The Heir
Chapter Two: Shopping Day
Warnings: Slash, Americanized British
Pairings: Don't know yet, ideas still flying around. DuoxHP big possibility, Suggestions Welcome.
Disclaimer: Don't own either Harry Potter or Gundam Wing.
AN: So, rant time. 2 reviews. 2 lovely reviews, out of the 689 people who looked at this story, out of the 57 people who put it on alert, and the 10 people who favorited it. I want to personally thank AnimaLynx and Moon Ecstasy for their reviews. This chapter is dedicated to you two.
It was very uncomfortable to wear school robes, Duo decided as he was measured by Madam Malkin.
"Tsk!" She tittered. "Mr. Black, I will ask you again kindly not to move while my tapes are in motion!" She motioned exasperatedly at the blonde boy next to Duo, who was smirking. "Why can you not behave like your cousin, dearest?"
"Because I'm not a git?" Duo muttered, making a face at Draco as he scowled at the name. "I don't even know why I have to go to Hogwarts," he complained. "I would have been just as happy staying in the States."
"Oh Duo, we've spoken about this so many times. You know Americans have no etiquette," said Aunt Narcissa, examining her nails futilely. They were perfect, as always. She looked up at him and gave him a small smile. "Besides, how else was I supposed to care for my dearest nephew on those American dirty streets?" She nodded, as if proving herself right. "You're much better off here, dear nephew, where you can learn the true virtues of being a pureblood."
Duo shuffled his feet uncomfortably. Madam Malkin frowned at him. "Mr. Maxwell!" she snapped and then sighed. Using wandless magic, she withdrew the tapes. "I'll just do what I can with these," she said gustily. "Just change into your regular clothes and leave the robes in the dressing rooms." She removed the tapes off of Draco as well and gave him the same instructions. Duo hopped off the stool with exasperated joy as he made his way to the rooms,
"Thank God," he muttered, already haphazardly pulling off the robes. He could hear Madam Malkin tittering behind him as she and Aunt Narcissa bargained prices and this and that.
"It wasn't so bad," Draco drawled from behind him, taking off his robes confidently. Duo turned his eyes away from his cousin, not interested in seeing his pale skin. "You just need to learn to sit still and stop being so antsy." Sure that his cousin was dressed by this time, Duo turned as Draco scrunched his nose. Duo noted it looked quite unattractive on him. "You're going be mistaken for a Weasley one day, I promise you."
Duo snickered. "And you'll be mistaken for a troll, with your face scrunched up like that," Duo teased, and Draco rolled his eyes. They began making their way to the entrance, where Draco's mother would be waiting.
"But really!" Draco whispered to him. "Imagine, you continue behaving like that, and you'll become one of those dirt poor Weasleys. My father tells me about them all the time and how it's easy to contract their disease. First, the freckles will show up. And then, your hair will turn that obnoxious red…and suddenly, your pockets will be emptier than a well during a draught…"
Duo simply nodded absently to Draco's chattering, following Aunt Narcissa out of Madam Malkin's. Most of what Draco said was rubbish, but he was quite entertaining most of the time. He was like the little brother he never had. "Aunt Narcissa, where are we going now?" Duo sighed. He knew he was whining, but today was already getting tiring. First they had to go get owls, then they had to go get books, and they just came from being poked and prodded by that damn Madam Malkin! Duo huffed. This was the worst day ever.
Quickly, Duo paled and retracted that, remembering a day years before Aunt Narcissa and Uncle Lucius found him in New York City's lonely streets with no orphanage to turn to. No, nothing was worse than that day.
"Really, Duo, it hasn't been that bad, has it?" Aunt Narcissa asked him, taking graceful steps. "And besides, I would think you would be happy to finally rid yourself of 'stuffy Aunt Narcissa'." She quoted him perfectly. Duo had the nerve to blush.
"Oh Auntie, I never meant that," he said, pouting. Aunt Narcissa was smiling though.
"I know, I know. One more place to go, and we'll be finished for today. And I do believe we should see cousin Katherine and her son there, as well."
"We're going to see Quatre?" Duo asked excited. Draco looked sullen.
"I'm better company than Quatre!" Draco complained. Duo nudged him.
"Yeah, but I see you everyday. I don't get to see Quatre half as much!"
"But--oh, Merlin, look!" Draco pushed Duo, causing him to look to the left. Duo glared, but quickly gasped. "Dear Merlin, that man is horridly huge!"
"Awesome," breathed Duo. Aunt Narcissa looked on in distaste.
"Half-giant, he's the gamekeeper at Hogwarts." She sniffed in disdain. "You'll do well to avoid his company, children. There's definitely no need to lower your standards. Now come along." Aunt Narcissa began walking toward a store called "Ollivander's". Draco and Duo stumbled after her, still entranced by the half giant walking toward Madam Malkin's. A small person was running after him. He wore too big clothes that Duo hadn't seen since that time, and had messy black hair with glasses.
"I wonder who that boy is," Duo murmured, entering the store. Draco had strode in, in front of him.
"Cousin Duo! Cousin Draco!" a voice cried out. Duo smiled brightly as the blonde embraced him and then Draco. A sigh from in front of them made them look up to see Cousin Katherine and Aunt Narcissa staring at them, looking slightly amused.
