Chapter 2
Severus and Krait had two wards to chaperone for the first time through Diagon Alley, purchasing kit; in addition they would escort Erich and Grace, this year taking OWLs, and Willow and Romulus in the fourth year. David, technically their ward too, was quite capable of shopping for himself though no older than Grace and Erich; and was besides escorting Alice from Scotland to shop with her and Ellie, and doubtless showing off his new prefect's badge. The Snapes had promised too to take Kinat's little sister Senagra, to make sure there were not problems from shopkeepers over serving a goblin child. Kinat, as a crony of Romulus and Willow would doubtless go with them and the Malfoy twins too.
"And if you think I'm coming into Weasley's Wizard Wheezes with you, you can think again" said Severus "I really do NOT want to know what illegal goodies you buy in there. Though I have only too much faith in your powers of creative nefarious doings not to expect that I shall eventually find out if only by having to confiscate them."
Four young boys grinned identical grins at him and Willow looked dangerously innocent.
The two young wards were Jem Ingate and Erwin Von Strang, Erich's younger half brother. They were both looking forward to going to Hogwarts; that they had each other to be friends with was a good start, and they also knew Senagra which was nice too.
Before shopping, they were to meet with Cynthia – known as Cynner – Strong, who had been persuaded by her friend Callum, Willow's half brother, to write to Severus on behalf of other children in the apartment block in which she had lived. Cynner and her mother now lived with Callum and his mother, and house-shared quite amicably. Anastasia Strong was starting to look much fitter for it.
Cynner and Callum were waiting in the Leaky Cauldron and they all moved the brick that let them climb through the wall into wizarding space and hence Diagon Alley. Cynner led them along, stopping to sigh gently as Severus stopped in horror to stare at the advertisement outside the Cauldron shop declaiming the ALL NEW WONDER CAULDRON was here, complete with built-in speaking potion recipe remembrance facility.
"Art is dead" said Severus flatly "Well, none of my first years better turn up with one, that's all I can say."
Krait giggled.
"Fill its memory with recipes for filleted first year" she suggested.
"Tempting, my dear; very tempting" he said "Sorry Miss Strong; I am coming."
Cynner grinned.
"You nearly filleted Lorraine Delgardy with her self-stirring cauldron last year" she remarked.
"And her repellent parents who thought money could buy everything – including my compliance to their little darling's cheating equipment!" he growled.
"You never told me that" said Krait "What did you turn them into?"
Callum whispered to Cynner,
"Be cool if he just answered 'lunch!'"
She giggled.
Severus glared at his young cousin, who grinned back; and said,
"I didn't turn them INTO anything; but I threatened to turn them in, to the aurors for attempting to bribe me…. Our society relies on the exams being accepted as being fair and to try to corrupt someone with input into who takes exams or not is unacceptable. I threatened them with Lucius, as school governor….rich they might be but they're still scared of Lucius!"
Krait grinned.
"So useful to have a scary uncle, isn't it?"
Cynner led the group down Knockturn Alley, that dark and sinister appendix to Diagon Alley; right to the end and then through between two of the dark, brooding buildings to a dilapidated apartment block.
"That's a disgrace" said Krait "Who owns it?"
Cynner shrugged.
"Dunno; there was an agent used to come for the rent" she said.
"No-one ought to live in a place like this" said Willow, looking around at the filthy entranceway, unwashed windows – those that were not broken and stuffed with rag – and walls whose plaster had fallen in great swathes, lying in piles on the floor unswept as it descended a lump at a time.
"Well it's all very well being fancy but at least it's a roof and it only leaks in a few places and only on the top floor" said Cynner. "Up here, third floor on the left."
The door was opened by a Hag who smiled at Cynner and looked warily at the rest.
"Professor Snape" said Severus "You have children who deserve to be tested for a scholarship I believe? Or so Miss Strong gives me to understand."
The Hag blinked.
"Me girls t'go to Hogwarts?" she said.
