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Step carefully unthinking child
We have been here before
A thousand centuries, but a wink:
It is us whom you follow.
Mahvesh Khan-Dialogue: Past & Present
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The first thing Draco did when they exited the bookstore was take deep gulps of fresh air. Though the sun still shined as intensely as before, the atmosphere outside was nowhere near as unbearable as that within Flourish and Blotts. Kerwin glanced over to Draco and smiled sympathetically as his friend grimaced disgustedly at the state of his attire. Kerwin, accustomed to the humidity and sweat brought by wearing three layers of clothing at all times, was not affected by the temperature. Draco looked rather put out about his damp hair and uncomfortable clothing though. Kerwin was suddenly distracted as he felt a gust of warm air escape Flourish and Blotts. A red-head, sack-totting boy stumbled out of the store gasping for breath.
"Air!" Ron shouted exultantly. Draco sneered at Weasley and began to walk briskly in the direction of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
"Come Kerwin." he tossed back haughtily just as Harry and Hermione appeared juggling part and parcel of their newly bought books. Hermione already had one volume, "Dual Dueling", propped open in her hands. Harry looked between Draco's back and Ron's angry expression before sending a look of askance Kerwin's way. Kerwin shook his head to indicate that there had not been an altercation. Harry smiled gratefully while Hermione remained oblivious to all but her text.
"I guess we'll be seeing you at school, Kerwin?" Harry offered in parting. The name caught Hermione's attention and she glanced up quickly.
"I look forward to speaking with you at school, Kerwin. Perhaps we could even have an intellectual discussion sometime?" Hermione interrupted interestedly and held out a hand.
"Kerwin!" Draco shouted impatiently from the front of the Owl Emporium.
"Your Master calls." Ron mocked snidely under his breath. Harry elbowed his friend in the ribs as Hermione provided the disapproving glare. Kerwin refused to acknowledge the boy and addressed himself to Harry and Hermione.
"Actually, I look forward to seeing you both. And, that sounds like a most enjoyable plan Miss. Granger; I am most interested to hear your views concerning house rivalries and inter-house relations." Kerwin grasped her hand, squeezed momentarily, and released it. Brief nods to a curious Harry and flabbergasted Ron concluded his farewells. When Kerwin caught up with Draco the blond huffed in annoyance and stalked into the Shoppe without a word. Kerwin smiled in amusement as the door fell back in place; Draco hadn't had the decency to hold it for him. With a shrug, Kerwin pulled the glass door open.
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The first thing to assault him was the noise which permeated the air like a dull echoing roar. Kerwin allowed a moment to pass simply to adjust and acquire his bearings. The next moment the door clattered merrily open and Kerwin was forced to employ his superb agility in sidestepping the incoming horde of munchkin monsters...er, seven year old boys. The boys were chaperoned by a bedraggled looking man who was being pulled forcibly into the store by two boys grasping his arms. The rowdy bunch scrabbled rambunctiously up to the counter shouting out their desired treats at the top of their lungs.
x
Florean's was doubly crowded as it was, Kerwin could tell, due to the scorching midday sun. Patrons made ample use of the cool inner room, standing and sitting around in large groups at the various ruby-colored booths. Two acquainted families had apparently consolidated a collection of tables together and were currently enjoying themselves most excessively.
"Mummy, Mummy look it! Look it! It's turning to water on my hand! It's icky Mummy! Lick it quick!" A little girl cried shrilly. The three year old stood on her chair holding up a melting cone. Globules of dripping chocolate dessert covered her hand and stained her dress. A distressed sibling held tightly unto the child's frilly clothing and searched desperately for his mother. Kerwin debated intervening until a vigilant adult caught sight of the precarious situation and cajoled the child into sitting properly in her chair. With one disaster diverted, Kerwin was left to wish fervently that some of the other adults would do likewise with their own spawn...er, children.
x
Little, peddling feet scurried across the floor while shrill voices shrieked with utter delight. Kerwin was jostled by a screaming girl with pigtails, shoved and stepped on by the boys chasing her, and yelled at for consequently bumping into a table. The couple, who were sharing a strawberry milkshake, had whipped cream smeared across their faces as result from the upheaval. Kerwin noted, however, that they found a pleasurable way of removing the substance other than using a napkin. Trying to avoid staring at the couple who were too busy sucking each other's face to notice, Kerwin made his way up to the counter.
