Hello everyone! With Christmas and New Year out of the way, it is time to get back into the story! I hope I will be able to hold true as close as possible as I did with the other two, but I think this will be as great as The Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets.
Let's get this show on the road! Without further ado, LET'S DO THIS!
Lucy leaned over the banister at the Leaky Cauldron, watching the customers chat and eat, come and go. She noticed a man put something on a wooden column downstairs. She tilted her head, wondering what it was. As the man pulled away, she saw a moving picture of a man screaming and holding up a sign with numbers and letters. She gave a hum, her mind having a slight idea of what that was. She heard that a dangerous prisoner had escaped, so they were most likely wanted posters.
"Hey Lucy." Lucy looked to her side, Natsu walking up to her. He wore a black shirt with denim jeans, complete with white shoes. "Hey Natsu." Lucy smiled, giving Happy a small wave. He stopped next to Lucy and faced over the banister. "Maaan it's so crazy how fast summer flies." Natsu stretched, and looked at Lucy with a smile. "I know. I barely had any time to finish Pride and Prejudice…" Lucy sighed, taking out her book and staring at the cover. "Woah that is a thick book! What's it about?" Natsu asked, leaning on the wood of the banister. "H-Huh? Why are you interested? You hate reading…" Lucy asked, a bit confused. "Come to think of it, you've been awfully close to me since the night of the chamber."
"Oh! Well, uh, I mean…" Natsu rubbed the back of his head, his face a little red. "It's just that if I'm your fiance and all… then I should start taking an interest in what you do… otherwise people will get suspicious of us." Natsu explained. Lucy's mind ticked a bit. "What do you mean by "start"?" She asked, gritting her teeth a bit. She sighed and gave a smile as she looked back.
"It's about a woman named Elizabeth Bennet who always judges on appearances. Then one day a man named Mr Darcy comes into her life. He's rude for someone of his standard and class, but they both learn through each other that there is more to them that meets the eye." Lucy explained, then looked at Natsu, who looked hollow. "Uh s-sounds interesting." Natsu complemented with a forced smile.
"What the hell is that face?" Lucy sweat dropped. She gave a laugh and wiped her closed eye. "Well, I don't expect you to take an interest…. But still, thank you." She smiled, looking down. "Hey, how about this? On our next holidays, how about we take a day to know each other's interests?" Lucy suggested. Natsu gave a goofy grin. "Sure! Sounds like a date!" Natsu grinned. Lucy's face flushed, her hair standing on edge. "D-Date….?" Lucy repeated.
"You looove him." Happy smirked. Both Lucy and Natsu felt a ping in their chests when Happy popped and said those three words. "S-Shut up you stupid cat!" Lucy snapped, blushing a tinge. "But he's your fiance. Why wouldn't you looooove him?" Happy teased a bit more, his tail wriggling mischievously. "I WILL KICK YOU TO THE CURB YOU STUPID CAT!" Lucy basically yelled. Everyone at the pub suddenly fell silent, wondering where the yell came from. They all then shook their heads and went back to their business. "Ugh, why…?" Lucy groaned, face palming.
"Hey guys." A male voice called below them. Lucy and Natsu leaned over, and saw Gray sporting a beige jumper and jeans with black shoes giving a friendly salute, Gajeel wearing a leather jacket and chained jeans with boots and Pantherlily next to them with their arms folded as they smiled. "Hey guys!" Lucy beamed and gave a large wave. "Yo! You're looking better Gray." Natsu complimented. Gray gave a smirk and flexed an arm. "Yep! I feel like my old self again." Gray grinned, everyone smiling. "Welp, shall we get going to get our books?" Gajeel asked, looking up. "Yes sir!" Everyone agreed.
"By the way, we saw the strangest thing making our way here." Gray blurted out as the four students and two exceeds made their way through Diagon Alley. "Oh? What was it?" Natsu asked, his hands supporting his head and tilted his head toward Gray. "We saw what Lily said was a balloon like human. She was screaming so loud we could hear her from the ground." Gray snickered.
"Well anyway, we took her to the Ministry of Magic and they took it from there." Gray reassured. "But we had to clamp her mouth shut. She was so whiny!" Gajeel complained. Lily nodded in agreement. "Eh… That does sound strange." Lucy agreed with a weird smile.
"Anyway, what books do we need this year?" Natsu asked, looking around the shops. Gray gave a sigh and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "The Standard Book of Spells Grade Three, Intermediate Transfiguration, and The Essencial Defence Against the Dark Arts." Gray then turned the paper over and scratched his head.
Uh…. Lucy Numerology and Grammatica, Spellman's Syllabus, and Unfogging the Future. Natsu, The Monster Book of Monsters, and Unfogging the Future. Gajeel, nothing. And for me, Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles and Spellman's Syllabus." Gray finished and put away the paper.
