The next few weeks dragged on endlessly, until the day before she would finally leave for Hogwarts. Today, she and her father were at Borgin & Burkes, the largest establishment in Knockturn Alley. She was waiting out side the shop as her father had asked her to. Hope pulled the hood of her robes over her head so that no one could see her face.

Ten or so minutes later her father returned out side of the store with a box under his arm. Slowly they made their way through the crowd and entered Diagon Alley; she watched her father as he moved towards The Leaky Cauldron. She followed her father in, glancing around. She noticed he had walked over to someone and was speaking to them. Hope couldn't exactly make out who the person was, so she slowly made her way over, and heard her father speaking.

"And you sure its not too much trouble?" Her father asked in an oddly friendly tone.

"No, not at all" The response was from a familiar voice, one she knew she should recognize.

"All right there, I must be leaving soon. Don't want to be late."

Then Hope's father turned to face her, as did the woman he was speaking to, it was Narcissa Malfoy.

"Hope,--" He paused for a moment before continuing," Narcissa will be helping you find the supplies you need for school this year."

Pulling back her hood, Hope forced a smile, "Thank you Mrs. Malfoy."

At that moment someone entered and Hope watched her father leave, mumbling a greeting to the person who had come in.

"Hope, here is the money your father gave me for your supplies. I have a few things to get done myself so; being your sixteen I believe you can look after your self."

Hope nodded, then Narcissa continued speaking,"Draco is already gathering the supplies he needs and if you should need to ask him something I imagine he wont be too hard to find."

Again Hope nodded, not much wanting to speak. Then turned to leave, placing the money in the pocket of her black robes. Entering the sunshine, she looked around trying to find which shop to go to.

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Within and hour or so she had already been to Flourish & Blotts, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, and Slug & Jiggers Apothecary.

She sighed as she walked out of the last shop, and looked around. Seeing a shop called Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes she became interested and entered.

When she entered the store she could instantly tell it was a joke shop. She saw two boys with red hair, who appeared to be maybe a year or two older than her. One of them quickly looked up as she walked in.

"Well hello there. "The boy spoke with a smile on his face, "Looking for anything in particular?"

Hope watched him for a moment,"Umm.. No not really. Just looking."

The boy nodded, and the other one, who looked to be his twin, spoke up. "By the way, his name is Fred, and I'm George."

"I'm Hope. Hope Evans.."

George spoke again, "Nice to meet you." She then saw him glance at the bags she was carrying, "Shopping for school?"

Glancing at the bags herself, she nodded,"Yeah.. Actually I was-"She heard the shop door open, stopped speaking, and turned to see who had come in. It was Draco, and he had his usual smirk on his face. She saw him look at Fred and George, then to her.

"Hope, what are you doing in here?" He spoke with a slightly puzzled face; then she answered,"Looking around."

Draco made a face almost as if she had just insulted him,"Looking around? In here? Have you lost your mind?"

Fred spoke up, "Malfoy, get out. She has every right to be here if she wants to be."

Hope stood there, confused about what was happening, she answered Draco, "Yes looking around, and yes in here. Do I have to be insane to want to look in a store?"

Draco glared at Fred," Believe me I don't enjoy being here.." He paused looking at Hope, "Come on, let's go."

Draco turned and walked out of the store; just before Hope did the same she sighed and looked back at the twins, "Sorry."

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