Chapter 4 – Shopping Part 2
The next day started out much the same until after breakfast. They all went back up to the room. Gaby had some more shopping to do, but this was going to be done without the young ones. Gaby had owled Griphook the night before to ask him if he could watch the twins and Sky for a few hours, and he had replied yes. As they went to get dressed for the day she told Bella and Matt to wear darker clothing and put a hooded cloak into their satchels. While they were getting ready she looked up disguise charms. Eventually she found the perfect on for what she needed. It was a charm to shadow the face so only their eyes were visible.
After dropping younger kids off with Griphook, she placed the charms on her two oldest kids and gave each of them a dagger to leave on their waist unless attacked. They also had their wands in arm holsters. Gaby on the other hand was much more armed. She had two daggers on her waist, one on her back, her wand in the holster on her arm, and her rapier hanging on her belt. She then covered herself with the cloak and cast the shadow charm on her face.
"Matt, Bella, I want you to understand, that where we are going today could be very dangerous. If I tell you to get away, you need to listen to me. I'm going to be acting very different than normal, but it is for our safety. I need you to not touch anything, and pay close attention to me. Also I need you both to act like you have a superiority complex. Do not talk unless spoken to, but walk like you believe you are too good for everybody else."
Griphook was pleased Gaby was taking precautions before heading into the dark alley, but worried all the same. Since the rise of the dark lord, nastier creatures had been seen in the alley. With a quick goodbye, the threesome headed out. People moved quickly out of their way as they saw the hooded group walk straight through the light alley into Knockturn.
Knockturn alley wasn't so bad on the main street. It was just for the lower class or specialized businesses. Again Gaby made a stop at an apothecary to pick up a few less legal ingredients. And an order form.
Macarthur's was close to the Apothecary. After entering the doors you saw armor, old time weaponry, and defensive dummies. It looked like you stepped into the middle ages. Slowly Gaby made her way up to the dragon hide suit with her kids trailing behind her. The outfit was made up of a vest, pants, wand holsters, boots, and battle robe.
The store owner noticed the cloaked person admiring his most expensive collections and went over to speak. "Is there anything I may help you with, sir," he asked.
Pulling down her hood she replied, "Yes, actually, but its Miss the last time I checked, Miss Slythe to you."
To say he was not surprised at seeing the female smirking at him, he would have been lying. But having been in Slytherin all those years ago had to count for something. And he wouldn't have been a good Slytherin without perfecting his mask. "I'm so very sorry, Miss Slythe. Bartholomew at your service. Your cloak hides your beauty too well. I see that you have taken a liking to my collections."
"Yes, this black one does seem to have a certain style to it. It looks like it was made of the finest materials, too. I am looking for a set like that and other battle wear. Also I would like to take a look at some of your finer weapons. I did not come for a social call. Show me what you think would be useful in a battle. After we finish this I do have a request."
"If you would have a seat, I will have everything brought to you," he said gesturing to the black leather sofas.
Gaby told her kids that they could take off their hoods now but before they went back outside, they would need to put them up. Bartholomew brought out another complete set of the dragon hide robes along with other battle robes lined with silk. He brought out gauntlets, leather gloves, and an ingenious weapons/ potions belt. Gaby loved the black dragon-hide outfit, but some of the more colorful battle robes also interested her. She picked out 2 others, a silver and an emerald green. She took a few pairs of the leather gloves in different shades. She liked the gauntlets, but didn't have much use for them. Probably her favorite part of the outfits was the belt.
"These belts will hold 25 instant refilling flasks that are connected to larger containers, poisonous throwing stars, which are my personal invention, daggers, and your sword."
"That seems to have its uses," Gaby remarked while inwardly acknowledging the master-piece this man had made. "You know what I desire from these, so let us head to your weapon choices. You have yet to prove the extent of that collection to me. Tristen, Madelyn look around, but Do NOT Touch."
