak," Draco said, unnerved by her eyes. "Just get out of the way...ACK!"
'Ack' was the closest thing to the sound that came out of his mouth as someone slid behind him, captured his arm, and wrenched into a painful hold that he could not break free of. "Apologise."
"What?" Draco growled, trying to flail at whoever had dared lay hands on him. "As if I'll apologise to some stupid pale-eyed freak who can't even cou-OW."
The person wrenched the arm even further up. "Apologise."
"Anou....Neji-nii-san..." the girl said. "It's alright."
"Not until he apologises." The one called Neji said, his grip tightening around Draco's arm. "Then he can go."
"Not...going..." Draco snapped. "I'm a Malfoy. I don't apologise."
"What is this?" a new voice asked. Draco's face immediately settled into a grin. He'd show this fool now.
"Father!" he called out. "This hooligan has laid hands on me for no reason."
"Come now, Draco, you can do better than that." Lucius Malfoy said, as Neji didn't even bother to turn to face him, he quirked an eyebrow. "Now, tell me what's going on here."
"He needs to apologise." Neji said coldly. "Your...son was unaccountably rude."
"Very well." Lucius said. "Draco. Apologise."
"But, Father!" Draco protested, trying once more to escape the stranger's grip.
"Do as I say!" Lucius' voice cracked like a whip.
"...I'm sorry." The teenager bit out sullenly. Neji immediately released him, staring coldly at the other as he went for his wand.
"I would not." He said, clearly ready for a fight.
"Enough, Draco." Lucius said, voice cold. He turned his gaze to Neji. "My apologies for my son's uncouth behavior. You have my word it shan't happen again." He glanced at Draco, then turned, anxious to be away from that unnervingly steady gaze. Such a look did not belong on the face of someone around the age of his son.
"Father, that was embarassing." Draco murmured, massaging his wrist as they left Flourish and Blotts.
"You stupid boy." Lucius replied. "Have I taught you nothing of subtlety? There is a time and place for everything. The place was not then, with you in danger of injury. Be proud, but never at the expense of your own safety. Bide your time."
"But!"
"Enough!" Draco fell silent at that. "Come, we have things to do. First, we must gather information."
"About?"
"Your acquaintance back there." Lucius said, a cold expression on his face. "I know of his type." Draco looked as if he wanted to inquire, but a glance from his father silenced him and the two moved quickly through the crowd.
To be continued.