Chapter 12: I'll buy her the books


Lucius Malfoy sat in his study and opened his son's letter. It hadn't been one day and he was already whining about something, scowling he began to read. Potter hadn't accepted him as a friend, well that didn't surprise Lucius in the slightest. His son had probably given Potter an awful picture of himself. As was confirmed in the letter. Potter and Draco had been at Madam Malkin's at the same time and Draco had insulted the huge oaf Hagrid.

"Stupid boy," Lucius sighed, having Potter as a friend would have been good for their image. Damn to hell with the boy. Had Draco not run his mouth surely Potter would have accepted his offer of friendship. But what the hell was this about a mudblood being sorted in Slytherin? And that said mudblood bitch attacking his son?! WHY HADN'T SEVERUS INFORMED HIM ABOUT THIS?!

"Everything alright darling?" Narcissa asked bringing him a glass of firewhiskey.

"Mudblood sorted into Slytherin, unheard-of!" Lucius complained and took the glass his wife offered him, "And that said mudblood attacked my son!"

"What! Why hasn't Severus informed us about any of this?" Narcissa cried out.

"I will go to Hogwarts," Lucius stated dramatically and stood up.

"Already? Darling, isn't it too early to pay a visit?" Narcissa appealed, she had wished to spend the day with her husband but obviously, he had other plans. Narcissa was disappointed, Lucius was never home and she was tired of spending her days alone.

"What did you have in mind?" Lucius asked and pulled Narcissa into his arms.

"Maybe you could take me out and have some time together. You are never home nowadays and I miss you," Narcissa said looking into her husband's beautiful grey eyes.

"Cissa, darling, you could have told me you felt lonely," Lucius replied kissing her forehead, "I could get a few house-elves-"

But before Lucius could finish his sentence Narcissa had pushed him away and hit him several times across his chest, "HOUSE-ELVES?! LUCIUS I MARRIED YOU NOT SOME BLOODY HOUSE-ELF!"

"Cissa!" Lucius watched as Narcissa exited the room. Damn it. He had upset her. Once again. "I will make it up to her when I get home from Hogwarts. Yes, buy her flowers and that chocolate she loves so much... And take her out if that's what she wants."


"I haven't changed my mind, Severus," Dumbledore said calmly.

"Are you kidding me?! The girl can't afford any of this stuff!" Severus snarled scowling at the old man. The headmaster wouldn't make the girl suffer as he had suffered during his time at Hogwarts. Severus didn't accept it. He couldn't accept it.

"Severus, the girl has to-," Dumbledore began but was interrupted by Severus.

"I won't let you ruin this for her! You are repeating your mistakes Headmaster!" Severus spat, his patience with the old man was getting thin once again.

"My point stands Severus," Dumbledore stated his voice remarkably colder than before.

"SHE IS 11 YEARS OLD ALBUS! SHE IS NOT EVIL! SHE IS JUST A CHILD!" Severus yelled, his temper flaring. He had got enough of people calling his students devils and whatever else. No one else stood up to them so it was his job to do so.

"If that was all, Severus," Dumbledore said coldly trying to dismiss the younger man.

"IF THAT WAS- What are we fighting for?! SHE IS MUGGLEBORN! You can't be this prejudiced towards my house!" Severus hissed hating the old man in front of him.

"We both know where the students will end, Severus," Dumbledore stated his voice icy, "Remember your place."

Severus couldn't make himself reply anymore, he was speechless. The disgust and anger made speaking impossible. The man sitting in front of him couldn't be kidding. "You told me to try to stop them from ruining their lives. You told me to- Oh, I see," Severus narrowed his eyes. He had come to a realization, the headmaster had given him an impossible task. Impossible because the world around them had already decided that the young Slytherin students were already a lost case, "You set me up to fail. If you already knew they were a lost case and believe me you did not help my job reminding them about it every chance you got, why try at all?!"

"Severus, you're responsible to try," Dumbledore stated, "no one blames you."

"No one blames me, don't speak shit," Severus thought scowling. Dumbledore blamed him, Severus knew that. Who else would the old man blame other than the sour, lonely professor? Severus mentally slapped himself, he should have known better than thinking the man could have changed. Obviously not. Once again Severus had been used. And for what? Failure. "If the school won't lend the money, I will buy her the books," Severus spoke lazily and almost smirked when he saw the scandalized expression Dumbledore wore on his face.

"Severus, why are you doing this?" Dumbledore questioned his voice serious.

"Because no one else will," Severus said, and with that, he swept out of the room.


"Professor, where are we going?" Hermione asked curiously.

"London," Severus replied and looked at the girl, "Diagon Alley."

"Oh, but I have classes. How long will it take? I don't really want to fall behind," Hermione asked feeling anxious, she really didn't want to miss the first lessons.

"Whole day probably, I asked Dumbledore to cover for me as it is you need a wand and books," Severus explained and noticed the girl was about to start panicking, "I'll help you, you'll catch up them as fast as possible, don't worry about it."

Hermione relaxed, "Thank you, Sir. I'd hate to fall behind."

"She is an overachiever, hmm... interesting... interesting indeed," he thought, the girl seemed so insecure about herself which didn't really surprise him, the girl didn't exactly have a nice life. "As long as you keep this to yourself, Miss Granger, you are welcome," Severus replied not able to dismiss her.

"Are we going to apparate again?" Hermione asked hopefully and saw her professor confirming her hopes by nodding. As they got off the school grounds Severus offered her his arm as he had done the previous time and she took a grip. Once again she felt as if she was pressed from all directions as if her eyeballs were being forced back into her head. Hermione had closed her eyes again, and as she opened them they were standing in a dark alley somewhere in London.

"Professor? Where are we?" Hermione asked, surely they hadn't got lost.

"London, we're going through Leaky cauldron," Severus explained looking around and making sure they weren't being listened to, seeing the questioning look on Hermione's face he decided to explain, "Leaky cauldron is a pub, muggles can't see it. You can go to Diagon Alley through the said pub. I will show you how."

"Thank you, Sir. Thank you for everything," Hermione said and gave a shy smile, "Do I still have the detention? Sir, it is unfair, I defended myself."

"Life isn't fair, Miss Granger. It may feel unfair, but I don't accept fighting," Severus replied, "However I remind you to not run your mouth around Malfoy, he is going to make your life a living hell if you continue doing so."

"But why didn't he get detention?" Hermione asked bitterly.

"Pureblood parents are very strict. However, given the circumstances, I expect I'll be hearing from his parents soon," Severus murmured.

"You're right, you damn well will," a voice spoke from behind them.


A/n: Yeah, we are going to meet Lucius. I have just lost my job and have been a bit lost so sorry for not writing much. I hope you liked it, leave a comment and share. Thank you for reading :)