They both gave her a look full of scorn, before turning away and smirking at one another. "After you my dearest sister," he said. Turning up her nose snobbily, "Why of course, Tristen. Do try to act befit of your status this time. It would not do for you to act like the plebeians over a meager sword."
"Why no, sister mine, I seem to remember you fawning over gems, when we have plenty more back at home," he said sneering at her. Both were really getting into the whole pureblood snob act.
"Hush, this childish banter. You would both do well to remember your place. Your mother has business to finish. You both should be grateful that I am still allowing you each a present of your choice from this place after your incessant whining and mockery." The message she was trying to get across was heard. I need to finish up, and you need to shut up. The more you lie, the more you have to remember.
Bartholomew showed her different knives and swords, but she only found two that she really liked. One had and platinum blade with the handle made of unicorn tail strings melted with sapphires. The other also had a platinum blade but the handle was inlaid with rubies.
Subtly remarking to the store owner, "A wizard can never have too many weapons, but the most useful are always restricted. 'Tis a terrible thing, don't you agree."
Quickly he pulled the three of them into the back room, holding Gaby at wand point. "Do you work for the Ministry?"
"No."
"Who told you about my wand crafting business?"
"Someone who would understand what it is like not to make the most useful weapons. He passed on a certain rumor which led me here."
His demeanor relaxed, "In that case, I shall get you suited up with a custom wand. Should I be right in saying that you would like one for those two also?"
"Yes, you may be so bold in doing that, but I have a question for you. Where do you stand on the coming war?"
"Miss Slythe, you are asking something personal. How am I to know that whatever I tell you will not get passed on to offending ears? You come in looking like the Dark Lady incarnate with the aristocratic snob attitude, and then you ask about the war and drop your attitude. A piece of advice, it isn't smart to change your colors quite that fast."
"I know, but a wand crafter on whatever side is definitely a plus. Wouldn't you say that?"
"If I told you that I am responsible for most of the wands in the Death Eaters hands, what would you say?" Both of them were speaking in code, trying to figure the other out.
"I'd commend you on your wand making skills, and your collection of cores, woods, and gems."
As if he had finally figured out the puzzle, "You seem too good at subtlety to be a Gryffindor, to outspoken to be a Hufflepuff, to Daring to be a Ravenclaw, and to open and lax to be a Slytherin. I would bet you could beat a Slytherin in a game of words any day if you did not have a motive to let him understand what you are trying to say, though. So who are you really?"
"If I were to tell you, I would need an oath from you on your secrecy and that you would not craft wands for anyone with the Dark Mark
"I need a hint as to why I would be willing to enter into that deal."
"Did you know that the 'Boy-Who-Lived' has more of a claim to the Line of Slytherin than the Dark Lord?"
"We have a deal. Seal it with an oath."
"I, Bartholomew MacArthur, on my life and magic declare that hence forth I will not sell or craft a wand for any bearing the Dark Mark, and to not repeat what I learn from the Lady before me without her permission. This I swear."
"I, Lady Gabrielle Blyss Odessa Malfoy-Evans, Lady of the Slytherin legacy, declare on my life and magic that what I have to say is truthful and factual. I will keep Bartholomew's secrets and his confidence. This I swear on the honor of my most cunning line."
After a few minutes of getting over his shock he said, "Of all the things I was expecting, I wasn't expecting that. While I think over this new info, I want you three to go over to the 5 tables set up. You will eventually have one from each, but try all of the samples. You will know when you have the right one; it will just feel right."
"Matt, Bella, you heard the guy. You may now touch the things, but whatever you do don't break anything."
Gaby went to the first table which contained the different woods for the wands. There was peach wood, willow, mahogany, red wood, and maple. There were many others, too. It was a gray wood that felt the best to her.
Going to the next table, Gaby noted that this table held the solid cores. It seemed it was common in the wand crafter shops to have both a solid and liquid core in one wand. None of the things were recognizable to her. The best one in that section was fang form some unknown creature.
