Chapter 8
HIS SON
Will was numb. He felt like a marionette and nobody spoke a word to him. The thin line of fantasy and reality blurred before his eyes. Every touch no matter how subtle was like fire to his bones. Marcus put a hand on Will's shoulder and Will yelped shortly. Ellen threw Marcus a reproving look, pursing her lips as she sipped her on-the-house sherry from Warrington. (Marcus' and hers dispute hadn't been resolved in the slightest so she was staying back and keeping Warrington company, occasionally twirling her finger in the now empty china pot of Floo Powder).
''See?'' she said, exasperated to her husband, slamming her sherry down hard. ''You've frightened the boy right out of his pants for all we know! Letting him see it! Marcus I'd have thought you had sense-''
''I do have perfect sense, Ellen.'' Said Marcus bitterly, his hand about to grasp his wand from inside his robes. ''You cannot protect him forever, you know.'' Ellen didn't answer she just sipped her sherry as if Marcus hadn't even spoken.
''We'll meet you back here, then?'' he asked her.
''You should.'' Said Ellen, placing three Sickles on the counter for another sherry.
''Fine.'' Said Marcus stiffly. ''We'll talk later.''
''And don't you dare tell him about Sussa-'' Ellen pressed.
''I haven't!'' Marcus yelled. ''Now, unless you're coming with us keep your mouth shut!'' he turned around sharply and tapped the necessary bricks which immediately began to turn this way and that to reveal an opening outwards to a cobblestone street.
If a person was to leave Diagon Alley twenty years ago and return on the day this collection of people had parted the bricks, their blood would run cold. Gone were the bright, sunny shops and cheery atmosphere. Now, remains of shops lined the streets, and no sun permeated Diagon Alley. Some shops had been desperately reconstructed in an attempt to still support families, but all attempts were dashed. Thick fog enveloped the place and there numerous call-outs made by Wizard bums who lined the street, hopelessly trying to earn a Knut.
''Wow.'' Will heard Sandra whisper.
''We'll meet you all back at the Leaky Cauldron, no excuses.'' Said Bill. ''Marcus and Ellen need to – er – patch things up a bit-''
''We do not, Bill.'' Marcus said stiffly. ''Ellen just treats Will like a child.''
''Marcus, the boy's only eleven years old!'' Bill retorted.
''He has dealt with as much as any of us here.'' Marcus said wisely.
''Fine.'' Bill said, jangling the gold in his pockets purposely. ''I'll buy you a drink.'' Marcus nodded, recognizing defeat and followed Bill and Fleur, who for some reason was crying silently back to the Leaky Cauldron.
The three young wizards stood stock-still. Afraid, it seemed to take even a step on the shattered grounds of Diagon Alley. They were all scared out of their minds, the blank, expressionless eyes of the impoverished people of a once thriving place bore into their skin.
''Git along then!'' an oily voice boomed. Will jumped out of his skin and spun around.
''No, you mindless minger.'' The voice said. ''Down 'ere.'' Will looked down to see an unshaven man with a slightly husky, yet unhealthy look about him wearing shabby light brown robes sitting against the remains of a shop and holding up a sign in one hand that proclaimed – FLOURISH & BLOTT'S in scraggly lettering.
''Oh. Sorry.'' Said Will, slightly embarrassed.
''Ar don't be, ya silly little bloke. I 'spose you and these two lovely, little birds'll be needin' books then?'' the man asked, gesturing at the sign with a scarred hand. Will nodded and went to hand the man the booklist, but the man held up his scarred hand and shook it, and smiling sadly revealing yellow teeth.
''I'm truly sorry all.'' He said, leaning back on the remains of the shop and sighing. ''But I'm 'fraid I've no books ta be sellin' ya.''
''Then what are we supposed to do?'' Ash asked, slightly miffed.
