The text document wouldn't let me write any more in it. This is just chapter 13, continued.
Someone bumped into Lacci with their hip, sending her to the ground. Or rather, the floor. She had landed in a shop full of bats and rats and snakes and cats and toads and frogs and salamanders and many other animals. Lacci shot a dirty glance at the place in the crowd where the person bumped into her, and stood up. She felt in her pocket to see if Grubble was ok. It felt like it. Lacci started to explore the shop.
The room smelled highly of animals, reptiles, mammals, insects, birds.... Lacci walked past a puffskein, which bounced and cooed at her. This must be the zoo, Lacci thought. Lacci had never been to the zoo, but the books said it had animals in cages, and this fit that description.
An old hag of a witch appeared behind Lacci. "Can I help you with something, my sweet?"
Lacci turned and grinned at the woman. "Yes, please. Are there any dragons here?"
The woman laughed. "No, I'm afraid we don't sell dragons. you should know that." She paused, looking Lacci over. "You look like a cat person, my dear. Why don't you follow me, I think I've got just the familiar for you." Lacci started to protest, about to show the woman Grubble, but was afraid the woman would take Grubble away, saying you needed a liscense or something. Lacci allowed herself to be led to the other side of the shop.
The old witch stopped in front of a large cage, containing the strangest cat Lacci had ever seen. He was tall and elegant, with long persian-like fur. His fur was silver at the roots, but black at the tips. He was beautiful. He had ears like an owl, and large, patient yellow eyes. He was standing straight up as Lacci approached, but layed down and started to lick himself when the witch stopped by him. In the position he was in now, Lacci could see most of his body. He was giant, much larger than the normal cat. About he size of a large fox, actually. His tail was long and fluffy, and yet remained as silky as the rest of him. He was very sleek; what you would imagine a night breeze would look like if it were a cat. Lacci stared in awe and fascination.
The old witch seemed pleased. "We've had him for a while-- everyone wants him, but he doesn't seem to get along with anyone else. We had to de-claw him after his last owner's child was nearly blinded by him. Naturally I wouldn't tell a customer this sort of thing, but by the look in your eyes, you've seen worse. I suggest you take a few minutes with him, so he can get to know you. Come up to the front, by the desk, and tell me if you want him." She winked at Lacci, and hobbled off to the front.
Lacci looked back up at the marvelous creature. She had to stand on tippy toes to see him well. The cat, taking more interest in her now that the old witch was gone, leaned forward and pressed his nose up against the mesh wiring. Lacci pressed her nose up against his, and stared into his large eyes. He appeared to be reading her mind. Lacci, not one to deny anyone the right to a look in her mind, let him, staring back up into his eyes.
"God," Lacci muttered. "Your name is God, isn't it? That's what you named yourself. That's what I'll call you. God.." God seemed to nod, although his head barely moved. Lacci had no religion of any sort, and didn't know anything about the word God. But she knew it fitted him very, very well.
"I'll take him," Lacci said, standing at the counter minutes later. The old witch smiled. "I'm sure he'll be a perfect familiar for you. He costs 6 galleons." Lacci reached into her pocket. The Wealseys had given her several sickles and knuts to buy her supplies. Lacci pulled out 5 galleons, which she had pinched from Fred and George's pockets while Arthur was talking to them. She put them out on the counter.
"I said six, dear," said the witch patiently. Lacci thought. An idea struck her. she cupped her hands around Grubble and pulled her out of her pocket, and started whispering to her. The witch leaned over the counter, interested in whatever it was Lacci was holding.
After a few moments, Lacci looked up and said, "Can I make a trade? I've already got a familiar... Grubble..." Lacci showed her gnome to the woman, who laughed. "You cant pay with a common garden gnome, child! What would I do with a gnome?"
"This is a tame gnome! She's very nice. She wants a new home, one full of children who will play with her. She doesn't bite people and she's very friendly." Grubble, on cue, jumped off Lacci's hand, and stuck hers out to the old woman. "Itty wordle foop-un spitnik wee herklee waugh," she said, sounding confident and official. The old woman laughed again, more heartily.
"There might be something in that... garden gnomes aren't illegal pets, and one like this might actually be worth something... can it learn to speak english?"
Lacci looked down at Grubble. "Icky icky nooo whop bang bang all beeker-nish?" The gnome, to both Lacci's and the old witch's surprise, nodded. "Grubble noe litlell ningnish."
"Okay girlie, it's a deal. I'll keep the money and the gnome, you keep the cat." She gave an appraising look at the gnome, and headed for the side wall. She came back moments later with the giant cat trailing behind her. He was too large for someone of the woman's strength to lift. Lacci was right.. he even walked like a fox. The old woman pushed some paper's Lacci's way, and told her to sign them.
After Lacci signed all the papers, she said a sad goodbye to Grubble, who hugged her thumb tightly, and Lacci left the shop, God walking behind her.
