A/N I want to thank everyone who has been reading this. My ego is floating along the ceiling and won't come down. I took note of the comments that Ariana Delralte made, and realized she was right. The conversation did not run smoothly, and I should have caught it. My thanks for pointing that out, and I will repost the chapter with what I hope is a smoother passage.
Chapter 6: Diagon Alley
Mr. Ollivander stayed in the wings as the young boy entered the shop. It appeared to be the American child that Albus Dumbledore had owled him about. Curiosity kept him in the shadows as he watched the boy eyeing the boxes with interest. The boy called out on two occasions, but the wand seller bided his time.
It came as no surprise that the boy decided to look in the boxes. One box was arbitrarily selected and opened. The surprise came when the boy pulled the wand out, and waved it, shouting, "Abra Cadabra." The wand let out a shower of Gold and Scarlet sparks. 'My, My,' thought Ollivander, 'A wand on the first try, that hasn't happened in 182 years.'
With a hint of mischief in his pale eyes, he stepped into the shop proper, saying, "A good choice. Maple. Eleven inches long. It has as its core, a dragon heartstring. Excellent General Purpose Wand. Of course, the wand chooses the wizard." Pausing, he added. "Do you want me to put your wand back in its box, or will you be carrying it with you?"
The boy stared at him, as if in shock. Controlling his urge to laugh, Mr. Ollivander smiled politely, saying, "Malcolm, it is rude not to answer when you are asked a question."
"How, How did you know my name?" the boy asked.
"Your headmaster sent a message, Malcolm, that I would have a foreign student visiting my shop. When I saw Hagrid drop you off, I knew who you were. Now, about your wand. Tell me, why were you surprised at what it did, as opposed to why it did anything? Whose wand have you used before?"
"Ginny Weasley, Sir," the boy replied nervously, "She showed me a trick to do, on the train."
'Curious boy,' thought Ollivander, 'to go up on the train but not to know about his supplies. I must ask Albus about this one.' Gazing into the air, he said, "I remember her from last year, Virginia Weasley, a similar wand to yours, but made of ash. That means you are attuned to the heartstring, a good sign in a wizard. It was good fortune that you found your wand so quickly."
"I guess I was lucky at that," Malcolm said.
"Nonsense, Malcolm, luck has nothing to do with it," Ollivander said. "You would have ended up with that wand if it had been the first or the fifth one you tried. I told you already, the wand chooses."
Malcolm nodded in thought as the door opened. A dowdy looking woman with an overly plump daughter came barging into the shop. Ignoring Malcolm, she immediately walked up to the counter.
"Mr. Ollivander, this is important. My daughter needs a new wand, and quickly. She has her train to catch."
"Mummy," the fat girl said, "that boy is staring at me."
"Don't even think of it," the woman said, turning on Malcolm. "My daughter is too good for your sort." Turning back to the wand seller, she added, "Mr. Ollivander, teach your stock boy some manners."
"My assistant was only taking your daughters measurements for her new wand," Ollivander said, with a wink at Malcolm. "He has an excellent eye, and is usually very keen on selecting a proper wand."
"Humph," the dowdy woman said.
Because it annoyed the lady, Malcolm acted the part of Mr. Ollivander's assistant, fetching boxes and getting bits of lessons on the various woods used to make wands, and the different types of cores. At the end of an hour he had learned enough to know the best uses of a wand. Lights woods seemed best for charms, and Unicorn hair was good for transfiguration, but there would always be exceptions and variations because of length, and the grain of the wood. Malcolm also learned that he WAS lucky to find his wand, because, after all this time, the fat girl still hadn't found hers. Finally, he heard Mr. Ollivander shout, "There it is, the perfect wand. That will be 7 Galleons, 8 sickles, please."
As the mother and daughter left, Mr. Ollivander called to Malcolm. "Thank you, my boy, for helping out. You could have left at any time, you know."
Malcolm beamed at the compliment, "Thanks, but I really had a great time, and I learned some stuff, too. Plus you helped me out when that girl caught me staring."
"I understand, Malcolm. I stared at her as well, when I first saw her. I could not believe anyone would let a girl that young get that big. I just pity that wand. I know she broke her last one by sitting on it, and she'll do the same to this one before the year is out."
Malcolm laughed at a thought, "You said that the wand chooses the wizard. What kind of wand would choose her." The shop keeper smiled in irony at the thought, but then he noticed the boy become serious again. "Mr. Ollivander," he asked earnestly, "What kind of wand would choose me?"