"If they have the talent" said Severus. "May I come in? The rest of you" he turned to his gaggle of followers "There's not enough room for however many erumpants I have in my party, go downstairs and wait for me and do not even THINK of doing anything ….amusing….to Borgin and Burke's."
"No dad" said Romulus who had considered it "Shall we go to the main alley and see if Kinat and the twins have arrived yet?"
Severus nodded.
"Yes; and try not to lose Jem and Erwin on the way"
Romulus grinned.
"I'm staying, cousin Severus" said Willow "I expect you'll ask Lucius who owns it but I shall ask Sirius if he can find out. It's about time I got involved in doing things; and he might as well help me."
Krait grinned.
Sirius Black didn't stand a chance!
The hag – she introduced herself as Jenny Shipton – had two daughters, both within age, one born at the beginning of the year and one at the end.
"Annis is the oldest, and this is Beth" said Jenny.
"Very well" said Severus "Take turns to see if you can get any sparks out by shaking my wand…good" as both succeeded "Now…use the word engorgio on this stone and concentrate on enlarging it"
Both succeeded, Annis better than Beth
"It'd be easier to turn it into something else" said Annis.
Severus shot her a look.
"Like what?" he asked.
"Oh… a beetle… or a jewel I suppose, though I've only seen jewels up close through dusty windows so I mightn't do it very well….they shine when ladies are wearing them."
"Make it a beetle then" said Severus.
Annis concentrated, her tongue stuck out with effort; and the pebble Severus had brought with him shimmered and began walking across the table.
"Excellent" said Severus. "You have certainly enough talent; your sister is borderline, but we've had those with less talent, and I'm loath to split sisters. As you are the younger, Beth" he smiled kindly at her "You can always repeat a year if you need to. Very well, you may as well come along with my kids and we'll all buy kit together."
"I haven't the means to buy school uniform or kit, professor" said Jenny "Not for one, let alone two."
"Well that was the point of me testing them" said Severus "To see whether they were eligible for a scholarship. Beth may be borderline, but a bit of coaching will doubtless have her showing well enough. And there's enough in the school kitty for me to make discretional decisions about borderline cases. The school pays for everything."
Actually Krait's wealth from her father's father would pay; but there was no need to make Jenny Shipton feel bad.
"Oh girls!" said she "Go next door and tell your gran; she'll be that proud!"
"She's not Mary Shipton is she?" asked Severus.
"Yes, that she is. Do you know her sir?" asked Jenny.
"I've bought potion ingredients from her from time to time" said Severus "She's a competent potioneer too; with luck her grandchildren will share her talent."
Annis and Beth held hands as they followed on after Professor Snape; he was rather awe-inspiring and also totally wonderful. No wonder Cynthia had talked a lot about him and her friend Callum who was his nephew or something.
Cynner grinned at the two young hags.
"Chin up" she said "Professor Snape is the business; he'll get you sorted and freeze anyone who comments into the middle of an ice age!"
"Here's the Malfoy twins" said Callum "And Kinat and that's Senagra; she'll be in your year too, with Jem here and Erwin."
Lucius had turned up in the alley too.
"Forgot it was the day most of the brats go shopping uncle Lucius?" asked Krait.
"On the contrary; I thought if I am to take my position as school governor seriously I should perhaps look over all the new ones. I see most of them are already under your protection"
Krait laughed
"Feels like it sometimes, I have to say!" she said "I need to ask if you know who owns an apartment block at some point…it's dire and I want to shout at someone."
Lucius pulled a face.
"I must say I leave most of the property I own to my factor….but I shall take that as a hint that I should check out my own properties forthwith. I imagine my girls will get onto any irregularities."
"You can tell Charlotte and Narcissa that there's a couple of hags, mother and daughter, live in my dire apartment who might be good cases for their fund; but they're proud. Willow wants to get involved personally, so ask the girls to be tactful and work with her, will you?"
