© Sunrisepainter: Because of Snape

About Chinese Dragons & English Snakes

"May I help you, Miss?"

Hope shrieked and slowly turned around. A man had appeared out of nowhere next to her. He seemed to be quite old. Deep wrinkles graced his slender face. He had grey locks and a beard going down to his chest. His green eyes were framed by big, round glasses. No doubt, this had to be Mr Colin himself.

"Um...well...I was...looking for a Christmas presents for my friends." Hope stuttered.

Mr Colin tilted his head to the side and gave her a suspicious gaze:

"You do? In here? You seem to be quite young. People like you usually buy their presents in modern shopping centres."

"Well, it had to be something special which I could not find in any shopping centre." She said quickly and she was very serious about this. The face of the old man lit up:

"You're right. So, what did you have in mind? What kind of "characters" are your friends?"
For a moment, Hope thought about describing Fred and George appropriately.

"Well...first, they are twins, you know. Second, they're around my age. They're a little different than others and like to joke around. Yes, they always play stupid tricks on people and drive their mother, their classmates and teachers crazy. However, I my opinion they would never hurt anyone as they are nice people deep inside of them. They make people laugh and have their hearts at the right place. They're caring in their own way."

"Your friends seem to be quite a pair of jesters." Mr Colin looked quite entertained. Hope laughed:

"They surely are. They are the only ones who can make me and my classmates laugh!"

Even now, when everything is falling apart with Umbridge gaining more and more power in Hogwarts and not to forget You-know-who returning, Hope added in her thoughts.

"Well, let me think about it...of course, I don't own a shop for joke articles but there must be something that could be useful to your friends..."

"Oh, it musn't be anything connected to joke articles." She said quickly.

"Now then...here I have an old phonograph. Maybe, the gentlemen will take a liking to it..." Mr Colin suggested and showed her the rusty item. Hope shook her head.

"What about this model railway? Boys of every age like these kind of things."

"I'm afraid they won't." The blond answered. Gradually, she asked herself if she really sought the right shop.

"Your request isn't as easy as it seemed." The man musingly scratched his head then there was this mysterious gleam in his eyes.

"One moment, please...I think...yeah, although it's quite...unique but...yes, yes..." He excitedly hurried away. Probably, he disappeared in one of the back rooms. Hope waited patiently for him to come back. What was going on?

After a while, Mr Colin came back carrying two parcels and carefully placed them on the counter.

"Please, step closer and take a look, Miss. I think you'll like it."

Curiously, Hope watched him opening each parcel first before unwrapping a lot of newsprint. His hands trembled with agitation as he carefully retrieved an item from the first box. It appeared to be a snow globe.

The glass globe was framed by a golden mounting which held her like a claw. In the globe was a dragon made from stone and golden elements. It had dark wings, sharp horns and eyes made from ruby.

"Wow." Hope whispered. Mr Colin beamed with joy:

"There's more, you know!"

He got something form the other box. It was golden casket which was tooled with a lot of fine lines and red small stones.

"Have a closer look!" The man said. Then, he turned the casket upside down and turned a knob. The lid of casket opened and the same dragon as in the snow globe surfaced. The only difference was that it started to slowly spin around while softly some sad music was playing.

"A music box." Hope was delighted.

"Exactly, and did yo notice anything, Miss?"

"It's the same dragon!"
"Both, the music box and the snow globe, were originally made in China a long time ago. They were build by a man named Wu Xìng Lóng. As you must know, dragons are worshipped in China. Dragons symbolize fortune, happiness and a long life. The two exemplars we have here were supposed to be a present for the two sons of the Emperor at that time to bless them with a happy fortune. Dōng Fēng, the oldest one, received the music box and Xī Fēng, the younger one, the snow globe. Like this, their father wanted the brothers to be connected forever. And it did. Both of them lived a comfortably life, respecting and caring for each other. When Dōng Fēng was about to die, he trusted his brother with his beloved music box. Xī Fēng promised to take good care of it. However, the younger brother also was quite old and unfortunately a lot more gullible than his dead brother. So, some of the palace guards was able to trick him into hand over both treasured items. The "thief" sold them for a lot of money and soon after this, Xī Fēng and Dōng Fēng died on the same day.

Last year, I somehow was able to pursue this treasure from a woman whose great- great- grandfather was the one who bought the items from the palace guard back then. She was also the one telling me this old legend."

"And you believed her, Mr Colin?" Hope asked, not half as convinced as him.

"Of course, I do!" The man chuckled and adjusted his round glasses.

