"Kuro," Toshiko growled. "Let go of my bag." Kuro's eyes glinted at her mischievously and he tugged again. "Bad dog!"
"Toshi, " her father called. "You're going to pick up school supplies, right? You better hurry if you want to get everything today."
"I'm leaving, Tousan," she said. "But Kuro isn't letting go!"
Her father poked his head in the door. "Maybe he wants to come with you," he suggested, taking in the scene. "Kuro, do you want to go on a walk with Toshiko?"
At this, the dog's ears perked up and he trotted over, letting go of the bag.
"Guh," Toshiko complained. "Now it has dog slobber all over it."
"Do you have your money?" Her mother asked. "Stop by the supermarket while you're out. We're low on eggs."
"Yes, Kaasan," Toshiko said, leaning over to give her mother a quick peck on the cheek. "I'll be back before dinner."
Kuro by her side, Toshiko headed out to Diagon Alley. "No running off, ok?" she warned him. "I'll have my hands full as it is."
After exchanging currency at Gringotts, the first stop was Madame Malkins. Toshiko had hit a growth spurt over the summer. "Is there a charm to help my robes grow along with me?" Toshiko asked, digging into her coin pouch. Then it was to Flourish and Blotts, to pick up the required reading material for the year. Thankfully, she didn't need one of those scary-looking monster books. She fingered a few leather bound tomes a bit wistfully, but turned away when Kuro gave an impatient woof for her to hurry up. At the Apothecary, she restocked her potions kit which had gone low over the summer's brewing. Finally, laden with packages of all sizes, they lingered in front of the quidditch shop. "I've got all of my supplies," Toshiko told Kuro. "And there's definitely enough left over for eggs. Do you think I might buy a broom? This is my second year, you know." He prodded her in the back of her legs enthusiastically. "Okay," she laughed. "Let's go in."
"Welcome to Quality Quidditch," the wizard at the counter said. "Anything I can help you with, young lady?"
"I was hoping to get a broom," she said, looking around at the display, where a sleek looking broom called the Firebolt hung proudly.
"Kuroki!"
Ginny Weasley, a red headed Gryffindor who had shared potions with her the year before, was trying on some quidditch gloves. Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw and Toshiko's best friend, was also there.
"Weasley. Lovegood," she said with a pretense of formality. They all stood stiffly with their noses in the air before breaking into laughter and embracing each other.
"Going flying?" Luna inquired serenely.
"Trying out for your house team?" Ginny asked excitedly.
"Are you serious?" Toshiko snorted. "For all their talk of house solidarity, Slytherin would never let a muggleborn on the team, not even as a reserve."
Kuro woofed in indignation. Luna's eyes grew wide and she knelt down to examine the dog. "You found a friend!" She exclaimed.
"Yes, just about a month ago," Toshiko said. "I've written the Professors about taking him with me to Hogwarts. Whenever I leave the house without him, he howls something awful. I think his old master abandoned him or something."
"That's so sad," Ginny said. "Have you-"
"Little Basilisk!"
"Our sweet little Snakelet!"
Toshiko shrieked as she was picked up, practically tossed in the air by one of Ginny's brothers, and neatly caught by the other. They seemed to never tire in startling her ever since they had spooked her in the library her first year. After nearly suffering a heart attack from the scream, Madame Pince hadn't let her borrow books for a month.
Ginny sighed in annoyance even as Kuro barked a warning. "Kindly let my friend down, boys."
"But Forge," the one twin said. "She's the only one that reacts anymore."
"I know Gred," the other answered. "It's just too tempting."
Nevertheless, they set a spluttering Toshiko down. "You- you!"
"There's that charming glower," George said.
"If looks could kill!" Fred added cheerfully.
"Kuroki," said an amused voice. Everyone turned to see Draco Malfoy, who had just entered the shop. He was an incoming third year of a well-known pureblood family and didn't acknowledge her expect for passing snide remarks. Needless to say, they weren't good friends. "Are you being accosted by Gryffindors?" He asked in an unusual show of amiability. Was he mocking her or was this the Malfoy-Weasley feud talking?
The twins gasped in mock amazement. "Us?"
"We would never!"
Ginny sighed in while Luna giggled. "Yes," Toshiko said, giving Fred an George a pointed look. "They're lucky I didn't hex their ears off."
"I could do it for you, if you so wish," Malfoy offered casually.
Ginny shot him an alarmed look. "That won't be necessary," Toshiko replied, a bit strained. "I assure you that I am perfectly capable of defending my own honor."
"As it pleases you, then," Malfoy conceded. "Now, what brings you to this establishment?"
"She's looking for her broom," Luna said dreamily.
"The Firebolt, then?" Malfoy nodded. "Good choice."
"Ah, no," Toshiko said slowly, trying to phrase her words in an inoffensive manner to all parties. "I don't need anything quite so flashy. I'm not trying out for the team, after all." And it's outrageously expensive, she didn't add.
"I see," Malfoy smirked, no doubt guessing at her unsaid thoughts. "Well, allow me to point you in the right direction. I consider myself a bit of an expert in Quidditch."
"Oh, I wouldn't want to take up your time," Toshiko protested politely.
"Nonsense," he said dismissively. "It my duty, really. After all, I'd hardly expect you to know the ins and outs of Quidditch." Because you're a mudblood. Kuro growled and she hurriedly hushed him.
"Actually," Ginny cut in. "Toshiko is really good at strategy. She and I are always outlining plays."
"Is that so?" Malfoy asked patronizingly. "Well, we simply must compare notes sometime. Now, let's see about getting you a broom."
