A/N: Characters and world property of JK Rowling. No copyright infringement intended.
Of Blacks and Boarhounds
As Lulabelle was being measured, in all sorts of odd dimensions, Ollivander was pulling boxes from the shelves along the wall, occasionally asking her questions and making random statements that seemed to be directed more to himself than as a response to her replies. "You're from America? Maybe red oak, or American Elm, then…" "We'll try ebony, of course, but I just don't think…" "Oklahoma, was it? It is possible that redbud might be a match…"
In the end, after countless wands from countless boxes, they found her match. "Aspen, nice and supple, 9½ inches, phoenix feather core. Give it a wave." When Lulabelle did so, the sparks that came out of the end of the wand were purple.
Chapter Eight
June 28, 1992
Severus was stood next to a bench in Diagon Alley, directly across from Ollivander's wand shop and just a few doors down from Twilfitt and Tattings. The tall man, dressed in black robes lined with buttons that he had assured Lulabelle were actually his casual robes, was eyeing the collar and leash on the beast beside him. "I do not know why she insists on dressing you in purple. Cŵn Annwn should wear black. Or perhaps a nice green…" he trailed off speculatively, considering whether or not he could convince Lulabelle to go in the Magical Menagerie for a new set, and the dog gave him a reproachful glare.
"Talking to animals now, I see," Severus heard from behind him. He turned to see Lucius Malfoy approaching, Narcissa on his arm.
"He is a much better conversationalist than the company I usually keep," Severus replied dryly, taking Narcissa's hand to place a kiss on her knuckles. "It is good to see you, Cissy. I'm sorry I cannot say the same about your husband," he added with a smirk.
Lucius scoffed. "Glad to be done with teaching for the summer, Severus?"
"Gods, yes. I don't know why I keep doing it," he said. "Two months without being surrounded by dunderheads. It has already proven to be a most welcome escape," Severus stated, idly scratching behind Sinaka's ears.
Narcissa reached out her hand for the dog to sniff before petting his head. "Wherever did you find a Cŵn Annwn, Severus?" she asked.
"And why in Merlin's name are you keeping it on a lead?" sneered her husband, taking a small step back when Sinaka growled lowly at him.
"He is not mine. He is bonded to my… friend," Severus stumbled over what to call Lulabelle. "She is the one who insists the beast be leashed."
"But why?" Lucius pressed incredulously.
"She…?" Narcissa asked curiously before he had a chance to answer.
Silently thanking Lulabelle for deciding they needed a cover story but wishing they had thought it out a bit more, Severus said uncomfortably, "Lulabelle believed him to be a boarhound, and has always treated him as such. Thus the collar and lead."
Both Malfoys stared at him. Lucius spoke first. "Your friend is a muggle?" he sneered. Sinaka looked at him with reddening eyes at the tone. "And now you're the dog-walker?"
"Please, do keep disparaging the Cŵn Annwn's bonded, Lucius. I would greatly like to see the beast transform," Severus said, disdain dripping from his voice. "And as she is currently in Ollivander's purchasing a wand, Lulabelle is most definitely not a muggle."
Narcissa, still curious, still petting Sinaka (who was preening under her attentions even as he glared at Lucius), asked the man, "But she didn't know he was a Cŵn Annwn? How is that possible?"
Severus knew the pair would not be letting this go. Still, he told himself, they were his friends. He sighed, then said, "She didn't know she was a witch until recently. She grew up as a muggle in America. We think that when she nearly died in a car accident, her fear broke whatever block was on her magic, and in a giant burst of accidental magic, apparated both herself and her beast to England."
Lucius blinked in shock, the only outward display he would allow himself to show in public. Narcissa's hand went to cover her mouth as she gasped.
"A block on her magic? Are you certain?" Lucius asked, voice low. "That is a very serious accusation, Severus.
"In twenty-two years, her first sign of magic was to spontaneously apparate across the Atlantic. I am quite sure," he scoffed.
Narcissa was aghast. "That poor girl. Whom do you think placed the binding?"