"Right, so let's search for the main books, then we'll separate to find our own books." Lucy suggested. "Sounds like a good plan." Gray agreed. The four of them wandered back into the book shop and got their main books. Since Gajeel didn't have anything else, he, Happy, and Lily decided to help carry the books back to the apartments. Gray separated from Natsu and Lucy to get their books, all of them agreeing to meet up at the Leaky Cauldron when they got what they need it.
"Thank you very much!" Lucy thanked as she and Natsu left the book shop. She took her text books from her bag and looked her three new books. She turned and smiled at Natsu, who grinned back with his new book too. "Man that was expensive…" Natsu sighed. "Welp. Anyway we just need one more book for you." Lucy sighed. "I think they said the store is down here…" Natsu pointed right and both of them turned to where she pointed.
Both of them turned down into the dark seedy alleyway. Sickly and dark people leaned on the walls. Lucy looked around, unsure of this. She noticed some shady people watching their move, and stood up, as if they were going to follow them. "N-Natsu are you sure it's down here? It feels too... dark for a book for students…." Lucy said, a bit squeamish. Natsu stopped and hummed. "Yeah…. Come on let's go back. Maybe it was left."
As the two turned around, they saw people dressed in sooted blacks block their exit. Natsu and Lucy turned back around, but saw there were more people blocking their way. Soon, they were surrounded. "Well well well, what is this beautiful lady and this little boy doing in Knockturn Alley?" A dirty man asked, and grabbed Lucy's right wrist and held it close to his face, while his other hand put her arm in an arm bar behind her back.
"L-Let go of me!" Lucy demanded. "Hey! Let go of Lucy!" Natsu yelled. The man chuckled and took a deep breath from Lucy's neck. She could feel her skin crawl. "Creepy!" She thought. "I said let go of her!" Natsu yelled and punched the man in the face. The man flew back, and stood up, holding his cheek. As he stood up, Natsu drew his wand and pointed it at Lucy's assaulter. The man jolted back with a nervous squee. "Listen. We're much stronger than we seem! So I suggest you let us pass!" Natsu demanded.
There was silence in the alley. A woman screamed and ran at Lucy, trying to attack her from behind. But this time she was ready. She kicked the lady in the side of the torso as the woman tried to leap on her. The woman gasped in pain, as she flew across the alley, her back hitting against an old brick wall. She slid down unconscious, her comrades watching with fear. Lucy turned back, and looked at the man who attacked her. He was shaking with fear.
"I suggest you let us pass. Unless you want a good butt kicking." Natsu growled. The man and his accomplices looked at each other, as they all felt something erupting from these two. Unlimited fire and power… magic of which he never sensed! The man backed down, he and his lackeys moving away to make room for the duo. Natsu took Lucy's hand, without looking away from the man, and lead her out of the danger. When they got to the exit, Natsu turned back around to the misfits.
"Oh yeah, and one more thing!" Natsu yelled. He grabbed Lucy's shoulder and pulled her close to his chest. "E-Eh?" She muttered. "Mess with my fiance again, and you're dead!" He declared. Lucy's face became red and hot. 'E-Eh…?!" She slipped. Natsu then left with Lucy. His arm around her shoulder.
Once they left the alley, Natsu took his arm off her shoulder and sighed relief. They stopped at the side. "You alright Lucy? Did he hurt you in any way?" Natsu asked Lucy, grabbing her gently by the shoulders, and examined her body. "Oh yeah! Y-Yeah, I'm fine…" She stuttered. "Just took me by surprise is all…" Lucy whispered. "Ok, we won't go back down there, alright?" Natsu reassured, and gave her a warm hug. Lucy, a little bit shaken, hugged back and nodded.
"Thanks for saving me as well." Lucy smiled. "What? I didn't do much. In fact, you defend yourself quite well back there." Natsu denied. Lucy shook her head. "I was in a position where I couldn't do anything, and you freed me. Thank you for that." Lucy smiled again. Natsu smiled a toothy grin. "Of course! It's what comrades do." He said cheerfully.
"Right, let's go and get that book." Natsu smiled and rubbed Lucy's hair. "Come on." He continued walking, but then he felt a tug on his sleeve. "Hey, Natsu…. Back in the Alley…. You said, "Mess with my fiance or you're dead." Why did you say that? I-I mean it was just a lie to get Harry, Ron, and Hermione to stop asking questions. You didn't have to say that to them…. So why?" Lucy asked. Natsu stayed silent for a while, then turned to Lucy with a smile.
"Because you are." He simply said. Lucy's eyes widened from his response, and Natsu turned back around. He grabbed Lucy by the hand. "Once we commit to something, we pull through together. No matter what. Come on. Let's get going." He smiled, and walked down Diagon Alley with her, hand in hand.
"Ehhhhhhhhhhhh…" Natsu and Lucy stared at the furry book, buckled closed. "Uh….. so… this is the book?" Natsu confirmed, pointing at the book. "Yes it is sir." The clerk nodded. Lucy hummed, and her fingers lingered where the buckle was. "Oh! Don't… do that. Please." The clerk jumped, holding Lucy's hands back. "Eh? Why? It's a book, isn't it meant to be opened?" Lucy asked innocently. "Well…. Yes but you see… just don't open it in the store." The clerk said calmly. "Uh… ok then…." Lucy took her hand off the book. "Well, it's on the list, so you need it right?" Lucy asked her comrade. Natsu sighed and folded his arms. "We'll take it." Natsu confirmed. The clerk smiled and nodded.
