29. Shopping
Minerva McGonagall and Evangeline Winthrop came out of a painting into a private sitting room at the Three Broomsticks. The room was large and airy with a big fireplace, several comfortable looking chairs, and a few small tables scattered about. No one was there to meet them at the moment, and their unorthodox entrance went unnoticed.
Minerva straightened her shoulders and smiled at the younger witch by her side. "That's an amazing way to travel, Evangeline."
Evangeline smiled uncertainly back. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Minerva." An odd slightly dizzy feeling swept over her momentarily, and she put a hand to her brow.
Minerva frowned slightly. "What's wrong? Don't you feel well?"
Evangeline shook her head. "I'm not sure. It felt strange this time. I can't explain it."
"Are you all right?" Minerva asked with concern.
Evangeline nodded decisively. "Yes, I think so. I feel fine now." The odd feeling seemed to have passed, and she certainly didn't want to cut this trip short. It felt too good to get out of the castle even for a brief time, and she desperately needed these clothes!
Before Minerva could express any further concerns, they were distracted by a firm knock on the door. Rosmerta opened the door and ushered Madame Ainsley into the room. Then after smiling a warm greeting at them, she left them alone with their guest.
Minerva stepped forward and greeted the newcomer pleasantly. The clothier was a tall rather thin woman with iron gray hair and a self-satisfied air about her. She wore a beautifully tailored robe of midnight blue with details and edging of silver and black. Her arms were full of large books, and her angular face was wreathed in a wide smile.
"Hello, Helena, it was so kind of you to come and meet us here."
Madame Ainsley returned the greeting in kind. "Not at all, Minerva. I was happy to come. You've been a valued customer for years; it seemed a little enough request for someone whose business I appreciate." She turned her eye appraisingly to Evangeline. "Is this lovely young woman the person I'm to dress?"
Evangeline blushed and smiled warmly. "I'm Evangeline Winthrop, Madame Ainsley. Thank you so much for coming. I really am in dire need of your services."
Madame Ainsley nodded pompously, as if she believed that the whole world was in dire need of her services. "Not at all, Evangeline, my dear, it's my pleasure. Please call me Helena. Well, shall we sit down and get to work?"
They spent the next hour discussing Evangeline's needs and selecting clothes from Madame Ainsley's large stock of styles. It was rather an eye-opening and somewhat overwhelming experience for Evangeline, who'd previously only bought clothes off the rack. As they came to an agreement, Evangeline gave the clothier her Gringotts account number, and Madame Ainsley said, "Thank goodness, we can still do business through Gringotts! After that horrible affair of a few nights ago, I was afraid that might not stay true."
Evangeline nodded fervently. "Yes, we're lucky things worked out so well."
Madame Ainsley nodded back and stated importantly, "Thank goodness for Minister Fudge! He'll catch those horrid Death Eaters. He's building a case against their leader, I understand. Frankly, I think the whole thing is shocking."
She turned to Minerva with the air of one granting a huge favor. "Oh, I know you can't help it, Minerva, but how can you stand to work with the man, anyway? Just the thought of setting foot in Hogwarts at the moment is alarming."
Evangeline could feel fear grip her chest, and her stomach began to churn as Madame Ainsley's meaning became clear.
Minerva frowned disapprovingly, obviously hoping that she'd misunderstood. "Whatever do you mean, Helena?"
Madame Ainsley gave her a haughty look. "Why that horrible Severus Snape, of course! It's all over the wizarding community that he was behind that whole attack! He's trying to bring back the days of terror when You-Know-Who was on the rampage. How they could let a man like that teach children I'll never understand!"
Unable to restrain herself a moment longer, Evangeline abruptly stood up. "That's enough! Madame Ainsley, you're mistaken if you believe that Severus Snape was in any way responsible for what happened. It was only because of his help that we prevailed in that attack! I don't know what stories you've heard, but I assure you he was not to blame for what happened at Gringotts!"