***
"Lacci, what's that other book... you... needed...?" Ron stuck her head over the pile of books, looking around for Lacci. "Harry! Harry, I can't find Lacci," he said as quietly as possible, not wanting to upset the bookseller, and much less the books.
Harry stumbled out behind a shelf, a large pile of books in his hands. "What do you mean you can't find Lacci? Isn't she just out there?"
"No, she isn't. Otherwise I would be able to find her." Harry rushed over to Ron, being careful not to drop his books, and looked around.
"You're right.. I don't see her. Oh no.. I hope she isn't lost..." Ron gave Harry a sarcastic look. "No, she cant be lost, just because we cant find her and she's nowhere in this shop."
They hurriedly paid for their books, and ran out into the moving crowd to look for Lacci.
***
Fred and George exchanged glances. Fred pulled George aside. "Hey.. did I give you the money?"
"No, why would you trust me? I thought I gave it to you."
They looked at each other. Then they looked at the bats. Then their looked at each other again. George took charge of the problem. He strode confidently back to the desk, and seized his bat. "Hmm... the quality isn't as good as I thought, I don't know if this is good enough for me..."
Catching on, Fred picked up his. "It's too small, and too slow, I cant swing it fast enough.."
"Definitely not very good work.."
(hitting it against the metal counter and denting the counter) "The wood's too soft, looks like it might break..."
George clapped his hands together. "Alltogether a completely waste of our time,"
"I agree," Fred said. Purplux gave them a suspicious look. "We cant spend another minute in this shop, with such awful pieces of work." They dropped the bats on the counter and ran quickly out of the shop and halfway down the street until they slowed down. They exchanged glances.
***
Lacci sat outside the Apothecary, holding a bag of cotton candy that she seemed to have gotten out of nowhere. God was sitting next to her, pawing some cotton candy out of her bag and then eating it. With both of them sitting down, they were about the same height. Lacci's height was mostly in her legs. Lacci was humming some song she had heard off the radio and God was finishing off her candy. Lacci turned to God.
"Do you think I should go and look for Hayee? I mean.. I don't want him to worry about me, after all. He'd be awfully upset if he couldn't find me."
God looked at her, blinked, and ate the last of her cotton candy, still trying to chew it. Lacci giggled. "Alrighty then, I'll go. Come on." She stood up and picked up the cotton candy bag, folding it and stuffing it in her pocket. God followed her as she skipped along in the direction that might be to Flourish and Blotts. It was much easier to get through the crowds now-- most people stepped out of the way when Lacci pinched their bums or they saw a giant cat and a green-haired girl walking through the crowd.
In the bookshop, Lacci went to the back, where she had last seen Harry and Ron. There was another boy there, but he didn't look at all like them. Quite the contrary, he was blonde and had pale skin and grey eyes. His clothing looked new and fancy and his expression was that of someone who acted extremely important, even when just around a bunch of books. Lacci bounded up.
"Hey, have you seen Hayee or Ron?"
The boy, startled, turned and looked her over. She was wearing some of Ginny's old clothes, and looked very homely. The boy sneered. "I'm sure I don't you who you're talking about, girl, but.." He stopped. God had jumped onto the books shelf he had been looking at, and was now staring down at him like a vulture. He found himself again and said, "This your cat?"
Lacci smiled. "His name is God, I just got him. My name is Lacci De, what's yours?" She stuck out her hand to shake his.
"Lacci De?" The boy asked, and seized her hand. He reconized her name.. he'd read about her in the paper. "My name is Draco. Draco Malfoy."
Lacci took Draco's hand and put it under her knee, and then leaned on her leg. Draco, realizing what she had done, dropped her knee and pushed her away. She didn't seem fazed. "Draco? As in dragon? That's pretty. But if you haven't seen Hayee Pohher or Ron Weazley, then I cant talk to you right now."
Lacci reached up and, with little difficulty, pulled God down and held him comfortingly in her arms. He was thin and extremely light, despite his size. She flashed Draco a Grin, which quickly became a normal grin, and then skipped away. Draco opened his mouth to say something, and changed his mind. He went back to his bookbuying, as though nothing had happened.
***
Percy held three books that he wanted to add to his collection, while Ginny was getting her school things. As Percy didn't need to go to school, he didn't need and supplies. But there was nothing wrong in learning more, in his opinion.
Therefore, he should have no problem in learning why he was suddenly knocked over, and a large bunch of black fur was suddenly sitting on his face. And in fact, a moment later he did learn why. Lacci lifted God off his face and said, "Oh, I'm sorry I tripped an'... oh, hallo Percy."
"Hallo, Lacwhat on earth is that??" Percy stared at God, and God stared back. "Lacci, who's is that? Where did you find it? Put it down, it might hurt you.."