The next table held vials of liquid cores. Form just looking she saw there was blood, venom, but most of the substances she could not identify. It was a bottle of green liquid that she chose from that section.
The second to last table held gems that were used as focusing stones. They amplified power. She ended up picking a blood diamond.
The last table held slabs of wood, metal, and stones. She assumed this was for the handles. To no surprise the platinum felt right to her.
Once the three of them came back with all five samples, MacArthur, like Olivander, began taking all their measurements. For Gaby he declared 10 3/8 inches, for Matt 11 1/8, and for Bella it was 8 5/8. He told them all to leave their samples in piles, and to return when he owled, to pick them up.
The three put fixed their hoods, and left with only two stops left for the day. Their first stop was in a musty bookstore. She had again warned Matt and Bella against touching anything.
Carefully, she made her way around the store; she grabbed books on more obscure topics: lethal curses, dueling, alchemy, potions, rituals, blood magic, animagus, and wandless magic. A real find was the auror handbook. In the back of the store she found a few books that had squiggly writing that seemed a little different, but nothing truly noticeable. Also the mind arts, Occulumency and Legilemency, interested her. There were quite a few books that she noticed weren't legal by a marking on the top, but that it surprised her because the magic just seemed to be more powerful instead a truly terrible.
The last stop in the Dark Alley was at a second hand shop, where she was hoping that she would be able to find some interesting things. She found hidden beneath a stack of papers a pensieve and a diary. Her most treasured find though was an invisibility cloak. After paying, they quickly headed back to Gringotts.
Thankfully their trip had no misadventures, and the younger kids had been good for Griphook. Griphook told her that all of the errands from yesterday had been accomplished as he handed her the 5 platinum rings and the 2 new money bags. But before she could leave he took her aside.
"Gaby, there is no way I can thank you for what you have done for me. I want to show you my gratitude, but nothing I think of comes close to expressing it. The only thing I came up with was to offer you an oath of my loyalty. That way you would know that someone would always be watching your back, and I could never work to hurt you under pain of my own death."
"Griphook, you don't need to do that for me."
"Gaby, that is why I want to do it. You have asked almost nothing of me in return. This is something I want to do for you. Truthfully goblins haven't invoked the ancient oaths since the 1700's. But I think you are the perfect person to have it reinstated with."
"I, Griphook of the Glunmahd clan, do hence swear on my life to Gabrielle Blyss Odessa Malfoy-Evans, Lady Slytherin, loyalty. I swear protection of her younglings and estate. I will be honest and truthful to her. This I do swear."
With tears in her eyes Gaby simply stated, "Thank-you," kissed him on the cheek, and left the bank.
Tonks had come over later that night with the offer for her to become the new Defense against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. After hearing that she could take all of her kids, she immediately loved the idea. It was the perfect solution for her, but it also meant she had a lot of work to do. Only the idea of working for the headmaster bothered her.
Over the next few days, the kids mostly stayed in the room. Matt was finishing up his homework; Bella was reading and playing with her cat. The twins were also playing with their pets and thinking up more ways to cause trouble. Sky was acting like any other two year old, as she played with her new magical toys.
While all the kids were relaxing, Gaby was running around, trying to settle everything in the muggle world. She ended up selling the contracting business she had started for a million pounds. She had the most trouble pulling all the kids out of school. She said that they were all moving to Australia. She had to settle her accounts at the muggle banks. And pack up her house.
Packing up the house was the hardest. She took all the personal items like pictures and awards. She started packing room by room. For the most part she left the furniture. By the time she had finished, the house was in great condition and looked like it could be in a Décor Magazine, but it lacked its previous homey atmosphere. Hopefully where they all were headed would take on that homey air. While she was not packing though, she was studying. She started with history and etiquette, because those were two things she knew would be necessary straight away. It wouldn't do for her to appear ignorant.