Chapter 3: The Excursion
Someone was knocking rather loudly on Draco's bedroom door. "Come on Draco, we have to go," Narcissa called through the door. "We have to get your schoolthings from Diagon Alley!"
Draco rolled over sleepily, and the book fell off of his face and onto the floor. "Can't it wait?" He said groggily.
"No! The train to Hogwarts leaves tomorrow!"
Suddenly, Draco was sitting perfectly upright on his bed. He had just remembered that he had to buy the necklace from Borgin and Burkes! He hurried to get ready.
"Coming, Mother!" Draco called as he pulled his trousers on. He hurriedly shoved the rest of his clothes on and stuffed his wand into his pocket, then practically ran downstairs.
Narcissa gave Draco a quizzical look as he burst into the kitchen. "Are you alright?" She asked him.
"Splendid!" Draco said enthusiastically. He stuffed a scone into his mouth and chugged a glass of orange juice. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Are we leaving now?"
Narcissa laughed. "Calm down! We'll leave in a minute."
Draco smiled at his mother. It had been so long since he had heard her laugh.
Soon enough, Narcissa had finished her breakfast. She and Draco Flooed to Borgin and Burkes and reached there just as Borgin was opening his shop.
"Ah, Mrs. Malfoy and Master Malfoy. How are you?" Borgin said with a bow.
"Fine," Narcissa replied stiffly- she didn't like Borgin and Burkes very much.
"Will you be buying anything today?" Borgin asked hopefully.
"No," said Narcissa, but Draco cut in hurriedly.
"Maybe later," he said quickly, drawing an odd look from his mother. "Come, Mother, let's go to Madam Malkin's. I need new robes." Draco and Narcissa left the shop in a hurry.
At Madam Malkin's, Draco was unfortunate enough to come upon Potter and his gang. Potter really annoyed Draco, especially when he popped up everywhere. Why did he have to be such an attention-seeker?
After leaving Madam Malkin's, Draco looked desperately at his watch. It was already noon, and his mother had said she wanted to leave at one o'clock. He needed to get to Borgin and Burke's fast- but without his mother.
In a split second of desperation, Draco suggested that his mother go shopping for some new clothes. "You've been wearing black all summer," he had told her while pushing her toward a shop. "Go buy something that's not black."
"Well, where are you going to be?" Narcissa asked hesitantly.
"I'll go buy my Potions ingredients. I'll meet you at the Leaky Cauldron at one!" Draco said, taking off toward Borgin and Burkes before his mother could stop him.
Draco opened the door to Borgin and Burkes slowly, checking to see if there were any other customers in the shop. Seeing there weren't, Draco entered the shop, setting off a small bell. Immediately, Borgin appeared behind the counter.
"Ah, Master Malfoy, you've come back. How may I help you?" Borgin said with a bow once again.
"Do you have the cursed necklace?" Draco demanded. He knew he had to be rough with Borgin to get anything from him.
"Er," Borgin stammered. "Which one?"
Draco rolled his eyes. As if Borgin had so many cursed necklaces lying around! "The one that causes instant death," Draco said with a hint of annoyance. "It's in your display window?"
"Oh," Borgin said. He paused. "But, Master Malfoy, what do you need it for?"
"That," Draco growled, feeling irritated. "Is none of your business, Borgin."
"But, Master Malfoy, I'm not sure I should be going around selling cursed necklaces to underage wizards."
Draco was getting very ticked off. "Well, Borgin, I'm no ordinary underage wizard." Draco pulled up the left sleeve of his robe and showed Borgin the Dark Mark branded on it. Immediately, Borgin's attitude changed.
"Shall I wrap the necklace for you?" He said in a frightened tone. "And will you pay now?"
"I'll pay now, but I'll owl you to send me the necklace." Draco set a heavy bag of Galleons on the counter in front of Borgin, whose eyes lit up. "Oh, and I want you to keep that-" Draco pointed to the large cabinet, the Vanishing Cabinet, which was at the back of the store. "-safe for me."
"Why?" Asked Borgin curiously.
Annoyed, Draco explained about the passage between the Vanishing Cabinet in the store and the one at Hogwarts.
"...But, I need you to tell me how to fix the cabinet," said Draco in a menacing voice.
Borgin looked a bit skeptical. "Er, I'm not sure how to fix it, Master Malfoy. You see..."
Draco slammed his fist on the counter. "You had better help me fix it," he said angrily. "Or the Dark Lord might just have to make you."
Borgin paled. "Alright, I'll try to help you."
"Try?"
"I will help you!" Borgin said in a tone of mingled fear and exasperation, throwing his arms up.
"Good," said Draco. "I'll send another owl when I want you to send me the instructions."
Then Draco turned on his heel and rushed toward the Apothecary to buy Potions ingredients, bumping into Potter and his gang, who had obviously been eavesdropping, on the way.
After buying a large box full of smelly herbs and magical creatures' body parts, Draco headed to the Leaky Cauldron to meet his mother. When he got there, Narcissa was waiting for him anxiously.
"What took so long?" Narcissa asked. She was holding a bag of clothes that looked like it was from one of the most posh stores in Diagon Alley. Draco mentally rolled his eyes. That was so typical of Mother. Even when she was being shunned from society, she still had to be the most stylish.
"Long line," Draco lied. "Anyway, let's go." Draco was desperate to get away from Diagon Alley where Potter could show up at any moment and start bombarding him with accusations and nosy questions.
Draco and Narcissa walked up to the fireplace inside of the Leaky Cauldron, payed Tom the bartender a Sickle each for Floo Powder, then flooed back to the Manor in a whirl of emerald green flames.