'I was right to watch him,' Ollivander thought, 'he is a young boy that bears watching.'
Malcolm left the shop, his new wand in his pocket. Hagrid had picked up his supplies and robes (at the second hand shop). They were headed to the bookstore as their last stop, Hagrid rushing the boy along. As they passed the bank, Malcolm found himself staring at a familiar looking man in spotless robes. The man spotted him looking, then saw Hagrid and lightly sneered.
"You should teach your students better manners, Hagrid," the man said, showing his dislike of the giant.
"It's my fault," Malcolm said testily, "I thought you looked familiar, that's all."
"You're Malcolm," the man said, a grin coming to his face. "You have to be. Draco said there was an American student there." Malcolm's eyes lit up, and Hagrid's frown deepened. "Permit me to introduce myself, I am Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy. Draco owled me last night, and said you were a boy to watch." Malcolm took Lucius's extended hand before Hagrid could stop him.
"Malcolm," Hagrid said, warily, "yer should be careful who yer deal with."
"Tut, Tut, Hagrid," Lucius replied, "I could tell him the same thing about you."
[This is great. These two can't stand each other. If things work out, I could get something out of all of this. All I have to do is be nice to both of them. Maybe I should be a little nicer to the rich guy. Watch this move.]
"Maybe it would be best, Sir," said Malcolm sadly, "if I were to go. It was nice meeting you."
"Good day, Mr. Malfoy," Hagrid said, and led Malcolm away.
[Now, let's see what I get out of this.....Three. Two. One.]
"Hagrid," Lucius called out in wry amusement, "are those used robes for the boy. Do you actually intend to dress him like that."
[Damn. It's clothes.]
Hagrid stopped in his tracks, and turned with a snarl, "there's nothin' wrong with these clothes."
"And there is nothing right about pinching Galleons," Lucius said as he walked forward. Taking Malcolm by the shoulder, he said to Hagrid, "Why don't I take him to Madam Malkin's for proper robes, while you return those rags." Sneering openly, he added, "It will be my contribution to the school, or do you object to my being nice to someone?"
As Hagrid sputtered, Malcolm interrupted. "That's a good idea, Hagrid, about returning the robes. It will save the school some money."
Lucius beamed down at the boy's snide remark, while Hagrid stared at the boy's smirk, and the wink the boy gave. "Yer right, lad," Hagrid said warily, "I'll return these and meet yer at Flourish and Blotts. And I hate to say this, Malfoy, but Thank yer, on the school's behalf."
Malcolm smiled up at Lucius, who grinned in triumph. "Nasty man," Lucius said, "I understand they made him a professor. Ridiculous." Leading the boy to Madam Malkin's, Lucius added, "You played that rather well, Malcolm. I was pleased with the way you tried to manipulate me. You have obviously had practice."
"Just with my relatives, Sir. I have two uncles who always want to be the favorite. I can usually count on a couple of twenty's whenever the two get together."
"And all I am giving you are clothes," Lucius added with a laugh. "Please remember this Malcolm, clothes make the wizard. If you look like you fit in, then you do fit in."
"Yes, Sir," Malcolm said politely, "but I need to ask you a question. If Draco told you all about me, then you know my parents are muggles. He told me about how your family feels. So, why are you being nice?"
Lucius smiled at the question. "Draco was right, Malcolm, there is something about you. I'll be honest with you. I was being nice to you to irritate that overgrown child you were with. But there is another reason, now that I know you a little. The Malfoys are, to be modest, one of the oldest wizarding families. We don't know how old because we go back that far. However, at one point, there was a first Malfoy.
"It could be, Malcolm, that you are the first of what will some day be an old and distinguished family. You have the proper attitude. If I am right, then people will note that our families have been close from the beginning. If I am wrong, I will drop you like a hot potato, as I believe the expression goes. Either way, it is worth a small investment. Play your cards right, and you will find me a generous benefactor."
[I can do that. I mean, I'm already friends with his son. Plus he 'likes' the fact that I tried to manipulate him. Now all I have to do is be me. I love magic.]
They entered the shop, and Lucius made the arrangements with the clerk. He bid Malcolm farewell and good luck, as he left to attend to business. Fifteen minutes later, Malcolm was out the door, with the assurance that his robes would be at the school in time for his first class.
Malcolm entered the book store only to be dragged aside by one of the clerks.
"Be careful, young man," the clerk said, "One of the books has gotten loose."