"She tells me she was found abandoned in a park at six months of age. My guess is that she was kidnapped from a magical family, bound, and then either abandoned or something went wrong. She is staying with me for the time being, but I confess I do not know how to go about finding out who has done this to her," Severus admitted.
Narcissa turned towards her husband. "Lucius, we have to help them."
The man in question said seriously to Severus, "Whatever you need, old friend. Let me know. If I can provide it, it is yours. This is not a thing that should have ever happened."
"Thank you Lucius, Narcissa. I will let her…" he broke off when he heard the woman in question call his name, and turned to look for her.
"Lou!" Lulabelle cried, rushing across the street, eyes only for him. "Lou! I really did get a wand!" Reaching him, she leapt into his arms, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him square on the mouth. "Lou, I got a wand!" she said excitedly.
Severus had instinctively grasped her around her waist as she flew at him. Letting her gently slide down until her feet were back on the ground, he grinned at her, trying desperately not to blush. "So I heard. From across the street, no less. Well? Let's see it, then," he told her.
As she was showing her wand to him, bouncing excitedly as she explained its attributes, Lucius interrupted her. "I'm sorry, did you just call Severus 'Lou'?
Turning to face the man, Lulabelle answered him with a smile, "Oh, it's just a lil' private nickname I have for him."
Severus chuckled as she held her hand out to the man, but before he could introduce the two, Lucius spoke once more.
"I must hear the story behind this nickname!" he said, taking her hand and bending to brush a kiss over her knuckles.
Pulling her hand away from him, Lulabelle raised one brow. "Now sugar, I believe I said it was a private nickname? Surely your mama taught you better than that," she drawled.
Lucius' jaw actually dropped. Severus burst out laughing, his rich baritone filling the alley. Narcissa hid her smile behind her hand, her delicate tinkling laughter ringing out despite the covering. Lulabelle stepped back to Severus' side as he chortled at the spluttering man's expense. She glanced at Narcissa expectantly, then looked pointedly at Severus. When he continued to laugh, she elbowed him in the side. Seeing no end to his merriment, she rolled her eyes and stepped towards Narcissa.
"I guess I'm just gonna hafta introduce myself, seein' as how neither one of our companions can call himself a gentleman today," she told the beautiful blonde. "How-do, my name is Tallulah Isabelle Blackburn, but I go by Lulabelle. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance. And you are?"
"Narcissa Malfoy, and please, call me Cissy. I can already tell that we are going to be the best of friends," Narcissa replied, clasping hands with Lulabelle while her eyes sparkled with glee. "This boorish man is my husband, Lucius. I do promise that he is usually much more couth than he appears to be. And what is the name of this beautiful animal? Severus mentioned he was bonded to you?"
Lulabelle ran her hand lovingly down the dog's head and neck. "Well I'm not entirely sure what all bein' bound together means just yet, but this is my Sinaka. I rescued him 'bout five years or so ago, and he's been with me ever since," she answered the woman.
"Sinaka? What an interesting name," Narcissa mused.
"I live near the Seneca Cayuga Nation back home," she replied smoothly. Narcissa elegantly quirked her brow in question.
"I thought you were from America?"
Lulabelle laughed. "I am, Oklahoma to be exact. Oklahoma's home to many Native American tribes, some of which in turn have their own nations: governments, laws, land, everything. That's a rather simple explanation, as there's a lot of history there. A lot of it isn't very pleasant, I'm afraid. But yes, while I live in Oklahoma, I'm also close to the Seneca Cayuga Nation."
"How interesting. I'd love to hear more about it, and especially about how you 'rescued' Sinaka. I insist that you all join us for tea at the manor as soon as you finish your shopping," Narcissa proclaimed.
"I don't know if that's a good idea or not," Lulabelle said with hesitation. "Sin might not be a real Great Dane, but he's still a sighthound. Do y'all have somewhere to pen up your peacocks? I'd hate for him to get at one," she fretted.
The other three people turned to stare at her. Severus cleared his throat and offered, "I failed to mention that Lulabelle is a Seer."