Lacci giggled girlishly. "Silly Percy. He's mine; I bought him. Percy, this is my familiar, God. God, this is the smartest person in the world, Percy." God nodded in recognition. Percy smiled to himself-- smartest person in the world. Lacci was always saying things like that about him. Percy got to his feet And looked down at Lacci. "Lacci, there's no way you could have afforded that. Mum and Dad agreed to buy you a familiar after all the other shopping was done. How did you pay for it?"
Despite Percy's trust in Lacci, he was afraid she had done what she often did-- stolen it. Lacci didn't seem to grasp the concept of paying for things, she just took them. As though they were her own, and the person she took them from was just holding on to it for a while.
Lacci was also extremely truthful. "I took the money out of Fred and George's pockets when they weren't looking. Then I bought the kitty and lost Hayee and Ron. Have you seen them?"
Percy was about to speak when Ginny came back, carrying all her books in a bag. She looked at Lacci. "Oh, hello, nice cat." Ginny seemed unusually undisturbed by the two foot cat in Lacci's arms. It must be the stress of school supply buying, Percy convinced himself.
"Well, we can worry about all that later. C'mon, I have to find the other two." Lacci dropped God, and he landed gracefully on the ground. "God, be my hunting cat. Can you find Hayee Pohher and Ron Weazley?" Percy looked skeptical, but God turned around and headed out of the shop. Lacci followed, Percy and Ginny behind her.
God didn't, as Lacci had hoped, lead them to Harry and Ron. Instead, he led them to an ice cream shop, where he began eating someone's leftover ice cream cone. Percy sighed and sat down. "Lacci, it wasn't nice of you to steal Fred and George's money-- they earned it."
Lacci nodded. "I know they earned it, they played a prank on me the other day and I was only getting them back."
Percy looked confused for a moment, and then the stupidity of the word usage hit him. "I mean they earned the money, Lacci. They didn't earn you stealing it."
"I didn't steal it," Lacci said defensively. "I only borrowed it for a bit."
Percy dropped it. It was no use arguing with Lacci, she always ended up being right, even when she was clearly wrong. And when she wasn't right, she made you feel so guilty that you decided that she's not wrong.
"We've still got two hours and 15 minutes until we've got to meet mom and dad at Madam Malkin's. Lacci's still got to get her wand, her robes, her cauldron, her potions..." Ginny set her books down on the table and sat down next to Lacci. "Lacci, which would you like to get first?"
***
They had checked most of the stores Lacci would have to go to, to get supplies. They hadn't found her anywhere.
"Maybe she went back to the book shop to look for us, Harry."
Harry shot Ron a look that said 'I've just run halfway across Diagon Alley, the sun is burning the back of my neck, I'm not going to go all the way back again.'
"Alright, have you got a better idea?"
"Yes, I do. Let's get some ice cream." Harry pulled out two sickles. "Come on."
Ron had to agree. Ice cream sounded really tempting right now. It was hot out, and with all these people bustling about, the heat from the bodies minus the cool breeze that couldn't fit between them, Ron and Harry both had a thick layer (a/n: think lair) of sweat on them. Ron could feel his shirt sticking to his back.
The sight they saw at the ice cream shop was enough to make them completely forget about ice cream. Lacci was sitting there, with a giant black cat, Ginny, and Percy. The cat was the first thing that caught Harry's attention. The second thing was Lacci bounding up and hugging him viciously.
"Hey there Lacci, we thought we'd never see you again! Where did you go? Why didn't you stay in the shop with us?"
Lacci avoided Harry's eyes, instead gazing at his feet. "'M sorry Hayee... the lady kicked me out of the shop... I had no where else to go..."
Harry smiled and patted her shoulder. "Oh well, nothing awful happened, did it? You're not lost or hurt, and I'm not mad. Let's all get some ice cream, I'm burning up."
Ron nodded. "That's great, I'm starving..." Ron hurried off to the table where Percy and Ginny were. After all the hello's, the other problem came up.
"Hey, so who's pet is this..?" Ron started.
"It's Lacci's," Percy answered. "She took some money from Fred and George and bought him with it. We're going to go over to the Magical Menagerie after we get her supplies and return him, and give Fred and George their money back, aren't we Lacci?" He looked at Lacci expectantly.
"But.. but.. we can't return him to the store!! I paid for him, an' he likes me, an' I don't want to give him up... God, you don't want to go back there, do you? Tell them!" Lacci looked like she might cry in self defense.
"God?" Ron asked, looking at the cat. He laughed. He turned to face Lacci. "Lacci, you know stealing is wrong."
"But I didn't steal him!!"
"But you stole the money from Fred and George," Harry said fairly, "It's money they earned, and they wanted to spend it."
Lacci hung her head and hugged God around the neck. "I know.. but I don't want to give him up.. can't I work off the money?"
Ginny spoke up. "Why don't we let Mom and Dad decide, and enjoy our ice cream while we're here?"
Everyone agreed to that. Three sundaes, one double scoop and one flaming popsicle later, they were headed off to the Apothecary. This time Harry kept a close eye on Lacci, and Lacci bought all her supplies with her own money, and made sure God didn't eat anything floating in jars or hanging from the ceiling.
