Chapter 16
The tall man by the register was scruffy and poorly groomed. He wore a beige colored heavy cloth poncho with colored stripes over a bubblegum pink three quarter sleeve top. The only pieces of clothing on his body that were somewhat normal were the old brown bowler cap that sat slanted on top of his head barely covering his right eye, and the worn Birkenstocks on his feet.
"Moody, I see you've selected another atrocious disguise for your visit to the muggle world." Sirius said, giving his friend a pat on the shoulder for his effort.
The man grunted and in a raspy low voice said "Yes, well, It is somewhat difficult to put together a passable muggle outfit when you're only suppliers is a Spaniard whose only passion is running the Ohio State Prison division of a fan club of a rather busty blonde named Britney." He pulled up his poncho to fully reveal the pink shirt, on which was written "Marry Me Britney Spears" in curly fuchsia cursive.
Sirius laughed heartily. "Been stealing the inmates' extra clothes from a Muggle prison have we?"
"Well I tried going to a mall but they wouldn't accept pounds, so I went to have a rest in the park and before I know it, 3 muggle blokes in blue uniforms are forcing me to come with them to a shelter of some kind."
"A shelter?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, I believe that's what the men called it."
Buffy snorted. "Umm. I think they thought you were homeless."
" Well, that explains it. Right. Down to business. Which one of you is the girl?" Moody waved his finger at Buffy and Dawn.
"Uhh." Xander mumbled hesitantly. "She's gone."
"Gone? Where did she go?" Moody asked surprised.
"On holiday?" Spike suggested.
* * * * * The cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley were almost completely deserted on that foggy Monday morning. Willow found the wizarding world completely unlike the mystical place she had expected. The shopkeepers were not mysterious gypsy people with turbans and heavy dark jewelry, but simple people dressed in regular suits and dresses. The shops were not filled with pentacles and ancient medallions. Most of them looked more like sporting goods shops for wizards. The cauldrons and potion kits in the windows she passed by were not old and rusty like she had expected. They were shiny and new, some even came in bright colors like pink and blue. However there was one place that was exactly how she had imagined it. A tiny spell book shop called Smith's. As Narcissa consulted her butler on which evening wear shop to go to, Willow peered into the small bookshop. Thousands and thousands of dusty leather bound books of all sizes stacked the many mahogany shelves. The ancient floor was covered with many equally dusty oriental rugs. A sign hung from the door that read
Smith's Spell Books:
Books for all of your needs from alligators to warts
Below it was another sign, explaining how there was a sale on the Manda's Magical Magazine, especially the Organize Your Workplace edition. The shopkeeper was a tiny old man with thick rimmed glasses and striped olive green vest with a gold circular watch on a chain spilling out from the vest pocket. He was typing away slowely on an old fashioned black typewriter. The shop was empty. Outside of the shop, two balding men sat on a bench nearby in fancy suits and ties, each with open newspapers.They were discussing something. Willow looked back at Narcissa who had an irritated look on her face and was still in deep conversation with Edward the butler. She couldn't help remembering Charles' warning about the extent to which her temper could rise, but decided to move closer anyway. She slipped away slowly to better hear what the two men were saying;
"Oh yes, here!" The man on the left pointed to a spot on the page of his newspaper and read aloud; "Ginny Weasely, close friend of the Minister of Magic, Harry Potter, who was once believed to be murdered by Tom Riddle AKA Lord Voldemort, was seen at a local tavern."
"Bollocks!" Said the other man. "She's been dead for nearly 2 years! What kind of newspaper is this, The Quibbler?"
"This is the bloody Daily Prophet and it says right here she's alive!"
"Well I won't believe it unless the girl herself shows up for my daughter's birthday party. It's probably just a rumor, people don't just come back from the dead."
Willow found herself drifting closer and closer, wanting to hear more about this girl. Narcissa's hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her back, sinking her pointy nails into her skin.
"Thought we'd try to run away did we?" She snarled.
"Oh- no I just-" Willow began.