"How marvelous," Cissy exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "We'll simply have to create a… 'pen', was it? Yes, a pen for Lucius' birds. I'll owl you later this week to set up a date for tea. Although if my husband cannot keep a civil tongue in his head, I may just have you over without one," she smirked. "Now, I'm nearly late for my fitting at Twilfitt and Tattings, so we'll have to dash off. Please, do call on me anytime you wish, Lulabelle. Severus knows how to get in touch," she finished with a hug for the smaller woman.
Lulabelle replied as she leaned into the hug, "I will, Cissy, thank ya so much. It was wonderful meetin' y'all."
Sinaka chose that moment to step between Lucius and Lulabelle, blocking the man's approach to the girl. "Yes, well, a pleasure I'm sure," he said rather stiffly as the large dog stared him in the eye.
She smirked at the man. "He's sure got your number, sugar. Don't worry too much 'bout it. Sin won't let ya do anything that'll make him mad. He's real good about keepin' people in line."
Narcissa's laugh tinkled out once more. "Lucius, I adore them! Come now, or we'll be late," she informed her husband.
Final goodbyes exchanged, the two couples parted ways. Once the Malfoys were inside the clothing shop, Lulabelle blew out a heavy breath.
"Shit, Lou, I just 'bout messed everything up already! I don't know if I can do this," she told him, silver eyes filled with concern.
"Lulabelle. You did just fine. They had already pledged their support to finding out who blocked your magic before you even returned from Ollivander's. Then you managed to not only charm Narcissa, but you thoroughly put Lucius in his place. Something which any number of people would have paid many galleons to see, I might add. Meeting the Malfoys went exceedingly well, madam."
Lulabelle wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. "Thanks for sayin' that, Lou. It means a lot."
Severus placed his long arms around the tiny witch and squeezed. "Think nothing of it, my lady," he said quietly. Releasing her, he asked, "Shall we continue our tour? There is a shop at the other end of the alley that I think you would enjoy…"
"Yeah, it's real nice, Lou, but he just doesn't need a new collar. I 'preciate ya offerin' to get him one, though," Lulabelle said, rather exasperatedly.
Severus grumbled a bit as he moved to return the Norwegian Ridgeback dragonhide collar to the rack it had been hanging from. Seeing that his companion was now occupied with several children who were fawning over the beast, instead of actually replacing the black scaled collar Severus grabbed a shiny Welsh Green version from the rack. He took one step towards a saleswoman, then turned back and grasped the metallic silver collar obviously made from Ukrainian Ironbelly dragonhide as well. Peering around the shop for Lulabelle's location, he surreptitiously handed them to the saleswoman who assured him she would ring them up with both woman and dog none the wiser.
Lulabelle did consent to the purchase of a box of magical dog treats, and Sinaka picked out new bone (which Severus suspected may have also been from a dragon). After making their purchases, they headed to Flourish and Blotts for the book suggested by the saleswoman on the beasts and their care. Sinaka was now off his lead, Lulabelle having been finally convinced that a bonded Cŵn Annwn did not need to be restrained.
"I still think he oughta have his leash when we're in the muggle world, Lou. I mean, some towns have leash laws back home. I don't know if they do or not here," she reasoned. Both man and beast rolled their eyes at her.
They stopped at a cafe for lunch and sat at an outside table so Sinaka could join them. Keeping the topics light in case they were overheard, they made plans for the rest of their day, deciding to stop in London for a travel plug adapter before heading home since Severus was unsure if one could be found in Cokeworth. The trio left Diagon Alley just after twelve, and were home and putting away groceries by two o'clock that afternoon. Lulabelle pulled out the bag from the Magical Menagerie, intending to put the new dog treats with Sinaka's other things, but when she reached in the bag, instead of a box she found something that felt more like a leather strap. Shocked, she pulled out first one, then two, and finally three brand new, rather expensive dragonhide collars in different colors and patterns.
"I told ya he didn't need a new collar, and ya bought him three? Lou!"