After getting Lacci's cauldron, potion supplies, and books (Magical Drafts and Potions was too burnt for use and A History of Magic was lost somewhere in Ginny's room), the group came before Ollivander's. Buying the wand for a young witch or wizard was always a moment to savor.
"Gasp," said Fred, "Once Lacci get's her wand.. she'll... she'll be all grown up!"
"You're right!!" said George, wrapping his arms around Lacci's small shoulders from behind and clutching her head to his bosom. "Our little baby will be an adult!" Fred hugged Lacci and George and pretended to sob on George's shoulder.
Harry, Ron and Ginny, pretending nothing was going on right behind them, walked into the shop. Fred and George followed swiftly, nearly knocking Lacci off her feet as they grabbed her hands and dragged her in.
Ollivander's had the smell of dusty shelves stacked with magic. It was much the same smell in a library, but more wooden. There was a small desk in front, and chairs along the side of the room, by the window. Lacci companions sat down in their chairs; Ginny in the chair next to the display (a wand on a purple cushion); Ron on her left; Harry next to Ron, George lying across them and Fred sitting on his back. Ron and Harry pushed the twins off, and they made themselves fairly comfortable on the floor, tying the seated people's shoes together.
And old man appeared from within the gloomy depths of the shelves. "Sorry, I didn't hear you come in. What's your name, dear? It's very important to know the name of the wand buyer. The wand chooses the owner, you know."
Lacci giggled. The man looked like a turnip. "My name is Lacci De, are you Mr. Ollivander's Maker of Fine Wands Since 320 B.C.?"
The man sidled over to her and sat down on his desk. "Indeed I am. And you are looking for a wand, Miss Lacey? Let me see what I can do."
Lacci grinned. "It's Lacci, not Lacey," she said, but the man was already bustling about his shelves. He brought out a box. "maple, 7 inch, Unicorn Hair core, rather bendy. Well, try it out."
Lacci looked at her wand, and hit Mr. Ollivander's desk sharply with it. It passed through the desk. "Nope," he said, snatching it back quickly and handing her another. "Rowan, 11 1/2 inches, Billywig Stinger core, firm and very good for levitating work. Here you go Larky." He handed her the wand.
"Not your color," Ollivander said, and grabbed it out of her unwilling hand. He handed her another. "Willow, 9 inches, Dragon Heartstring core, really whippy. Good for charms." Lacci swished it and it made a twanging noise. Purple smoke began coming out the tip, with green sparks. Lacci tried shaking it to make it stop, and the smoke increased. Somewhere within the cloud of smoke, Mr. Ollivander removed the wand from her hand and put it back in the box, where smoke continued leaking through the lid.
"Lackey!" Mr. Ollivander called.
"That's my name!" lacci said cheerfully. She was stained purple.
A tall boy made of knees and elbows and knobbly objects scrambled out from behind a shelf. "Yes, Mister Ollivander?"
"Boy, go and fetch that wand I made yesterday." The boy nodded and ran off. "There's a good lad," Ollivander called after him. Lacci watched. "You have a son named Lackey?"
"No, he's my apprentice. Smart boy, just not very good at making wands yet." Mr. Ollivander started picking his nails. "He'll be back any moment, don't worry." As Ollivander went on about the wand that he had just made the other day, and how sure he was that it was the wand for Lacci, Lacci looked around the shop boredly. Her gaze fell on the trash can by the desk, where there was a strangely multi-colored wand. Lacci picked it up.
"Oh, put that down please, that's one of young Edward's wands. It's faulty." Mr. Ollivander reached for the rainbow wand but Lacci, not wanting to give it up, swished her hand out of the way. The air around her glowed suddenly silver, and the wand sent out green and grey sparks. Lacci grinned. Mr. Ollivander stared. Fred and George clapped.
"Miss Lactose, I think you've found your wand!" Ollivander said softly, sounding awed. Just then Edward came back, Lacci turned and waved at him.
"Guess what?" she called. "I get to keep this wand!" The boy smiled, exhausted, and set the wand he had run off to get on the desk. He looked up at Ollivander. "Good work boy, I guess I was wrong." The boy looked proud.
"Now," Ollivander said, turning back to Lacci, "That will be five galleons. It cheaper because that one is from the trash, and not professionally made." Lacci stopped smiling, and looked back at Harry. "Can you spot me a fiver?" she asked hopefully. Harry laughed, and stood up. "Sure Lacci." He stepped forward and fell over, bringing Ron and Ginny with him. God watched with an amused expression, Fred and George started laughing, and Harry took his shoes off while Ron and Ginny started untying them. Ten minutes later they were out of the shop and off to Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
Oki, you know the deal. I must have REE-VIEWS... sorry it took so long getting this chapter up. I kept writing bits and pieces, and then having to fill in the time between it. I actually got halves of 2 chapters, and as you can see, chapter 13 is so long it spills over into chapter 14.