Madame Ainsley raised a skeptical eyebrow and retorted snappishly, "Hmph! Well, defend him if you wish, but that's not what the Ministry of Magic says! I've heard nasty rumors about this man Snape before. All you have to do is look at him to see how evil a creature he is. I say where there's that much smoke, there's bound to be fire."
Evangeline was shaking she was so angry at the snide and nasty comments coming from this self-important woman. "Madame Ainsley, it appears I won't be needing your services after all."
"What! Why ever not?" Madame Ainsley was totally shocked by this twist of events. No one had ever so abruptly changed her mind before. The clothier was confident that her work was indispensable, why on earth would any sane customer not want what she could provide?
"I would never lower myself to wear anything made by such a petty narrow-minded person as yourself!" Evangeline's eyes flashed as she glared furiously at the woman who sat so complacently before her and spouted such hateful things.
Madame Ainsley jumped to her feet; no one had ever spoken to her in such an insolent manner. "How rude! Just because you work with that foul Snape doesn't mean that the rest of us can't see him for the rotten creature that he is!"
Evangeline stared her in the eye and stated firmly, "Severus Snape is the bravest, most honorable man I've ever met. You, madame, are not fit to speak his name! Fudge is lying to the populace about him. I would rather go naked in the streets for the rest of my life, than ever wear anything touched by you!"
Madame Ainsley flushed bright red in the face, so shocked by this as to be momentarily struck dumb. She grabbed up her things as quickly as she could and stormed out of the door, slamming it viciously behind her.
Evangeline found she was trembling violently in response to this horrid confrontation. Hugging herself tightly, she took a deep breath, and attempted to regain her self-control.
Feeling slightly ashamed at how she'd let her anger get the better of her, she glanced sideways at Minerva and remarked, "Oh dear, that was a horrible failure wasn't it? I'm sorry, Minerva, and after you went to so much trouble for me, too. I just couldn't listen to her talk about Severus that way. I just couldn't!"
Minerva nodded sympathetically. "I know, dear. I understand completely. Her attitude was shocking. It sounds as if Fudge is doing a lot of damage."
Evangeline was suddenly terrified for Snape. "We've got to stop him, Minerva! He'll destroy Severus if we don't!"
Minerva nodded grimly. "We will, dear. We will. Albus won't let it come to that! We'll find a way to stop Fudge. You'll see." She gave Evangeline a comforting smile. "However, right now, we need to worry about getting something for you to wear."
Evangeline sighed in exasperation. "Well, that's easy. Come on." She strode over to the door, opened it, and went out.
Minerva ran out the door after her. "Where are you going, Evangeline?"
Evangeline looked back over her shoulder as she started down the stairs to the pub below. "Shopping! Are you coming?"
Minerva hurried down the stairs and across the ground floor of the pub on Evangeline's heels. "Evangeline, it may not be safe. I promised Severus that you wouldn't be in any danger on this trip into town."
"Don't worry, Minerva. If Death Eaters are looking for me, they're hovering around the perimeter of Hogwarts, not walking the streets of Hogsmeade. I need clothes! I'm not going to be cheated out of getting them by narrow-minded hags or Death Eaters!"
During this conversation, the two women were hurrying through the streets of Hogsmeade. Now they found themselves outside a little shop called, MOONSHADOW. With a smile of satisfaction on her face, Evangeline opened the door and the two of them went inside.
Evangeline turned to Minerva conspiratorially. "This is more my style anyway. Severus brought me here, the day I met him. Albus assigned him to take the "poor silly art restorer" on a shopping trip. He was thrilled, as you can imagine."
Minerva smiled at the thought. "Yes, I can imagine."
Evangeline smiled in fond remembrance. "I fell for him though, when he picked that ivory negligee off the rack, and then got embarrassed when the shop girl thought it was for me."
"You bought it anyway." The older woman observed with a smile.
The younger witch nodded in agreement. "Yes, I did, although, he didn't realize that, for a long time." A chill swept through her, as anxiety once more beat its ceaseless wings against her mind. Refusing to let her fears get the best of her again, Evangeline resolutely put them aside and got down to the business at hand so she and Minerva could get safely back to Hogwarts.