"Nevermind!" She snapped "I guess I'll just have to keep a closer watch on you." She signaled to follow her and they resumed their fast walking.
It took nearly three hours before Narcissa was content, finally having found the most revolting, unflattering piece of cloth in the entire of England. The color she had to admit was very nice, a deep plum, almost black. However the velvet bow, over-padded shoulders, and highly cut square neckline pretty much destroyed any chance of her looking decent.
When they got back to the Malfoy Mansion, Willow was escorted by a house elf to the guest bathroom and told to dress and ready herself, the elf would be back to take her to dinner shortly. Sure enough the elf returned a few minutes later and led the way to the dining room.
"Please hurry miss, Mistress does not like to wait." The elf said as they walked along a dark corridor.
"So I've heard." Willow muttered.
But as they were turning a corner Willow felt a tap on her shoulder. She jumped and turned around. There was nothing there. She looked back at the house elf, who was still leading the way. She decided to look back once more but when she did Draco Malfoy was standing in front of her. Before she could make a sound Draco covered her mouth with his hands. The he put his other hand to his lips and motioned for her to follow the elf with his eyes. Draco disappeared again and Willow hurried to catch up to the elf. She glanced around nervously as she walked, looking for any sign of Draco.
Willow was so caught up searching for Draco she nearly knocked the elf over when it stopped in front of two brass doors. The elf glared at her and opened the doors to reveal a magnificent dining room. The table was set with glittering gold plates and silverware. Glory sat at the head of the table in a red dress. Willow wondered why Narcissa wasn't sitting there since it was HER house. Narcissa sat in the seat next to her.
"Sit, girl." Glory said loudly and beckoned her to the table with her finger.
Willow sat, squirming in seat from the scratchy velvet of her dress.
"I'm sorry do you have fleas?" Glory sneered.
Willow ignored her, and resumed looking for Draco again. But a half an hour passed and still no sign of him. Dinner was dull. She knew it would be pointless to poison her so she ate the food happily, but of course she didn't show it. The main course was lobster. She found her self not having to fake the sour look on her face because she despised sea food. Finally it came to an end and Narcissa suggested they all adjourn the living room for drinks.
"There is a person who especially wishes to meet you." She said with a smug look on her face.
She decided not to ask who, she was well accustomed to the way evil people tried to make themselves look mysterious and knew the only answer she would get was a "you will see" or something."
The living room was rather more like a ballroom. She waited impatiently for this person who wanted so badly to meet her. Then suddenly a cloud like form flew through the wall and to Narcissa's side. When it stopped she could see that it was not a cloud but infact the a misty outline of a man.
"Lucius, darling. Our special guest is here." Narcissa said to it. They both looked at Willow. "This is the key."
"Lucius? Lucius Malfoy? But you're-" Willow said in shock.
"Watch your manners girl!" Narcissa screamed. She glared intensely at Willow and went completely white.
"Calm yourself, Narcissa." Said the man. He floated closer to Willow. His cloudy body had long strait hair and a sharp jawline. "So this is the famous key." He said slowely.
"What are you?" Willow asked.
"Have you ever heard of a little thing called.a ghost?" He baby talked to her, amused.
"You're the ghost of Draco's father?"
Lucius's little smile turned cold. "Don't you dare ever speak that the name in this household ever, ever again, do you understand?" The tone of his voice was so icy that Willow shivered and nodded quickly.
* * * * * Draco stepped quietly into the shadows as Willow walked away. He apparated back to the Magic shop.
"Where the bloody hell have you been?" Spike shouted. "We've gone through AT LEAST twenty orders of chicken chow main."
"Sorry, complications." Draco said.
"Well did you get the book?" Buffy asked.
"No. But I found Willow, I hope that's good enough."
"You what?" Dawn exclaimed.
* * * * *
Well that concludes another chapter of The Sunnydale Saga. Please review this or any other chapter because I hate writing when I feel like no one's
reading it. So readers if you're out there: REVIEW! Muchas Gracias.