"Oh they and Wendy will be only too delighted to have an up-and-coming interferer" said Lucius "Is it true Wendy is standing as a muggle candidate in the elections to add to the upper chamber?"
"It is; and I'm supporting her" said Krait "Wendy is someone who gets things done; and frankly, from a practical point of view, it does help that she's friendly with Narcissa. A muggle whom nobody knows might be as good at the job, but nepotism and who you know does count."
"Quite" agreed Lucius. "Good grief, with hair that colour, that fellow must be a Weasley….. I must go and say hello, it irritates Weasleys no end when I'm nice to them, such fun!"
Krait laughed.
Men never did grow up.
Lucius stopped to say hello to David, shopping with Ellie and Alice, before speaking to the red haired man and his offspring; then whistled for Hawke and Abraxus to meet the dark haired little girl who was the man's daughter. They then brought her to meet the others.
"This is Lynx Black-Weasley, and her mother's a Crouch so she's only related to about ninety per cent of everybody" said Hawke.
The girl grinned unabashed.
"I've a cousin called Alice Weasley starting as well and her big brother's already there" she said.
Krait groaned artistically.
"Don't remind me!" she said "Colin Weasley and his crony, Jasper Crouch-Jones, who's doubtless another cousin of yours, mean extremely well and have some of the worst potioneering skills I have ever met! I thank my fortune that as third years, those two are now under the tender mercies of Professor Snape not me."
"Oh is that Severus Snape? My dad was at school with him."
"So you know the Black connection of your family, Sirius then?"
Lynx shook her head.
"My dad's parents - my dad's Septimus Black-Weasley – and Sirius Black's parents didn't want them associating with each other at all!" she said "He thought Sirius was a bit of a show off and far too influenced by that arrogant Potter fellow, so it's as well Harry Potter turned out better than his father, isn't it? Will I meet him?"
"Harry? Unlikely, he's studying to be an auror. Sirius Black? He'll be teaching you Geomancy. He grew up all right; you won't find anything to complain about in his manner I think" said Krait, blinking slightly at the way the child managed to deliver so much information without breathing. She wondered what house Septimus Black-Weasley had been in; he sounded as though he was not blinded by the usual view of James Potter and might be worth getting to know.
Hawke meanwhile was introducing Lynx to the others who would be in her year before the little girl had to rejoin her parents for her shopping trip.
There were numerous parents with children, including the rather obvious muggle parents, the man in a wheelchair, with their first year, staring around in wonder and some confusion. Another child hissed
"Mudblood!"
"Albert Jackman" Krait used the sonorus spell to carry her words "You have less manners than a jackal and as your last year's performance across the board was so poor I suggest you spend more time this year applying yourself to your studies and less to displaying your ignorant little prejudices."
The boy flushed.
"M-madam Malfoy, I didn't see you there" he stammered.
"Apparently" said Krait "But then you are an unobservant and ill informed little boy at the best of times; try to do better this year" and she turned away. The muggleborn child had stood indecisively, unsure whether to disown his parents or stand up for them; and now he took the handle of his father's wheelchair proudly. Krait went over.
"Would it be impolite to ask the nature of your disability?" she asked the muggle.
He blinked.
"You know, since I've been stuck in this damn chair, you're the first person who hasn't assumed that physical disability also robs wits and asks my wife 'what's wrong with him' as though I can't answer for myself? Thank you, Miss…."
"Madam Malfoy" said Krait "It's my maiden name but as my husband also teaches at Hogwarts I don't use my married name because it gets confusing. Your boy will be in the same year as two of our wards; he may as well go and say hello, and there's a selection of other first years there too."
The boy looked questions, received a nod and ran over to Krait's gaggle, busy trying to eavesdrop on Severus's scathing comments to the cauldron salesman and his wonder cauldron.
"You ask what's wrong; I'm a builder by trade, I had a bad fall and my back's too badly damaged to work any more – or even walk more than a step or two" said the man, bitterly.
"Have the healers at St Mungo's seen it?" asked Krait.
"I beg your pardon?" said the man's wife.
