Chapter Twenty-three

Hogsmeade

Months passed, and I heard nothing more from my parents' voices. It became frustrating, nights sleepless with thinking about them. I'd not plucked up enough courage to talk to Harry Potter yet, and no one else knew about the voices because I thought I was probably imagining them. Kerry and I remained friends, and the relationship between Draco and me surprisingly became better. Although I hadn't ever told him about the necklace's full purpose, we still remained good friends. I became much more used to seeing Quirrell appearing through walls, and he'd made good friends with some of the ghosts such as the Fat Friar. Malfoy didn't appreciate Quirrell appearing and greeting us on the way to breakfast as much as I did. It was almost reassuring to know as long as he was there and happy it meant that Voldermort was busy somewhere else. Snape was his usual self, not paying any more attention to me in potions as he had before the Labor herb. Occasionally we'd talk, but I knew the bond wasn't ever going to get stronger than him occasionally calling me his niece, because the Snape family were just like that. The dark mark on his arm stayed quiet. The Easter holidays came and went without much ceremony. I was still without a broom, but as I wasn't flying anywhere, it didn't bother me. The first weekend for Hogsmeade was the weekend before Easter Sunday, and Kerry wanted me to come. I wanted to go, but I knew I had to talk to Snape about it first, because we couldn't be sure that Voldermort was lulling us into a false sense of security.

"I've no problem particularly Elixa. I'll be going in anyway, I need to get some supplies. Potter has been pilfering my supplies again I think. I'll have him one night, invisibility cloak or no invisibility cloak, I won't have him stealing." I watched my uncle inspect the bottles and other assorted glass containers in the cupboard which was normally locked.

"Put dried elder leaves down." He told me. I picked up the quill and list and added the ingredient to the parchment. "And Hazel- side shoots and twigs down too." He added, frowning at the few remaining twigs at the bottom of the pot.

"And can you tell what Mr Potter would be making by what he's taken?" Snape shot me a look that told me he didn't appreciate me mocking his hate for Harry Potter.

"Sorry. Gryffindor speaking." I smiled.

Most of the school went into Hogsmeade that day. Malfoy and I had arranged to meet up mid-morning in Honeydukes. The sweetshop was bound to be busy, so I met Malfoy outside.

"Any thoughts on which broom you want to get?" Draco asked. I shook my head, putting the two new pots of ink into my bag carefully.

"Well, we'll see what's in there." He smiled. I nodded and we walked down to the shop, Malfoy putting his arm around my waist. He'd grown slightly since we first went to the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, but I was still a head at least above him. We walked in and began to look. After about ten minutes looking, the bell above the door rang as someone else came in. Malfoy glanced round and then looked back.

"Its Snape." He told me.

"So do you think it would be worthwhile getting the firebolt or not?" I asked him. I didn't particularly care that Snape had walked in.

"I think you should, I'm sure you've got some talent for Quidditch in there." He prodded me in the side.

"Thanks." I said and gave a grin.

"But if I'm not on the house team, there's no way I'll get to play Quidditch that often is there?" Malfoy shrugged. I saw Malfoy turn to look across the shop, and then he suddenly looked up.

"Good morning Mr Malfoy, I thought the firebolt was one down from your current broom?" Snape addressed Draco in the voice that put fear into students.

"No Professor, I was giving advice to Elixa." I looked round slowly.

"Miss Amethyst." Snape gave a slight nod.

"Professor Snape." I replied.

"I'd agree with Mr Malfoy on the choice of a firebolt. It shows his Quidditch knowledge extends further than his family's wealth for once." Draco was offended, and seemed to glare slightly at Snape.

"You underestimate Malfoy Professor, wealth doesn't buy brains, but Mr Malfoy just happens to be blessed with both brains and money." Snape regarded me with one eyebrow lifted.

"Good day Miss Amethyst, Mr Malfoy." He said, and promptly left the shop.