The tall man by the register was scruffy and poorly groomed. He wore a beige colored heavy cloth poncho with colored stripes over a bubblegum pink three quarter sleeve top. The only pieces of clothing on his body that were somewhat normal were the old brown bowler cap that sat slanted on top of his head barely covering his right eye, and the worn Birkenstocks on his feet.
"Moody, I see you've selected another atrocious disguise for your visit to the muggle world." Sirius said, giving his friend a pat on the shoulder for his effort.
The man grunted and in a raspy low voice said "Yes, well, It is somewhat difficult to put together a passable muggle outfit when you're only suppliers is a Spaniard whose only passion is running the Ohio State Prison division of a fan club of a rather busty blonde named Britney." He pulled up his poncho to fully reveal the pink shirt, on which was written "Marry Me Britney Spears" in curly fuchsia cursive.
Sirius laughed heartily. "Been stealing the inmates' extra clothes from a Muggle prison have we?"
"Well I tried going to a mall but they wouldn't accept pounds, so I went to have a rest in the park and before I know it, 3 muggle blokes in blue uniforms are forcing me to come with them to a shelter of some kind."
"A shelter?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, I believe that's what the men called it."
Buffy snorted. "Umm. I think they thought you were homeless."
" Well, that explains it. Right. Down to business. Which one of you is the girl?" Moody waved his finger at Buffy and Dawn.
"Uhh." Xander mumbled hesitantly. "She's gone."
"Gone? Where did she go?" Moody asked surprised.
"On holiday?" Spike suggested.
* * * * * The cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley were almost completely deserted on that foggy Monday morning. Willow found the wizarding world completely unlike the mystical place she had expected. The shopkeepers were not mysterious gypsy people with turbans and heavy dark jewelry, but simple people dressed in regular suits and dresses. The shops were not filled with pentacles and ancient medallions. Most of them looked more like sporting goods shops for wizards. The cauldrons and potion kits in the windows she passed by were not old and rusty like she had expected. They were shiny and new, some even came in bright colors like pink and blue. However there was one place that was exactly how she had imagined it. A tiny spell book shop called Smith's. As Narcissa consulted her butler on which evening wear shop to go to, Willow peered into the small bookshop. Thousands and thousands of dusty leather bound books of all sizes stacked the many mahogany shelves. The ancient floor was covered with many equally dusty oriental rugs. A sign hung from the door that read
Smith's Spell Books:
Books for all of your needs from alligators to warts
Below it was another sign, explaining how there was a sale on the Manda's Magical Magazine, especially the Organize Your Workplace edition. The shopkeeper was a tiny old man with thick rimmed glasses and striped olive green vest with a gold circular watch on a chain spilling out from the vest pocket. He was typing away slowely on an old fashioned black typewriter. The shop was empty. Outside of the shop, two balding men sat on a bench nearby in fancy suits and ties, each with open newspapers.They were discussing something. Willow looked back at Narcissa who had an irritated look on her face and was still in deep conversation with Edward the butler. She couldn't help remembering Charles' warning about the extent to which her temper could rise, but decided to move closer anyway. She slipped away slowly to better hear what the two men were saying;
"Oh yes, here!" The man on the left pointed to a spot on the page of his newspaper and read aloud; "Ginny Weasely, close friend of the Minister of Magic, Harry Potter, who was once believed to be murdered by Tom Riddle AKA Lord Voldemort, was seen at a local tavern."
"Bollocks!" Said the other man. "She's been dead for nearly 2 years! What kind of newspaper is this, The Quibbler?"
"This is the bloody Daily Prophet and it says right here she's alive!"
"Well I won't believe it unless the girl herself shows up for my daughter's birthday party. It's probably just a rumor, people don't just come back from the dead."
Willow found herself drifting closer and closer, wanting to hear more about this girl. Narcissa's hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her back, sinking her pointy nails into her skin.
"Thought we'd try to run away did we?" She snarled.
"Oh- no I just-" Willow began.