The trap had sprung shut. She couldn't refuse without coming off as rude. The Malfoy scion seemed to delight in talking about the most expensive brooms, smirking every time she hesitantly alluded to her tighter budget. Kuro's teeth were bared in a snarl. The Weasleys tried to help, pointing out cheaper brooms that they had previously had and, in Fred and George's case, recounting outrageous stories about them. This, however, only caused Malfoy to turn up his nose at them. For Luna's part, she dazedly mentioned that there were nargles all around.
Eventually, the store clerk took pity on her and brought out a long case. "Would the young lady like to look at this particular broom? It's called the Glimmerspin. A rather sensitive broom, and sentient at that. It's a fine one, but on clearance because of the number of times it's been returned." He opened the case.
"A sentient broom?" Toshiko asked, walking over and looking at the dark polished wood. "You mean it moves according to its own thoughts?"
"Sort of," the clerk said. "How about you give it a try?"
Toshiko reached out and felt a thrum of magic as her hand wrapped around it. "Hello," she said cordially. "Mind if I fly with you?" The wood seemed to warm in her hand and flew into riding position, startling everyone in proximity.
"I guess that's a yes," Ginny laughed. "Go on, give it a spin!"
Toshiko adjusted her grip and pushed off. The broom flashed upward towards the high ceiling of the Quidditch shop and she bit back a scream. She frantically nudged it away and it veered off at the last second, making her hang upside down. Kuro barked in alarm.
"Don't kill me, please," Toshiko told the broom weakly, her knuckles white as she hung on for dear life. It seemed to vibrate with amusement and flipped her back to right side up. Then it proceeded to race around the shop, rattling the items on the wall and whipping her hair into a frenzy. Toshiko gritted her teeth. She was not about to let some broomstick get the better of her like this. "Slow," she barked out. "Veer left." They narrowly avoided a hanging jersey arrangement and the Glimmerspin relaxed to a leisurely pace. "Down," she said sharply. It paid her no mind, still floating in lazy circles. "Down!" she commanded again. Still, it didn't listen. "Fine then," she said, taking a deep breath. "I'll just get off myself." She leapt off and twisted into a roll to absorb the impact. As soon as she got to her feet, the Glimmerspin spun with a flourish and returned to her hand. Kuro skidded over to make sure she was alright.
The Weasley twins clapped and whistled. "Jolly good show, Little Basilisk! Jolly good show!"
"I think it likes you," Luna said happily.
"I am so sorry," the store clerk said, running a hand over his face. "I never should have suggested it. That is why no one wants to buy this model."
"That's clear," Malfoy scoffed. "It looked like it was deliberately trying to break your neck!"
"It's alright," Toshiko said, as the broom jerked in protest to his words. "It was just trying to have a little fun."
"Koko," Ginny said slowly. "I know that I've said you need to put yourself out there and take more risks, but you can't possibly be thinking about buying that thing."
She turned critical eyes on the broom, not speaking. It hummed nervously. "How much?" she asked finally.
Ginny gasped. "Toshiko!"
"Kuroki, you can't be serious," Malfoy protested, frowning.
"She's not serious," Luna laughed. "He is!"
"How. Much?" Toshiko repeated firmly.
"W-well, it would be around 3 galleons and fourteen sickles," the clerk stammered.
"Done," she said, giving him the coins. Her hand closed securely around the wood of the handle and she turned to consult Ginny on other Quidditch gear.
"You shouldn't let Malfoy talk to you like that," Fred commented with uncharacteristic gravity. She glanced at him but said nothing.
"You know what we mean, Snakelet," George said. "He was being an uppity, pureblood prat!" Kuro barked in agreement.
"He's my housemate," she said, shrugging. "Just because I don't like him doesn't mean I can be disrespectful."
"And the same doesn't go for him?" Luna asked intuitively. Toshiko looked away.
"Koko," Ginny said, her eyes hard. "He was being insulting."
"He was being a Malfoy," Toshiko said matter-of-factly. "I'm not condoning his actions. I'm just saying that there isn't really anything I can do. Slytherins don't fight with each other. We're not Gryffindors." The twins made loud noises of protest.
"So you're just going to let him bully you, then?" Ginny challenged her, ignoring her brothers.
Toshiko gave a long sigh. "Look, I really could care less about the things Draco Malfoy says. Can we just drop it?"
"You know," Luna said conversationally, as they continued walking. "You're the only muggleborn in Slytherin."
"I know," Toshiko said quietly. "The Hat has its reasons."
"Well," Luna said. "Draco is a pureblood."
"What do you mean, Luna?" Ginny asked, who was one of the few to realize that there was sometimes more than the obvious to Luna's remarks.
"I mean," Luna said. "There were an awful lot of nargles in that store."
Toshiko grimaced, looking down at Kuro trotting by her side. "I'm sure there were."
They had arrived at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. "My treat," Luna said, her eyes knowing as Toshiko discretely fingered her coin pouch and Ginny slowly reached into her pockets.
"If you insist," Fred and George said, wiggling their eyebrows.
"One scoop," the girl added, making the twins groan in disappointment.
Toshiko deviated from her usual chocolate flavors to choose peanut butter-strawberry so that Kuro could have a taste. As he was licking the bowl, the girls chatted more about their summers and the twins became engrossed in a competition to balance their spoons on their noses. Eventually Toshiko checked her watch and stood up. "I'd better go," she said apologetically. "I have to pick up a few things on the way home and I can't be late for dinner."
"See you on the train, Koko," Luna said dreamily.
"Yeah," Ginny said. "See you at Hogwarts."
"Looking forward to our next meeting Little Basilisk!" George said, waving.
"Don't kill anyone on your way out of the alley!" Fred teased.
Toshiko rolled her eyes. "Come on Kuro, let's get going." Then she froze. "Kuro!"