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While waiting at the counter for his Tropical Tsunami, a cream dish of five tropical-flavored scoops of ice cream in a coconut-meat bowl, Kerwin spied Draco sulking in a shady corner of the Parlor. The Slytherin sat away from the crystal windows and the glaring sun. Florean promptly served Kerwin his order, interrupting the boy from his blatant staring. Kerwin slipped the remaining pocket change from his book purchases into Fortescue's hand and headed over to Draco. The blonde didn't even acknowledge Kerwin's presence as he brooded over his liquefying frozen treat. A sullen expression turned Draco's lips and his wispy bangs hid the fleeting glances he sent towards Kerwin.
"Ye know; t' pity another is a waste o' time, but t' pity oneself is e'en more so." Kerwin murmured quietly. Draco's head whipped up to reveal a fierce glare.
"What need have I to pity myself? I've got everything I want, unlike that pathetically poor Weasel!" Draco snarled, barely above a whisper.
"I ne'er implied tha' ye pitied Mr. Weasley. I was on'y pointin' out tha' sittin' there actin' morose wasna gonna make me apologize fer speakin' wit' Mr. Potter and Miss. Granger." Kerwin intoned patiently. As a mortified flame reached Draco's cheeks, Kerwin savored his first scoop of ice cream.
"I don't pity that, that, that damn gryffindork!" Draco spluttered indignantly. Kerwin deigned not to speak. Silence descended on the table like a vacuum and slowly Kerwin's treat was reduced to a few liquid pools at the base of the coconut. Draco sighed, unexpectedly breaking the silence.
"Why were you so strange around Granger?" Draco finally asked seeming to have forgiven Kerwin's perceived slight. Kerwin ruminated on the question briefly while he sucked on the plastic spoon coated with ice-cream coated coconut meat.
"How do ye mean strange? If ye mean me accent, I dunna always speak wit' it. Fer example, when we go t' school I'll be speakin' like I did wit' Miss. Granger. It's easier fer me t' speak like this then 'tis fer me t' pronounce everthin' correctly because this is me natural dialect. Sad t' say though tha' some o' my previous teachers took a dislikin' t' it an' I was punished fer it." Kerwin explained conversationally.
"That must have been in Durmstrang, right?"
"Aye, me very first year o' school. O' course at Debarach de Domine we were speakin' Russian an' lots o' people had accents 'cause they weren't native speakers t' begin wit'." Kewin's focus was on his hands which were carefully breaking apart the coconut bowl into equal pieces. He offered one half to Draco, who accepted the proffered peace token, and they lapsed into silence again. All around the two boys the hailstorm of noise escalated as more Hogwarts bound students entered the shop to enjoy a refreshing dish of Fortescue's desserts. To Kerwin it seemed as if every person was vying to be heard above everyone else. Soon enough Draco had finished his coconut and Kerwin tossed the rest of his in favor of escaping the deafening din.
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Outside, Kerwin noticed that he was not the only one to breathe more easily after the suffocating atmosphere of the Ice Cream Parlor. Living in a huge and spacious mansion undoubtedly had an effect on one's perceived personal space. Kerwin wondered just how Draco coped at a school surrounded by so many students and lacking all privacy. Kerwin disliked close quarters at best and absolutely abhorred them at worst.
x
The facts were, Kerwin was slightly nervous to be going to Hogwarts. When he'd attended Debarach de Domine it was not unusual for students to skip out of school and spend the entire night within the mountainous forests. In fact, teachers would encourage the excursions as a sort of survival prep class. According to Draco however, Hogwarts had a curfew and a strict one from how he detailed harsh point deductions for being out in the corridors past the specified time. A frown marred Kerwin's face and he tensed just thinking of being locked within a castle along with thousands of children.
"Do you want to stop at Madame Malkin's before heading to Knockturn Alley?" Draco cut in on Kerwin's contemplation. Kerwin realized suddenly that the pair was halted in front of the aforementioned shop. Inside the clothing store, Kerwin could see a young first year being fitted for her robes. The slightly chubby brunette was flush with excitement and her mouth was moving rapidly as she spoke with someone Kerwin could not see. Kerwin turned the question over in his mind and debated interrupting the fitting to collect his ordered items. After the intense noise of Fortescue's Kerwin didn't relish the idea of enduring more inane chatter.
"Is there a floo station we could use in Knockturn Alley?"
"Yes, there's one in Borgin's shop. I'm sure he'd let us use it; my father has had business dealings with him." Draco answered promptly, correctly interpreting Kerwin's desire to avoid interaction if possible.
"Very well, let's get this o'er wit'." Kerwin conceded.