Someone bumped into Lacci with their hip, sending her to the ground. Or rather, the floor. She had landed in a shop full of bats and rats and snakes and cats and toads and frogs and salamanders and many other animals. Lacci shot a dirty glance at the place in the crowd where the person bumped into her, and stood up. She felt in her pocket to see if Grubble was ok. It felt like it. Lacci started to explore the shop.
The room smelled highly of animals, reptiles, mammals, insects, birds.... Lacci walked past a puffskein, which bounced and cooed at her. This must be the zoo, Lacci thought. Lacci had never been to the zoo, but the books said it had animals in cages, and this fit that description.
An old hag of a witch appeared behind Lacci. "Can I help you with something, my sweet?"
Lacci turned and grinned at the woman. "Yes, please. Are there any dragons here?"
The woman laughed. "No, I'm afraid we don't sell dragons. you should know that." She paused, looking Lacci over. "You look like a cat person, my dear. Why don't you follow me, I think I've got just the familiar for you." Lacci started to protest, about to show the woman Grubble, but was afraid the woman would take Grubble away, saying you needed a liscense or something. Lacci allowed herself to be led to the other side of the shop.
The old witch stopped in front of a large cage, containing the strangest cat Lacci had ever seen. He was tall and elegant, with long persian-like fur. His fur was silver at the roots, but black at the tips. He was beautiful. He had ears like an owl, and large, patient yellow eyes. He was standing straight up as Lacci approached, but layed down and started to lick himself when the witch stopped by him. In the position he was in now, Lacci could see most of his body. He was giant, much larger than the normal cat. About he size of a large fox, actually. His tail was long and fluffy, and yet remained as silky as the rest of him. He was very sleek; what you would imagine a night breeze would look like if it were a cat. Lacci stared in awe and fascination.
The old witch seemed pleased. "We've had him for a while-- everyone wants him, but he doesn't seem to get along with anyone else. We had to de-claw him after his last owner's child was nearly blinded by him. Naturally I wouldn't tell a customer this sort of thing, but by the look in your eyes, you've seen worse. I suggest you take a few minutes with him, so he can get to know you. Come up to the front, by the desk, and tell me if you want him." She winked at Lacci, and hobbled off to the front.
Lacci looked back up at the marvelous creature. She had to stand on tippy toes to see him well. The cat, taking more interest in her now that the old witch was gone, leaned forward and pressed his nose up against the mesh wiring. Lacci pressed her nose up against his, and stared into his large eyes. He appeared to be reading her mind. Lacci, not one to deny anyone the right to a look in her mind, let him, staring back up into his eyes.
"God," Lacci muttered. "Your name is God, isn't it? That's what you named yourself. That's what I'll call you. God.." God seemed to nod, although his head barely moved. Lacci had no religion of any sort, and didn't know anything about the word God. But she knew it fitted him very, very well.
"I'll take him," Lacci said, standing at the counter minutes later. The old witch smiled. "I'm sure he'll be a perfect familiar for you. He costs 6 galleons." Lacci reached into her pocket. The Wealseys had given her several sickles and knuts to buy her supplies. Lacci pulled out 5 galleons, which she had pinched from Fred and George's pockets while Arthur was talking to them. She put them out on the counter.
"I said six, dear," said the witch patiently. Lacci thought. An idea struck her. she cupped her hands around Grubble and pulled her out of her pocket, and started whispering to her. The witch leaned over the counter, interested in whatever it was Lacci was holding.
After a few moments, Lacci looked up and said, "Can I make a trade? I've already got a familiar... Grubble..." Lacci showed her gnome to the woman, who laughed. "You cant pay with a common garden gnome, child! What would I do with a gnome?"
"This is a tame gnome! She's very nice. She wants a new home, one full of children who will play with her. She doesn't bite people and she's very friendly." Grubble, on cue, jumped off Lacci's hand, and stuck hers out to the old woman. "Itty wordle foop-un spitnik wee herklee waugh," she said, sounding confident and official. The old woman laughed again, more heartily.
"There might be something in that... garden gnomes aren't illegal pets, and one like this might actually be worth something... can it learn to speak english?"
Lacci looked down at Grubble. "Icky icky nooo whop bang bang all beeker-nish?" The gnome, to both Lacci's and the old witch's surprise, nodded. "Grubble noe litlell ningnish."
"Okay girlie, it's a deal. I'll keep the money and the gnome, you keep the cat." She gave an appraising look at the gnome, and headed for the side wall. She came back moments later with the giant cat trailing behind her. He was too large for someone of the woman's strength to lift. Lacci was right.. he even walked like a fox. The old woman pushed some paper's Lacci's way, and told her to sign them.
After Lacci signed all the papers, she said a sad goodbye to Grubble, who hugged her thumb tightly, and Lacci left the shop, God walking behind her.