'' That school, Hogwarts 'as books for ya, miss. No need ta be worryin' . It's pretty much the same wiv every store here, 'cept for Zabes – the wand-maker.'' The man explained, motioning with his hands as if he were telling a story. ''Ever since the War burst through here see….'' His voice trailed off and the man sniffed. ''My 'pologies.'' He sniffed again. ''But I lost my wife and son in that raid…'' he bowed his head. ''Oh, look at me…'' the man said empathically. ''I-I shouldn't be tellin'… All of ya, git on wiv your shoppin' see, or wand-shoppin' really…'' Will stepped forward.
''Are you sure, sir?'' he asked.
''Yes.'' Said the man. ''Very sure. I'm not lettin' children make a mockery of education like I did.'' He waved them off.
''Well…'' said Sandra softly. ''It was nice meeting you sir…''
''Likewise.'' The man said, giving them a small smile. ''Now, you all git along there.''
The three of them turned on their heels, not even bothering to stop in and ask at the other shops as they were all shaking their heads and pointing at signs that read: SUPPLIES AVAILABLE AT HOGWARTS in varying degrees of shabby handwriting. No one was even at Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, it looked as if a landmine had exploded in it.
''Did you hear from your Uncle George at all?'' Will asked Ash and Sandra as they neared the wand shop.
''No. Not since –well-'' Sandra fumbled.
''You can say it!'' said Ash roughly. ''Since my mum and dad were murdered.'' No one said a word.
''C'mon.'' said Sandra suddenly, pointing at the only intact building in Diagon Alley. It read: ZABES, Maker of Fine Wands Since 380 B.C.
They walked into the shop, immediately under the impression they had walked into an endless library. All the shelves stretched up to the ceiling. Suddenly a withering young man swept down upon them. He had sandy hand and milky pale skin, but huge blue eyes.
''Mr. Malfoy, eh?'' the man said mysteriously, grasping his hands, and acting as if Ash and Sandra were parts of the wall. Will nodded.
''Pity.'' The man said, spitting through his teeth. ''Boy had good potential, mark these words, but bad blood consumed him. Bit of a coward, really…''
''I know, sir.'' Said Will coldly. The man gave a deep sigh a he pulled out a bronze measuring tape which immediately gave Will strange sensations as it measured nostril-to-nostril and the length of his hair, eyes, and ear lobes.
''Name's Warren Zabes.'' The man said. ''What's your wand-hand, boy?''
''Right.'' said Will automatically. Immediately Zabes shoved a wand into Will's hand.
''What is-''
''That's oak.'' Said Warren promptly. ''Unicorn tail hair core, about fourteen inches.''
Will waved it but somehow it sent Ash flying halfway across the room and crashing into a lantern.
''OW!'' she said roughly, standing up and brushing off her dark blue sweater. ''What on Earth are you doing, Will?'' she said furiously.
''I don't have control over it Ash!'' Will yelled. ''I'm sorry!'' Zabes took the wand from Will.
''The both of you, out.'' He said firmly. ''You two girls.''
''But-'' Ash sputtered furiously.
''Don't get your bloomers in a bunch.'' Zabes snapped.
''But-but-'' Ash snapped, Sandra heaving her cousin out of the shop with immense difficulty. ''We-we need wands too Mr. Zabes!''
''We'll get them Ash!'' Sandra yelled at her cousin. Ash continued to curse at the injustice of the situation and refused to move from peering into the window.
''Now.'' Said Zabes, walked stooped toward Will, clasping his veined hands together. ''You know why you're here, don't you, boy?'' he asked.
''To get a wand.'' Said Will, waveringly.
''Yes, yes.'' Zabes said impatiently, as if the entire prospect of a wand seemed absolutely pointless to a wizards' magical education throughout Hogwarts. ''But- do you know why-'' Warren paused as he saw Ash's big, blue eyes peering through the window and slapping at Sandra's forearm to keep her from tugging her away. He waved his wand rather effortlessly and Will could no longer see Ash's nosy little face as the windows had blackened themselves.
''-Why you're here, William?'' he asked.
''To get school stuff.'' said Will plainly as if the answer was quite obvious despite what the war had done.
''No! No!'' said Zabes impatiently. ''My dear, dear boy.'' He said, his voice cracking with age. ''My dear, dear boy…. You, you're the son of the most feared Death-Eater since Bellatrix Lestrange!''