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Once again the invisible bell tinkled as they entered the shop. Draco stood to the side to allow Kerwin entrance and together they stood waiting to be acknowledged in due time.
"Oh, I've got more customers! If you'll please, wait for a moment?" Madame Malkin's harried voice called out. Draco rolled his eyes and leaned impatiently against the nearest wall. Kerwin quietly surveyed the isles of robes and began to browse. As he perused the hangers, Kerwin could hear the chirpy dialogue of the girl in the back and the answering voice of the equally animated boy he'd been unable to see outside. The two were discussing the merits of being in one Hogwarts house versus another. From the sounds of it the girl wanted to be in Hufflepuff and the boy in Gryffindor.
"They're rather droll aren't they?" Draco abruptly remarked from behind Kerwin, fingering some material in a displeased manner. The undersized boy shrugged but inclined his head.
"They're children, wha' d' ye expect?" Kerwin ran a hand along the racks of robes giving many only a cursory once-over. Draco sneered at the ratty second hand robes along the isle and made derogatory comments about Weasels under his breath.
"I don't expect anything other than some bratty eleven year olds." he rejoined. Kerwin threw back his head and laughed.
"Yer most wise in doin' so." Kerwin chuckled and Draco could not hide the curve to his lips.
x
The two boys had just reached the back of the shop near the archway to the back room when something behind the counter caught Kerwin's attention. Folded haphazardly on a shelf was a dark swathe of cloth that peeked from under a pile of plain, coarse, canvas apron fabric. He scrutinized the silky flowing material the color of twilight. It seemed to absorb and reflect the light simultaneously. The fluctuating patterns created by the light refracting off the noticeable sheen made Kerwin's eyes widen in disbelief.
"Elysium." Kerwin breathed in wonderment.
"I'm very surprised you know its original name, young man." Kerwin started violently, "Most people call it the heavenly or divine fabric nowadays." Madame Malkin eyed Kerwin peculiarly. Kerwin was suddenly very thankful for his concealing clothes. He hadn't even noticed the two first years leave or the woman approach him.
"Yeah, what's so divine about it?" Draco demanded disdainfully. Draco was once again displaying his impatient stance. Offended, Madame Malkin drew herself up to her full height and sniffed contemptuously. Kerwin was unexpectedly reminded of Draco's overly conceited disposition.
"It wouldn't matter if I told you. Not even Lucius Malfoy could afford it." Madame Malkin stated irreverently. Draco gave her a dubious look and regarded the cloth a second time. Sitting below the material, taped to the shelf, was a price tag that was well within the Malfoy green though an average patron would blanch at the exorbitance.
"Madame, I would like t' purchase tha' bolt o' Elysium an' collect me robes, if ye will." Kerwin solicited politely. For a moment the woman just stood gaping at him before she shook herself and bustled about getting his things together.
"I won't ask how you're planning on paying for the customization. I have a feeling you know what to do with this and how to go about getting it done. I only request that you not waste this material, it's very precious and rare." Madame Malkin murmured as she wrapped the bolt in brown paper and deposited it in one of her custom bags. Draco scoffed but Kerwin nodded gravely, paid for the impulsive buy, and accepted his acquisitions. Then the two boys quit the garment store with Draco ranting about the absurd assertion Madame Malkin made.
If Diagon Alley was the core of a bustling suburbia then Knockturn Alley was the heart of an inner city slum. Despite the day being brilliantly lit by the high sun, the backward alley was suffused with a pervading gloom. A dark, narrow street littered with broken glass, paper trash (no doubt a portkey or two), and shady characters sprawled outward with various hazardous dead ends in between. Kerwin easily picked up on the sinister creature hunched barely within one gapping maw of a darkened dead-end and the two lanky pickpockets conversing inaudibly within the shadowy arch of a doorway.
"Ten-o'clock." Draco muttered from the side of his mouth. The blonde's shoulders were hunched to hide his moving mouth and his hands were shoved deeply in his pockets, one of which contained his wand no doubt. Draco was not naive enough to think his name would protect him in these malevolent streets where illegal and criminal actions were practically law.
x
Kerwin followed the message, his eyes raked briefly over the three inebriated men outside of the Hanging Tavern. They were rambunctiously throwing empty beer bottles at the bar's insignia, a wooden shingle with a depiction of a hanged man engraved on it, and laughing raucously. For the moment the drunks were occupied, but they could easily be swayed to turn their attentions to harassing two wayward teens. Kerwin resolved not to draw undue attention to themselves and led Draco down a side street to avoid the drunks altogether. Stealthily they passed the back doors of various shops and were even forced to skirt around a few illicit transactions not even the disreputable alley would permit in the open.
