Chapter 3
Despite Roach's best efforts she was incapable in wheedling out any information from Hagrid. She had attempted flattery, crying and even threats; although, the latter seemed to be the least effective.
Roach was bored out of her mind waiting for Harry to finish having his robes measured. Her eyes moseyed over her supply list and she remarked there were a large sum of books she had to purchase.
"Please, Hagrid." Implored Roach. "Florish and Blotts is just across the road."
"You simply can't be trusted without guidance." Countered Hagrid with a uncompromising look.
"How much damage can I do in a bookshop?" Said Roach with an air of mocking. "I'm not going to ruin anyone's life, Hagrid."
"Fine." Responded Hagrid, admitting defeat after a moment's deliberation. "Buy your books and come straight back here after."
"Aye, aye, Captain!" Roach saluted the giant as she hastened out the door of Madame Maxine's.
Florish and Blotts was tranquil in comparison to the shops Roach had already been in that day. There was a solitary family of red heads who occupied the shop. The mother, a plump ginger woman, bustled around like a headless chicken.
"A History of magic?" Roach uttered to herself as she perused the frenzied shelves of books.
Discerning the book on a higher shelf, she beamed artfully and extended her arm. As her finger tips grazed against the book's spine; however, she staggered and brought half-a-dozen down upon her head.
The sound of clashing brought Roach unsolicited attention as the family of gingers immediately snapped their heads up to eyeball the girl.
Roach pushed books apart to divert her attention from her aforementioned humiliation and inadvertently exposed a boy, a little older than herself, on the other side. The pair's eyes met for a few fleeting (but uneasy) seconds.
"Hi." Hailed Roach; nevertheless, the flustered boy didn't respond and with a nifty grin Roach continued. "You strike me as someone who has never been satisfied."
"I'm positive I don't know what you mean." A line transpired between the boy's brows. "You don't know me."
"Yes; although, you're like me." She persisted. "I'm never satisfied."
"Is that right?" Fred was helpless in repressing the way his eyes swam with curiousity
Her eyes flickered with mischief. "I've never been satisfied."
Something seemed to change in the boy's demeanour as his sheepish expression vanished, it seemed to alternate entirely and it was if Roach were speaking to an utterly different person. He appeared poised.
"My name is Fred Weasley."
"Darling Kuryakin." She raised a hand in greeting. "but please call me Roach."
"Where's your family from?"
Roach seemed to be flummoxed by this question. Fred picked up on this straightaway as he surveyed her toy with her hands and her cheeks reddened with shame.
"That's unimportant." She fired back with a dismissive wave of her hand. "There's a million things I haven't done; but, just you wait!"
Awe transformed Fred's features as he felt as if he had encountered an individual completely on his level and foolishly he declined to speculate on what he falling prey to was. It was the sensation of pure liberty, akin to when he and his twin brother first discovered their adoration for pranking.
Although, the exchange may have persisted for a few meagre seconds Fred was convinced on how he felt. She may have been a little flirtatious, but Fred didn't see why he couldn't give her a gamble? Her beauty was strikingly dazzling and you could tell she knew it. Fred desired to keep her all to himself but when he veered back to see her face he remarked that she was gazing in a direction completely different to his own.
Trailing her eyes he became mindful that she was ogling at his older brother, Percy. He noted as a curious expression befell her –no, it was not mere curiosity but fascination.
At last she opened her mouth to speak. "Who is that?"
Fred's heart shattered. He swallowed his own desires and traded his sombre frown for a good-humoured grin. Fred took Roach's arm cautiously and began sauntering towards his brother.
"Where are taking me?" Roach teasingly inquired.
Fred's lips curled into a plastic smile. "I'm about to change your life."
"Then by all means, lead the way."
Percy became straightaway of his brother approaching him with a scruffy-looking girl on his arm. Percy went rigid when he noticed the duos rascally simpers.
Fred halted at his brother and boldly motioned toward him. "This," He presented. "Is Percy Weasley."
Roach's eyes ambled over his tidily combed and waxed red hair; his hazelnut irises had been enlarged by the thick rimmed spectacles he bore on his face; his skin was plastered in acne and pastier than a corpse's. Nonetheless, Roach seemed to find these traits unconventionally attractive and the girl was in complete awe regardless of his natural scent resembling liquid medicine.
"Weasley?" Roach reiterated inquiringly.
"My older brother." Formulated Fred.
Roach nodded and extended her arm the older Weasley, he looked at it disdainfully before reluctantly shaking it. "Darling Kuryakin, but everyone calls me Roach."
"I'd say it was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Kuryakin." Percy began, readjusting spectacles his bore on his face. "Alas, after the racket you made earlier I would be telling a lie."
"Well if it takes me humiliating myself for us to have met, then it would have been worth it."
Percy flushed. He had expected her to at least be somewhat intelligent. With his spectacles he scrutinised her short dark hair; her irises resembled the colour of sapphires; in addition to her vulgar natural scent of Baileys and cigarettes. Despite the crucifix that dangled from the chain around her neck she didn't look a thing Jesus and she spoke more like the devil.
"I'm concluding this conversation." Responded Percy, snapping the book he had formerly had his nose submerged in shut.
Roach snickered like a lunatic. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Percy." She said, "I hope to see you again sometime. You too, Fred."
The brothers collectively observed Roach purchase her books and exit the shop as if nothing out of the ordinary had transpired.
Looking to his brother, Percy said "Remind me to keep an eye on that one when School starts. I can assure you she'll be trouble."
Unbeknownst to Percy, Roach had already prompted a whole load of trouble and most of which could not be prevented despite Percy's best efforts.