***
"Lacci, what's that other book... you... needed...?" Ron stuck her head over the pile of books, looking around for Lacci. "Harry! Harry, I can't find Lacci," he said as quietly as possible, not wanting to upset the bookseller, and much less the books.
Harry stumbled out behind a shelf, a large pile of books in his hands. "What do you mean you can't find Lacci? Isn't she just out there?"
"No, she isn't. Otherwise I would be able to find her." Harry rushed over to Ron, being careful not to drop his books, and looked around.
"You're right.. I don't see her. Oh no.. I hope she isn't lost..." Ron gave Harry a sarcastic look. "No, she cant be lost, just because we cant find her and she's nowhere in this shop."
They hurriedly paid for their books, and ran out into the moving crowd to look for Lacci.
***
Fred and George exchanged glances. Fred pulled George aside. "Hey.. did I give you the money?"
"No, why would you trust me? I thought I gave it to you."
They looked at each other. Then they looked at the bats. Then their looked at each other again. George took charge of the problem. He strode confidently back to the desk, and seized his bat. "Hmm... the quality isn't as good as I thought, I don't know if this is good enough for me..."
Catching on, Fred picked up his. "It's too small, and too slow, I cant swing it fast enough.."
"Definitely not very good work.."
(hitting it against the metal counter and denting the counter) "The wood's too soft, looks like it might break..."
George clapped his hands together. "Alltogether a completely waste of our time,"
"I agree," Fred said. Purplux gave them a suspicious look. "We cant spend another minute in this shop, with such awful pieces of work." They dropped the bats on the counter and ran quickly out of the shop and halfway down the street until they slowed down. They exchanged glances.
***
Lacci sat outside the Apothecary, holding a bag of cotton candy that she seemed to have gotten out of nowhere. God was sitting next to her, pawing some cotton candy out of her bag and then eating it. With both of them sitting down, they were about the same height. Lacci's height was mostly in her legs. Lacci was humming some song she had heard off the radio and God was finishing off her candy. Lacci turned to God.
"Do you think I should go and look for Hayee? I mean.. I don't want him to worry about me, after all. He'd be awfully upset if he couldn't find me."
God looked at her, blinked, and ate the last of her cotton candy, still trying to chew it. Lacci giggled. "Alrighty then, I'll go. Come on." She stood up and picked up the cotton candy bag, folding it and stuffing it in her pocket. God followed her as she skipped along in the direction that might be to Flourish and Blotts. It was much easier to get through the crowds now-- most people stepped out of the way when Lacci pinched their bums or they saw a giant cat and a green-haired girl walking through the crowd.
In the bookshop, Lacci went to the back, where she had last seen Harry and Ron. There was another boy there, but he didn't look at all like them. Quite the contrary, he was blonde and had pale skin and grey eyes. His clothing looked new and fancy and his expression was that of someone who acted extremely important, even when just around a bunch of books. Lacci bounded up.
"Hey, have you seen Hayee or Ron?"
The boy, startled, turned and looked her over. She was wearing some of Ginny's old clothes, and looked very homely. The boy sneered. "I'm sure I don't you who you're talking about, girl, but.." He stopped. God had jumped onto the books shelf he had been looking at, and was now staring down at him like a vulture. He found himself again and said, "This your cat?"
Lacci smiled. "His name is God, I just got him. My name is Lacci De, what's yours?" She stuck out her hand to shake his.
"Lacci De?" The boy asked, and seized her hand. He reconized her name.. he'd read about her in the paper. "My name is Draco. Draco Malfoy."
Lacci took Draco's hand and put it under her knee, and then leaned on her leg. Draco, realizing what she had done, dropped her knee and pushed her away. She didn't seem fazed. "Draco? As in dragon? That's pretty. But if you haven't seen Hayee Pohher or Ron Weazley, then I cant talk to you right now."
Lacci reached up and, with little difficulty, pulled God down and held him comfortingly in her arms. He was thin and extremely light, despite his size. She flashed Draco a Grin, which quickly became a normal grin, and then skipped away. Draco opened his mouth to say something, and changed his mind. He went back to his bookbuying, as though nothing had happened.
***
Percy held three books that he wanted to add to his collection, while Ginny was getting her school things. As Percy didn't need to go to school, he didn't need and supplies. But there was nothing wrong in learning more, in his opinion.
Therefore, he should have no problem in learning why he was suddenly knocked over, and a large bunch of black fur was suddenly sitting on his face. And in fact, a moment later he did learn why. Lacci lifted God off his face and said, "Oh, I'm sorry I tripped an'... oh, hallo Percy."
"Hallo, Lacwhat on earth is that??" Percy stared at God, and God stared back. "Lacci, who's is that? Where did you find it? Put it down, it might hurt you.."
Lacci giggled girlishly. "Silly Percy. He's mine; I bought him. Percy, this is my familiar, God. God, this is the smartest person in the world, Percy." God nodded in recognition. Percy smiled to himself-- smartest person in the world. Lacci was always saying things like that about him. Percy got to his feet And looked down at Lacci. "Lacci, there's no way you could have afforded that. Mum and Dad agreed to buy you a familiar after all the other shopping was done. How did you pay for it?"