"Boys, boys, we've told you about public displays of affection. It's not proper," Aunt Narcissa said, but she was still smiling softly. She often reminded Duo of that painting at the museum Uncle Lucius and Aunt Narcissa took them to--the Mona Lisa, it was called. They both had the same mysterious smile, or so Duo thought.
"Hello, cousins," said Cousin Katherine, her blonde hair tied in a braid behind her. Her hair was much less platinum than Aunt Narcissa, Uncle Lucius, and Draco's, but a little lighter than Quatre's own golden crown.
"Hullo Cousin Katherine," echoed Duo and Draco in unison.
"And how are you?" Cousin Katherine asked, her arms folded across her bright orange robes. Duo wanted to scrunch his nose at them--they were, as Aunt Narcissa would say, distastefully obnoxious. Not like Aunt Narcissa's sky blue robes.
"Well, and yourself?" said Duo and Draco, once again in unison. This was the song they danced to, a song that Aunt Narcissa and Uncle Lucius had taught him as soon as he was welcomed into the Malfoy home.
"Quite well, thank you," she sniffed. Cousin Katherine was a bit odd, as Aunt Narcissa once put it. Very emotional, which often explained Quatre's own 'odd' behavior. However, she was still a pureblood, and even moreso a Black relative, so they had to be polite. "I'm sure you must be all excited to be receiving your new wands today."
"Of course, Cousin Katherine," Draco gloated.
Duo nodded, not truly interested in the conversation anymore. He turned to Quatre. "So how have you been?" he whispered to the blonde. "Still upset about Beauxbaton's?"
"Upset? Merlin, no," Quatre laughed. "I'm surprised you didn't hear, Duo! Mum switched her decision--I'm going to Hogwarts!"
Duo could barely contain himself. He wanted to throw himself around his cousin. "Then I'll get to see you all the time!"
"Hey!" Draco glowered. "I exist too!"
"We'll get to see each other all the time!" Duo corrected, smiling at both of his cousins.
Aunt Narcissa was pursing her lips. "Where is Ollivander? We must meet with Lucius soon for dinner. You are of course invited, Cousin Katherine, along with your son."
"Grazie," Aunt Katherine smiled.
A scraggily old man came from behind the wall, as if right on cue.
"Hullo, hullo, you must be here for wands," the old man sung. Duo couldn't help but feel as if this man was slightly off his rocker. "Come come, young Winner first…"
Quatre didn't take long. In fact, after his second wand, he sent out blue sparks. Ollivander merely nodded senselessly, muttering something about "Rosewood, Unicorn tail, 9 ½ inches."
Draco was next, and Ollivander already knew what wand to choose. Apparently all Malfoys had the same type of wand. Holly, Dragon Heartstring, 10 inches. Green and silver sparks came out of his, and Duo heard a "surprise, surprise," from Ollivander, which did sound slightly sarcastic.
Duo stepped up, and Ollivander looked him in the eyes. They stayed like that for a long time, though Duo had no idea why. It took several minutes before Ollivander paled and began nodding and muttering insanely to himself. He ran to the back of one aisle, and then to the other, pulling out boxes and throwing them when they weren't what he was looking for…which was awesome. Duo was tempted to look at Aunt Narcissa, but by that time, he heard a quiet "ah ha", and shuffling, and suddenly Ollivander was in front of him. He handed him the wand in his hand with trembling fingers.
The wand pulsed in his hand. Duo had never felt something so powerful in his life. He swooshed his hand--and the wand hummed and blasted several beautiful sparks of different bright colors. This only caused Ollivander to pale more.
"13 ½ inch, Yew." Ollivander's voice trembled, and his forehead glistened with sweat. "Phoenix feather…the same feather of the Phoenix…the same wand of the Dark Lord," he choked out.
Narcissa stepped forward immediately. "Duo, Draco, Quatre. Wait outside."
"But mum--" Draco said.
"Now." Aunt Narcissa rarely sounded so firm. The three boys scattered outside.
Duo turned to the other two, who were looking quite pale themselves. Duo crossed his arms.
"I wonder what that was about," Duo said. Before he could question his cousins, Aunt Narcissa and Cousin Katherine strode out of Ollivander's.
"Let's go children," clipped Aunt Narcissa.
"But Auntie--" said Duo.
"Let us go," said Aunt Narcissa coldly, and Duo knew that there was nothing else he could say. Sighing, he followed behind his Aunt and Cousin, wondering what had gone wrong.
In his hand, his wand continued to pulse.
AN: Guys, see that button right beneath these notes? Click it and please review. It helps me stay inspired, keeps me happy, and keeps you happy when I update. I want your opinions, suggestions, criticisms, good, bad, silly, not-so-silly.
To AnimaLynx: Duo and Harry hm? I actually have a few ideas for pairings, and that's the best one so far! As for the AU, it takes place in HP-universe, and the boys are basically in similar yet different situations. Still trying to keep it in-character, though!
To Moon Ecstasy: Well, he won't exactly be a bad guy as much as just slightly misguided. Or mostly misguided. Haha :D