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Once they came out from the back alleyways Kerwin led them to a shop with blacked out windows that had a sign over the door reading simply "Potions". Draco opened the door for them and they entered, giving the impression of belonging in there. This apothecary was surprisingly tidy in comparison to the one in Diagon Alley. Dazzling wash-light flooded the room, illuminating the assorted commodities. For the most part, the merchandise in evidence was the run-of-the-mill potions ingredients. The set up was also similar to that of Diagon Alley's; Kerwin found it much easier to read labels with the exceptional lighting though.
x
Glancing around proved the shop was inhabited by three other patrons, one of which Kerwin recognized. Derek Owynn stood inspecting two jars of Beetle's Eyes, trying to determine which one looked fresher. He deliberated one, then the other, then placed both back on the shelf with an exasperated sigh. Kerwin felt a smile tug his lips. Unlike Apothecary in Diagon Alley—which was a certified ingredients store backed by the Potions Association of Magical Properties—Potions was privately owned and the proprietor was not required to write the dates of acquisition on his ingredients. It was anyone's guess how concentrated any random element was. No self-respecting potions brewer relied on certain components acquired past their potency period; and most professional brewers could establish the effectiveness of an ingredient without labels.
"So what is it you have to get?" Draco inquired blandly as he fingered some gnarled ginger root that was clearly expired. Kerwin, still watching Derek struggle over his list of compulsory ingredients, saw the instant grin and the glint enter Derek's eyes as he caught sight of Kerwin.
"Oi, Kerwin! Come 'ere!" Derek called out, waving beckoningly. Kerwin nodded and, after Draco deposited the defective root back in its box, the two made their way over.
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"Which of these jars do you think is best?" Derek held out the identical jars before Kerwin could so much as say hello. Kerwin studied the two proffered jars closely and then took them in hand to examine more thoroughly. Meanwhile, Draco and Derek exchanged their pleasantries.
"Here, these should be good." Kerwin handed the selection to Derek to put in his basket while he placed the other back on the shelf for the next unsuspecting victim.
"Hey, thanks man. I didn't bank on choosing the right one but it would've really pissed me off if I got to school with a dud."
"Quite understandable." Kerwin agreed. Draco looked between them and then suspiciously at Derek.
"And why, pray tell, did you ask Kerwin to choose your ingredient?"
"Are you kidding? Kerwin is only the best student in Potions that I know!" Derek jerked a thumb in Kerwin's direction as he stared disbelieving at Draco, "Kerwin here is a fricken genius when it comes to school. Now, come help me find my other shit." Derek directed and proceeded to drag Kerwin all about the shop asking his opinion on each and every one of his components.
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After the eventful hunt to find all of Derek's potions supplies, Kerwin was only left with his own brief list to fulfill. Derek went off to pay for his things and bid them farewell in case he didn't see them before they left. Kerwin shook his head after his friend who was a chronic procrastinator. The boy still had his books and his robes to purchase and the shops around Diagon Alley would be closing soon. Draco began to get impatient and not a bit nervous. Kerwin was well aware that they had to be getting on soon before they caught hell from their fathers for being out late. A quick negotiation of the shelves brought up two of his final, yet crucial, ingredients. He could only find the Re'em blood and the Runspoore eggs.
"Let's go to the counter. Whatever you're looking for has to be in the back room." Draco suggested; Kerwin was scanning the shelves more closely as if he could burn the ingredients into corporeal existence with the strength of his glare alone. Kerwin nodded distractedly and allowed Draco to pull him along to the counter.
"What do you want?" The balding man with beady eyes, behind the register, demanded rudely. Draco looked affronted but held his tongue for fear the man would deny Kerwin what he searched for.
"I would like t' procure some Lobalug venom, Powdered Romainian Longhorn, an' Erumpent in the form o' horns, tails, an' fluid. Can tha' be arranged?" Kerwin asked bluntly. The man's eyes narrowed before he gave one succinct nod and disappeared into the back room. Draco snarled after him incoherently.
"Calm down Draco. He's jus' bein' a cantankerous ol' man." Kerwin pacified lowly as the man returned and settled the elements on the counter to be inspected and haggled over. Overall, Kerwin was pleased when they left the shop with his desired ingredients in his possession; and having not lost any extremities in acquiring them was always a good sign.