"Nevermind!" She snapped "I guess I'll just have to keep a closer watch on you." She signaled to follow her and they resumed their fast walking.
It took nearly three hours before Narcissa was content, finally having found the most revolting, unflattering piece of cloth in the entire of England. The color she had to admit was very nice, a deep plum, almost black. However the velvet bow, over-padded shoulders, and highly cut square neckline pretty much destroyed any chance of her looking decent.
When they got back to the Malfoy Mansion, Willow was escorted by a house elf to the guest bathroom and told to dress and ready herself, the elf would be back to take her to dinner shortly. Sure enough the elf returned a few minutes later and led the way to the dining room.
"Please hurry miss, Mistress does not like to wait." The elf said as they walked along a dark corridor.
"So I've heard." Willow muttered.
But as they were turning a corner Willow felt a tap on her shoulder. She jumped and turned around. There was nothing there. She looked back at the house elf, who was still leading the way. She decided to look back once more but when she did Draco Malfoy was standing in front of her. Before she could make a sound Draco covered her mouth with his hands. The he put his other hand to his lips and motioned for her to follow the elf with his eyes. Draco disappeared again and Willow hurried to catch up to the elf. She glanced around nervously as she walked, looking for any sign of Draco.
Willow was so caught up searching for Draco she nearly knocked the elf over when it stopped in front of two brass doors. The elf glared at her and opened the doors to reveal a magnificent dining room. The table was set with glittering gold plates and silverware. Glory sat at the head of the table in a red dress. Willow wondered why Narcissa wasn't sitting there since it was HER house. Narcissa sat in the seat next to her.
"Sit, girl." Glory said loudly and beckoned her to the table with her finger.
Willow sat, squirming in seat from the scratchy velvet of her dress.
"I'm sorry do you have fleas?" Glory sneered.
Willow ignored her, and resumed looking for Draco again. But a half an hour passed and still no sign of him. Dinner was dull. She knew it would be pointless to poison her so she ate the food happily, but of course she didn't show it. The main course was lobster. She found her self not having to fake the sour look on her face because she despised sea food. Finally it came to an end and Narcissa suggested they all adjourn the living room for drinks.
"There is a person who especially wishes to meet you." She said with a smug look on her face.
She decided not to ask who, she was well accustomed to the way evil people tried to make themselves look mysterious and knew the only answer she would get was a "you will see" or something."
The living room was rather more like a ballroom. She waited impatiently for this person who wanted so badly to meet her. Then suddenly a cloud like form flew through the wall and to Narcissa's side. When it stopped she could see that it was not a cloud but infact the a misty outline of a man.
"Lucius, darling. Our special guest is here." Narcissa said to it. They both looked at Willow. "This is the key."
"Lucius? Lucius Malfoy? But you're-" Willow said in shock.
"Watch your manners girl!" Narcissa screamed. She glared intensely at Willow and went completely white.
"Calm yourself, Narcissa." Said the man. He floated closer to Willow. His cloudy body had long strait hair and a sharp jawline. "So this is the famous key." He said slowely.
"What are you?" Willow asked.
"Have you ever heard of a little thing called.a ghost?" He baby talked to her, amused.
"You're the ghost of Draco's father?"
Lucius's little smile turned cold. "Don't you dare ever speak that the name in this household ever, ever again, do you understand?" The tone of his voice was so icy that Willow shivered and nodded quickly.
* * * * * Draco stepped quietly into the shadows as Willow walked away. He apparated back to the Magic shop.
"Where the bloody hell have you been?" Spike shouted. "We've gone through AT LEAST twenty orders of chicken chow main."
"Sorry, complications." Draco said.
"Well did you get the book?" Buffy asked.
"No. But I found Willow, I hope that's good enough."
"You what?" Dawn exclaimed.
* * * * *
Well that concludes another chapter of The Sunnydale Saga. Please review this or any other chapter because I hate writing when I feel like no one's
reading it. So readers if you're out there: REVIEW! Muchas Gracias.