Despite Percy's trust in Lacci, he was afraid she had done what she often did-- stolen it. Lacci didn't seem to grasp the concept of paying for things, she just took them. As though they were her own, and the person she took them from was just holding on to it for a while.
Lacci was also extremely truthful. "I took the money out of Fred and George's pockets when they weren't looking. Then I bought the kitty and lost Hayee and Ron. Have you seen them?"
Percy was about to speak when Ginny came back, carrying all her books in a bag. She looked at Lacci. "Oh, hello, nice cat." Ginny seemed unusually undisturbed by the two foot cat in Lacci's arms. It must be the stress of school supply buying, Percy convinced himself.
"Well, we can worry about all that later. C'mon, I have to find the other two." Lacci dropped God, and he landed gracefully on the ground. "God, be my hunting cat. Can you find Hayee Pohher and Ron Weazley?" Percy looked skeptical, but God turned around and headed out of the shop. Lacci followed, Percy and Ginny behind her.
God didn't, as Lacci had hoped, lead them to Harry and Ron. Instead, he led them to an ice cream shop, where he began eating someone's leftover ice cream cone. Percy sighed and sat down. "Lacci, it wasn't nice of you to steal Fred and George's money-- they earned it."
Lacci nodded. "I know they earned it, they played a prank on me the other day and I was only getting them back."
Percy looked confused for a moment, and then the stupidity of the word usage hit him. "I mean they earned the money, Lacci. They didn't earn you stealing it."
"I didn't steal it," Lacci said defensively. "I only borrowed it for a bit."
Percy dropped it. It was no use arguing with Lacci, she always ended up being right, even when she was clearly wrong. And when she wasn't right, she made you feel so guilty that you decided that she's not wrong.
"We've still got two hours and 15 minutes until we've got to meet mom and dad at Madam Malkin's. Lacci's still got to get her wand, her robes, her cauldron, her potions..." Ginny set her books down on the table and sat down next to Lacci. "Lacci, which would you like to get first?"
***
They had checked most of the stores Lacci would have to go to, to get supplies. They hadn't found her anywhere.
"Maybe she went back to the book shop to look for us, Harry."
Harry shot Ron a look that said 'I've just run halfway across Diagon Alley, the sun is burning the back of my neck, I'm not going to go all the way back again.'
"Alright, have you got a better idea?"
"Yes, I do. Let's get some ice cream." Harry pulled out two sickles. "Come on."
Ron had to agree. Ice cream sounded really tempting right now. It was hot out, and with all these people bustling about, the heat from the bodies minus the cool breeze that couldn't fit between them, Ron and Harry both had a thick layer (a/n: think lair) of sweat on them. Ron could feel his shirt sticking to his back.
The sight they saw at the ice cream shop was enough to make them completely forget about ice cream. Lacci was sitting there, with a giant black cat, Ginny, and Percy. The cat was the first thing that caught Harry's attention. The second thing was Lacci bounding up and hugging him viciously.
"Hey there Lacci, we thought we'd never see you again! Where did you go? Why didn't you stay in the shop with us?"
Lacci avoided Harry's eyes, instead gazing at his feet. "'M sorry Hayee... the lady kicked me out of the shop... I had no where else to go..."
Harry smiled and patted her shoulder. "Oh well, nothing awful happened, did it? You're not lost or hurt, and I'm not mad. Let's all get some ice cream, I'm burning up."
Ron nodded. "That's great, I'm starving..." Ron hurried off to the table where Percy and Ginny were. After all the hello's, the other problem came up.
"Hey, so who's pet is this..?" Ron started.
"It's Lacci's," Percy answered. "She took some money from Fred and George and bought him with it. We're going to go over to the Magical Menagerie after we get her supplies and return him, and give Fred and George their money back, aren't we Lacci?" He looked at Lacci expectantly.
"But.. but.. we can't return him to the store!! I paid for him, an' he likes me, an' I don't want to give him up... God, you don't want to go back there, do you? Tell them!" Lacci looked like she might cry in self defense.
"God?" Ron asked, looking at the cat. He laughed. He turned to face Lacci. "Lacci, you know stealing is wrong."
"But I didn't steal him!!"
"But you stole the money from Fred and George," Harry said fairly, "It's money they earned, and they wanted to spend it."
Lacci hung her head and hugged God around the neck. "I know.. but I don't want to give him up.. can't I work off the money?"
Ginny spoke up. "Why don't we let Mom and Dad decide, and enjoy our ice cream while we're here?"
Everyone agreed to that. Three sundaes, one double scoop and one flaming popsicle later, they were headed off to the Apothecary. This time Harry kept a close eye on Lacci, and Lacci bought all her supplies with her own money, and made sure God didn't eat anything floating in jars or hanging from the ceiling.