''I wouldn't like to-'' Will began furiously.
''I'm not done!'' said Zabes angrily. ''You! William Lucius Malfoy! Malfoy! William! Malfoy! Keep this is mind Will.'' Zabes looked at Will closely, clutching his hands, their faces barely an inch apart.
''Your choices are what sculpts you William. Nothing else.'' Zabes whispered.
''Sir-'' said Will nervously. ''What about my wand?''
''Oh, your wand became apparent to me soon after you were born.'' said Zabes wisely. He retreated to the shadows and soon came out with a slightly dusty box, slowly taking off the top. Inside lay a long, thin, semi-dark wand. Will took it out and felt his hand enclose around it.
''What is it?'' Will asked breathlessly.
''Holly.'' Said Zabes, limping. Will saw by the dim lantern light he was using a cane. ''Dragonheartstring, thirteen inches. Dragonheartstring. Peculiar it chose you at such a young age.''
''Why sir?'' Will asked, handing six Galleons to Zabes.
''Because, that's Dragonheartstring, the very core your father had.'' Zabes whispered.
''Now go on Willliam.'' Will, his blood running cold walked to the door and was about to open it when Zabes said:
''And William, remember.'' He told him holding up a withered hand.
It took no less than a half-an-hour to get Ash and Sandra their wands. Sandra's was Cherry, Phoenix Feather, and about nine inches. Ash's was Unicorn hair, Beachwood, and around eleven inches. However the amount of time it took disappointed Ash greatly.
''Why did he only take a half-an-hour with us?'' she said furiously. ''I mean he took an hour with you, Will!''
''Well be happy!'' Sandra said furiously. ''Zabes seemed weird to me.''
''Well what did you two talk about in there Will?'' said Ash snidely. ''Did he serve you tea and buttered crumpets?'' she said waspishly.
''I'd rather not talk about it.'' Said Will quietly.
''It's some super, important advanced spell, isn't it?'' said Ash madly. ''Like the Patronus Charm or something?''
''Ash!'' said Sandra, irritated. ''He told you he'd rather not say so for the love of Dumbledore don't crush him!''
'' 'Ello again.'' Said the man from Flourish and Blott's. He hadn't moved from his spot.
''Oh, hello.'' said Will, stopping.
''Shoppin' went well?'' he asked.
''Yes.'' said Will, apprehensively. ''Very well.''
''Well, you all have a good term.'' said the man, giving them a short wave with his scarred hand. Sandra and Will offered the man encouraging smiles, Ash just stalked off.
''Wait.'' The man called out. Will turned around.
''Yes sir?'' he asked.
''You Malfoy's son?'' he asked, breathlessly.
''Yes sir.'' said Will.
''Really now…'' the man said, standing up and grasping his hands. ''You are then. I heard Malfoy had a son, but 'e never bothered to say anything ta me. You look exactly like 'im, I wonder why I didn't see it before.''
''Did you know him, sir?'' Will asked curiously
''Know him!'' said the man disgustedly. ''I'm sorry ta say I turned inta a girl for him on countless occasions!''
''He made you turn in to a-'' Will said slowly.
''Yes, yes.'' Said the man airily. ''But I'd rather not talk about it.'' Sandra went in to a fit of hysterics, clutching her sides and laughing.
''Anyway.'' Said the man once Sandra had recovered. ''Name's Vincent Crabbe.'' He shook hands with both of them. ''You're William, right?''
''Yes sir.'' He nodded. ''And she's Sandra Weasley.'' Vincent shook hands with Sandra.
''Weasley?'' he said. ''I used to have a thing for your Auntie, but I never had the courage ta say anything. Now, don't be worryin' anybody.'' Vincent told them, offering them a small smile. ''Nice meetin' you both.''
''Pleasure.'' Said Will and Sandra in unison.
''And Will-'' Vincent told him. ''Don't be like your father. From what I know of ya, you may be related to him, but you aren't his son. Don't be a coward, understand?''
''Yes sir. Thank you.'' Will turned on his heel and ran after Ash back to the Leaky Cauldron.