"I believe in things like dragons and other bringers of good luck even though there are people telling me they don't exist. However, what is science anyway compared to imagination? Science destroys peoples beliefs and dreams. What is left when people don't have dreams? Don't you think so too, Miss?"

"Oh, of course, I guess. However, I only can believe in things I see with my own eyes." Hope answered.

"Yes, yes, you're not the only one thinking like that. Unfortunately. " Mr Colin sighed. Hope thought about his strange remark for a while before she dared to ask another question:
"How much do you want for the twin dragons?" The shop keeper smiled:

"Let me think about it...how about one hundred twenty, aright?"

"Phew, that's very expensive! I don't think I have enough..." Hope sighed disappointedly.

"Well, let's say ninety. That's a fair price, don't you think? After all, they are antique."

"Okay, ninety." Hope agreed and put the money on the counter.

To tell the truth, it was quite expensive as a Christmas present and considering the fact she did not believe the story at all, but she liked the music box and the snow globe. Before she left the shop, Mr Colin said:

"Please send the two gentlemen my regards and tell them that they should be blessed to have such a thoughtful friend like you."

He winked. Hope blushed and swiftly left the shop.

"No, I will never wear this stupid dress!"

"Of course, you will"

Father and daughter faced each other angrily. Humphry shoved a black dress into Hope arms. She just crossed her arms in front of her and furiously shook her head. Her father could imprison her in this mansion but she would make sure that he would not force her into anything else she did not want.

"You get dressed right at that instance or I will make you myself!" He hissed and his cold voice made Hope cringe.

"Aright, but only if you leave now!" She hissed back and angrily gripped the dress.

"There we go." Mr Shycates smirked pleasingly and left her room. Hope huffed. Her father was getting more and more disagreeable.

"What an ugly piece of clothing!" She whispered after unfolding the dress on her bed. It was made from black taffeta. The upper part was embroidered with beads and had two thin straps. Well, it looked like some ancient evening gown.

After getting dressed, Hope stepped down the broad stairs. She felt very uncomfortable. The dress pinched here and there and she had to be careful not to fall over its long hem.

"Don't forget your smile!" Humphry urged her while he adjusted his red tie. McShadew looked as stunning ad ever in her tight and strapless dress. She gracefully linked arms with her boyfriend and smiled feignedly.

"You too, Hope!" Her father gave her an angry stare. "At least, pretend to be happy!" Hope rolled her eyes and smiled a lot more artificial as McShadew could ever do.

"And get your acts together tonight. These guests aren't ordinary at all but rather-" His speech was interrupted by the ringing of the door bell.

"Well, we're going to welcome them together. Be polite and don't mess up, you understand?" Humphry seemed to be more nervous than before. McShadew and Hope nodded their heads in unison. Mr Shycates opened the door with a big fake smile plastered on his face.

Hopes lower jaw dropped. That was not possible but why...?

"I wish you a good evening, Humphry." The man smirked and shook hands with Mr Shycates.

"Good evening, Lucius." Humphry bowed his head a little. "We're very pleased to welcome you to our humble mansion. May I acquaint you with my lovely partner Aglaja McShadew?"

Lucius Malfoy smirked suavely at McShadew:
"My fair lady!" He lowered his head and chivalrously placed a kiss on her hand.

"Allow me to remark you look very beautiful tonight!"

"I see. The same old charmer as always, Lucius." McShadew laughed and pretended to feel quite flattered. Hope felt like throwing up.

"And who might this young lady be?" Mr Malfoy concentrated his attention in Hope.

"This is my daughter Hope. She's our guest during the Christmas holidays. Else, she is a student at the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry." Humphry put his arm around his daughter while Hope tried to withstand the urge to roughly sake it off.

Lucius Malfoy scrutinized her with his grey, cold eyes. Then, he reached for her chin to turn it to the right and to the left. First, she was startled but then she glared up to him with angry eyes. Lucius smirked again:

"Pretty but quite...wilful! It seems like you'll become good friends with my son. Draco, please greet our nice hosts properly."

Hope closed her eyes. This could not be happening right now! This had to be a nightmare! Not only that Malfoy senior was the mysterious important guest but now he had even brought his evil offspring. Her last encounter with Draco had been not very peaceful. No, it had been an utmost disaster! Now, that he stood in front of her her with a nasty grin plastered on his face, she was sure that he had not forgotten either. He would pay her back.

End of Chapter Twenty-One.

At this point of this story I want to thank every single one who has posted a review:

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