After getting Lacci's cauldron, potion supplies, and books (Magical Drafts and Potions was too burnt for use and A History of Magic was lost somewhere in Ginny's room), the group came before Ollivander's. Buying the wand for a young witch or wizard was always a moment to savor.
"Gasp," said Fred, "Once Lacci get's her wand.. she'll... she'll be all grown up!"
"You're right!!" said George, wrapping his arms around Lacci's small shoulders from behind and clutching her head to his bosom. "Our little baby will be an adult!" Fred hugged Lacci and George and pretended to sob on George's shoulder.
Harry, Ron and Ginny, pretending nothing was going on right behind them, walked into the shop. Fred and George followed swiftly, nearly knocking Lacci off her feet as they grabbed her hands and dragged her in.
Ollivander's had the smell of dusty shelves stacked with magic. It was much the same smell in a library, but more wooden. There was a small desk in front, and chairs along the side of the room, by the window. Lacci companions sat down in their chairs; Ginny in the chair next to the display (a wand on a purple cushion); Ron on her left; Harry next to Ron, George lying across them and Fred sitting on his back. Ron and Harry pushed the twins off, and they made themselves fairly comfortable on the floor, tying the seated people's shoes together.
And old man appeared from within the gloomy depths of the shelves. "Sorry, I didn't hear you come in. What's your name, dear? It's very important to know the name of the wand buyer. The wand chooses the owner, you know."
Lacci giggled. The man looked like a turnip. "My name is Lacci De, are you Mr. Ollivander's Maker of Fine Wands Since 320 B.C.?"
The man sidled over to her and sat down on his desk. "Indeed I am. And you are looking for a wand, Miss Lacey? Let me see what I can do."
Lacci grinned. "It's Lacci, not Lacey," she said, but the man was already bustling about his shelves. He brought out a box. "maple, 7 inch, Unicorn Hair core, rather bendy. Well, try it out."
Lacci looked at her wand, and hit Mr. Ollivander's desk sharply with it. It passed through the desk. "Nope," he said, snatching it back quickly and handing her another. "Rowan, 11 1/2 inches, Billywig Stinger core, firm and very good for levitating work. Here you go Larky." He handed her the wand.
"Not your color," Ollivander said, and grabbed it out of her unwilling hand. He handed her another. "Willow, 9 inches, Dragon Heartstring core, really whippy. Good for charms." Lacci swished it and it made a twanging noise. Purple smoke began coming out the tip, with green sparks. Lacci tried shaking it to make it stop, and the smoke increased. Somewhere within the cloud of smoke, Mr. Ollivander removed the wand from her hand and put it back in the box, where smoke continued leaking through the lid.
"Lackey!" Mr. Ollivander called.
"That's my name!" lacci said cheerfully. She was stained purple.
A tall boy made of knees and elbows and knobbly objects scrambled out from behind a shelf. "Yes, Mister Ollivander?"
"Boy, go and fetch that wand I made yesterday." The boy nodded and ran off. "There's a good lad," Ollivander called after him. Lacci watched. "You have a son named Lackey?"
"No, he's my apprentice. Smart boy, just not very good at making wands yet." Mr. Ollivander started picking his nails. "He'll be back any moment, don't worry." As Ollivander went on about the wand that he had just made the other day, and how sure he was that it was the wand for Lacci, Lacci looked around the shop boredly. Her gaze fell on the trash can by the desk, where there was a strangely multi-colored wand. Lacci picked it up.
"Oh, put that down please, that's one of young Edward's wands. It's faulty." Mr. Ollivander reached for the rainbow wand but Lacci, not wanting to give it up, swished her hand out of the way. The air around her glowed suddenly silver, and the wand sent out green and grey sparks. Lacci grinned. Mr. Ollivander stared. Fred and George clapped.
"Miss Lactose, I think you've found your wand!" Ollivander said softly, sounding awed. Just then Edward came back, Lacci turned and waved at him.
"Guess what?" she called. "I get to keep this wand!" The boy smiled, exhausted, and set the wand he had run off to get on the desk. He looked up at Ollivander. "Good work boy, I guess I was wrong." The boy looked proud.
"Now," Ollivander said, turning back to Lacci, "That will be five galleons. It cheaper because that one is from the trash, and not professionally made." Lacci stopped smiling, and looked back at Harry. "Can you spot me a fiver?" she asked hopefully. Harry laughed, and stood up. "Sure Lacci." He stepped forward and fell over, bringing Ron and Ginny with him. God watched with an amused expression, Fred and George started laughing, and Harry took his shoes off while Ron and Ginny started untying them. Ten minutes later they were out of the shop and off to Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
Oki, you know the deal. I must have REE-VIEWS... sorry it took so long getting this chapter up. I kept writing bits and pieces, and then having to fill in the time between it. I actually got halves of 2 chapters, and as you can see, chapter 13 is so long it spills over into chapter 14.