"What's with this book? It feels so weird." Lucy asked herself, holding up the newly purchased book. "Beats me." Natsu sighed, putting his hands behind his head. "Oh! Honeydukes has a new sweet! Hey, I'm going to get some for Wendy!" Natsu beamed, and ran inside without a second thought. "Oi Natsu!" Lucy called out, but to no avail. She gave a sigh, and turned around, leaning against the store window.
She took out a book and began to read, only for her to instantly look up feeling as if she was being stared down. She gave a sharp jolt, meeting eyes with the person who was looking at her. "Your Highness…." He bowed sarcastically. Lucy gave a cold stare at the person as if putting up a mental wall. "Malfoy…" She nodded back.
He casually walked up to her, infiltrating her personal space. "I've been meaning to talk to you for awhile Heartfilia…." He said with a sneer. Lucy's eyes sharpened. "Oh, and what about Malfoy?" She asked with a harsh tone. "I just find it funny. How you are royalty, yet my father never talked about your family." Malfoy said with a smirk. Lucy's heart jolted at his words. "For royalty, you should be heavily aligned with the Ministry. But yet no one, even the public, know who you are. And yet no one has questioned it." Draco deducted.
He raised his hand and brushed Lucy's hair away from her face and cupped her chin. Her teeth gritted, trying to keep a poker face. "So tell me Heartfilia…" Draco tightened his grip, smushing her face and pulled her face close to his. "Why is that so? You better tell me now. I have connections to very important people you know…." He whispered. Lucy sharply breathed out, and loudly breathed back in again. "My family business is my family business Malfoy. This has nothing to do with you." Lucy said staley, her hand smacking his arm away with a calm composure. Malfoy tisked as he waved his hand and turned to his left. "Whatever Heartfilia. But just so you know, I'm going to get to the bottom of this." And with that Draco left, Lucy watching him disappear into the crowd.
Natsu came out of the building, an arm clasping a paper brown bag, another digging around inside. "Hey Lucy, I saw this sweet and it screamed you!" Natsu smiled and pulled out a big pink lollipop. "Here!" He smiled, handing it over to her. "Hm? Lucy, is something the matter?" He asked. He turned his head to where she was looking, but couldn't see anything unusual. "Oi Lucy. Did someone try to attack you again?" Natsu asked and looked back at her, a bit serious. "Eh? Oh, no! Not at all." Lucy comforted, waving her hands around. "You sure?" Natsu asked. Lucy nodded. "Then why are you so spaced out?" Natsu asked. Lucy stayed silent for a while, then looked down.
"I was approached by Draco." Natsu became shocked, stepping back a bit. "What? What did he want?" Natsu asked. Lucy looked to the side, sighing out a bit. "He was questioning me about my family tree. He senses something off with me. Natsu… He's not far behind on our secrets. We have to be careful…." Lucy warned. Natsu gasped a bit, then tisked. "Damn that brat… Come on. Let's get back."
Natsu and Lucy entered the Leaky Cauldron with their books in hand. "Huh? Oh hey guys! Over here!" Gray waved, Gajeel next to him, legs on his table. "Natsu, Lucy. Welcome back." Lily smiled. "You have fun smooching?" Happy teased, his paws covering his mouth trying not to laugh. Lucy's eyes went dark, her dark aura looming over Happy. Happy immediately shut up and looked down, shaking from her gaze. "How was your book shopping?" Gray asked. "Well…." Lucy and Natsu rubbed the back of their heads, looking down.
"Eh?! You guys were attacked and confronted by Malfoy?!" Gray gasped, leaning forward on his chair. Lucy nodded. "Well, I know you guys would be alright with the fight, but what about Malfoy? We can't just erase his memories." Gajeel muttered, his arms folded. "There is actually." Natsu interrupted. "Obliviate. I saw Lockhart try to use it on us in the chamber. But it backfired and erased his own memory." He explained. "Also it's a basic spell. We learnt it in our first year, remember?" Lucy noted.
"Then that settles it. We'll just erased his memory." Gray shrugged. Lucy shook her head. "We'd have to erase everyone's memories then. Everyone thinks I'm royalty. He'll just figure it out again. Not to mention if his father finds out someone erased his memory, then he'll just launch an investigation of the school. We just need to lay low for a while." Lucy reasoned. Gray sighed and leaned back on his chair. "If that's the only way…" He sighed. "Why don't you just say you're not?" Gajeel asked. "I'm in way to deep now to back out. So no." Lucy said flat out. Gajeel sighed and leaned back again.
"Also…" Lucy pulled out the furry book and swung it around. "The weirdest thing happened when we were purchasing this book…"