[Okay, that made sense.]
"What do you mean, the book has gotten loose?"
The clerk stared at Malcolm when he spoke. "Your accent. You're the American boy we needed to get the books for. It's your fault."
"I just got here," Malcolm complained, "I haven't even done anything yet."
"It's your booklist," the clerk said. He was interrupted by a shout.
"It's over here, it's heading toward the door," the other clerk yelled.
"It's the Monster Book of Monsters. It was the last book we had to get for you, but it got out of the cage," the clerk told Malcolm. "We've been fighting it for the past hour."
Suddenly a growling noise was heard behind them. They turned around to see a thick book bouncing its way across the floor, snarling and snapping at things as it made its way. The clerk backed away, telling Malcolm to follow slowly. Malcolm looked down at the book, and snorted. It seemed too funny, being scared of a book. The book, in turn, stopped to stare at the boy who made the strange noise. At least Malcolm thought it was staring.
"Oh, aren't you cute," Malcolm said, as though talking to a strange dog. Kneeling down, he said, "you're just frightened, aren't you. The book ruffled its pages and inched forward. Still talking calmly to the book, he began stroking its binding when it got close enough. As the clerks stared at him, Malcolm picked up the book, treating it like a new pet.
[This book is actually purring. I think I'll call him Andy.]
Hagrid walked in to see Malcolm holding his book. His frown turned to a smile, when he saw what the boy was holding. "Tha's my favorite book as well. What're yer goin' to call it."
"Andy," Malcolm said, "I've never had a pet before."
A relieved clerk handed Hagrid the rest of the books, and happily showed them to the door. Malcolm looked back as they walked away, to see several of the stores employees watching from the windows, their faces filled with annoyance and relief.
"What game are yer playin', lad.," Hagrid asked as they walked back toward the Leaky Cauldron.
"What do you mean," Malcolm asked in his most innocent voice.
"Tha' tone ain't goin' to work with me, Malcolm. You know what I mean."
[That voice never works with my mom, either.]
"You mean Draco," Malcolm said defensively, "he's a friend. I was just trying to look good in front of his dad."
"I'm warnin yer, Malcolm, Lucius Malfoy is one of the worst sort. He's not the type to want to be knowin'. He's a devious liar, who's always up to no good. And that son of his, Draco, isn't much better."
"Hagrid, my mom describes me like that three times a week. And I'm the good son. What's wrong with being nice to someone when I can get something out of it. True, it was only clothes, but then, I'm not trying to be somebody else. I impressed Mr. Malfoy by being me."
"Malcolm, yer a strange one," Hagrid said after a long pause. "Yer help Mr. Ollivander without being asked, then yer turn around and be all friendly wit' the Malfoys. And then I find yer first off knowing how to take proper care of a book. I don't know whether to like yer or hate yer."
[I get that a lot].
"Yeah, I get that a lot," Malcolm said, "mostly from my teachers."
"Malcolm," Hagrid said with a wide grin, "I am one of your teachers."
"Does this count toward my final grade," Malcolm said with a frown.
When they neared the Leaky Cauldron, Malcolm waited by the archway, while Hagrid went to the apothecary. He watched the never boring crowd as they paraded up and down the street. Suddenly, a fat meaty hand grabbed him, and spun him around. He was face to face with the blond haired, blue eyed elephant from the wand shop.
"You're the boy who was staring at me," she said threateningly. "My mother says it's because I'm attractive. Is that true?" She concluded her statement with a vigorous shake of Malcolm's body.
[I know she's going to kill me if I says this, but this is going to be worth it.]
"Did it ever occur to you that your mother LIED?" Malcolm yelled back in anger. "There is no way I would ever think of you as attractive. Wait, there is one way," he added, his voice getting louder. "If you lost about two hundred and fifty pounds!"
The girl stared him down, saying, "I'm going to hold you to that, shorty." Then she asked, "How old are you? I'm twelve."
"Eleven," Malcolm answered, suddenly afraid.
"I'll be seeing you," the girl said, waving, as she walked back to the Leaky Cauldron.
In shock, Malcolm waved back.
"Oh, lad, that's another one yer don't want to have anythin' to do wit'," Hagrid said suddenly from behind.
Malcolm jumped at the sound. "Please, You're the second person to do that to me in the last five minutes," he muttered. He turned around, and Hagrid was staring at him that half-frown look he always got from teachers. Giving up, he held out his hand, and grabbed the portkey for the ride back to school.