CHAPTER 6
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!! I really appreciate it. I would have had this chapter up ages ago, but I've been grounded, and the school blocked this website. So I've had a long time to write, so I'm going to see how many chapters I can type and update before I have to go home at 5. Anyway, Enjoy!
I don't want to see another photograph
And I don't want to talk about the way it used to be
'Cause I barely can stand the sound... to hear you laugh
I just have to know the reason why you breathe
--Gretchen
Draco was very different when he was away from his posse and school, where no one was judging him or expecting anything from him. He smiled and laughed more. He was nicer and just more pleasant overall.
At first, he came to visit me only once or twice a week, but increased to almost every day. Sometimes he would stay for dinner, and he never complained about my cooking, no matter how bad it was (I was trying new things, and they didn't always go well the first time). If Burke didn't like him around, he gave no inclination.
The summer was winding down when Draco and I were sorting through a new shipment of objects. He said he liked to help me, and I welcomed it without protest.
We had finished with one box and Draco had left to get another out of the storage room when a voice in the doorway startled me.
"What is Draco Malfoy doing here?" he spat.
I turned around to see a middle-aged man with shaggy, greasy black hair that fell into small, twitchy eyes that darted around the room in a dishonest way. He was tall and skinny (except around the middle) with a slight stoop and a limp.
"Who are you?" I asked, alarmed. I had never seen this man before and he creeped me out.
"Idiot girl," he snarled, "I am Mr. Borgin, co-owner of this establishment." His eyes narrowed in distaste. "Why, in God's name, would willingly welcome Lucius Malfoy's son into my shop?"
Speechless, I said nothing.
"He is obviously telling his father everything that we have stored here, everything that we own!"
I was stunned. The accusation was ridiculous.
Borgin reached down and pulled me up by my hair. I screamed in pain.
"Foolish girl!" he cursed me. I whimpered in pain and fright.
"Let her go," Draco spoke quietly. He must have heard my scream.
Borgin sprung away as if burned. I massaged my scalp, wincing.
Draco stood his full height and looked Borgin straight in the eye. He had grown quite a bit over the summer, and nearly exceeded the older man's height.
"You'd do best to keep you r hands off my best friend, and your words and assumptions to yourself," Draco said with silent fury. The way he spoke reminded me of a fairy-tale prince. I was reminded of the way Slytherins at school would call him the Prince of Slytherin, and now I understood why.
Draco motioned me to him and pulled me behind him and out of view from Borgin.
Draco and Borgin glowered at each other until Borgin dropped his gaze in submission. He knew how stupid it was to offend the son of Lucius Malfoy.
"I apologize, young Master Malfoy," he said reluctantly between his yellowing teeth.
Satisfied, Draco turned to me.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
I nodded. He smiled at me.
"Come on, Willow, I'll treat you to dinner tonight."
Borgin, I later found, had come back early from Scandinavia. Burke wasn't too happy to hear how he offended Draco and grabbed my hair. I heard them arguing that night. Burke told Boring to shut up and accept it when he had complained about Draco frequenting the shop so much, and helping me sort through the stock.
For the rest of the summer, I tried to avoid Borgin, and made sure I was never alone with him. The memory of the way he grabbed me stayed fresh in my mind. His eyes tended to roam freely over my body, and I caught him staring at me on more than one occasion. I had filled out a bit over the summer, my bust and butt growing out into a curvier silhouette. I started wearing baggy clothing to cover myself from Borgin's creepy gaze.
He wasn't the only thing I had to worry about. A mass murderer, Serious Black, had escaped from Azkaban, so, for my own safety, I couldn't go anywhere outside the shop without an escort.
This was quite frustrating, especially when I wanted to go shopping in Diagon Alley, or in London. This proved especially difficult because Draco and Burke never wanted to accompany me on shopping trips.
Soon, the summer was almost to a close. When we needed to go buy our school supplies, Draco and I went together.
Our clothes needed adjusting, books bought (Draco had to get The Monster Book of Monsters for Care of Magical Creatures, and it nearly took off his hand), parchment paper and quills replenished, etc.
By the end of the day, I still had money left over. I was pretty proud of myself for having earned every penny I spent. When I voiced this thought out loud, Draco laughed at me.