"St Mungo's is the wizarding hospital; I can't make any promises, healing is not a speciality of mine, but it's worth while checking if your back can be healed by spells" said Krait "It's from an accident with no curses involved so I can't see there'd be any problem. I'll ask someone to call on you and take you if you like; it's in wizarding space like this."
"Why – how kind!" said the man. "My name's Adler, Jeremy Adler, Anne my wife; our son is Gabriel. I must say I'm impressed by the level of care we've received, though that other child's…insults? Were upsetting."
"Oh we have our share of racists" said Krait cheerfully "Especially as we're now taking goblins, hags and potentially house elves too…we have a half leshy and a half veela and frankly I think it's the person who counts, not their race or blood status. Jackman is a little limited I'm afraid; you may have been told we just had a bit of a war to defeat those who would have stopped your Gabriel from coming to Hogwarts at all. Just ignore them; it has more dignity. Anyway, excuse me; I have a gaggle of bratlings to keep out of trouble…."
Lucius had moved on and was chatting to Colonel Anastasius Smith, the squib who had helped train the MSHG in some of their military endeavours. He was visiting his parents, who ran the secondhand book shop; and was used to unkind comments about squibs from people unaware how much he had achieved in the muggle world. Lucius knew; and had some understanding too, and Krait could see people rapidly reassessing Colonel Smith if Lucius Malfoy was civil to him and stopped to pet Sergeant Wilkins, Smith's cat.
Krait had acquired a few more Weasleys in the persons of Colin and his sister Alice, who he was rapidly introducing to other potential new ones; their cousin Persis Beck was there too, and they all went off in search of Lynx Black Weasley. She had found another lad to talk to as well and it seemed the first years were well on the way to forming mini gangs already, and the phrase 'Muggle Studies Hobby Group' was being bandied about.
Krait was a great believer in fostering friendships before Hatting and then encouraging inter house friendships afterwards. Young Lynx's friend Fabian was saying something about one parent from Hufflepuff and one from Ravenclaw so perhaps at last there might be a bit more of a breakthrough into the supercilious Ravenclaw crowd.
The shopping was no more of a nightmare than usual. Mr Flourish – unless it was Mr Blott – decided to draw wand on Annis with a
"Hey, we don't need your sort in here with your filthy hands!"
Krait stepped forward.
"I think you'll find the child's hands are perfectly clean; and as she's here to buy her new term's books she really rather needs to be in here."
"Hags? Hags at Hogwarts? Whatever next! As if Goblins weren't bad enough…smelly little thieves…."
Krait raised her voice.
"Right kids, drop your books wherever you are, everyone out….we'll get our books at Smith's from now on."
There were assorted CRASHes as her gaggle took her at her word; as did several other, older students who were fans of Madam Malfoy.
The proprietor [whichever one it was] was saying,
"But…but….."
The exodus of children met Lucius Malfoy going the other way. He blinked at the tide of children.
"Krait? Are you running a riot?"
"Kind of" said Krait "I don't like racists….we're buying books from Smiths in future."
"Ah? Then I believe I may join you…or rather, follow your example. In a quieter period" said Lucius, wondering how Krait intended fitting all those children in the cramped secondhand book store.
Krait managed it by arranging them into years, finding out which electives those old enough to have electives would have, and went in to bring books out.
The Smiths were delighted to have the custom.
"We Malfoys will be switching to your shop in future" said Krait "Can you order in new textbooks for next year?"
"Well…it's an awful outlay, you have to buy a minimum number, and Flourish and Blotts have most of them…." Said Mr Smith.
"What if I subsidise the expense and you either pay me back later or take me as a sleeping partner?" said Krait.
They exchanged looks.
"Well…. In that case Madam Malfoy, we could afford to take the risk if you'd be happy as a sleeping partner….after all, we don't think our son wants to keep the business when we retire, so you might then wish to buy us out? Professor Snape has always been a good customer…."
"Then that's settled" said Krait "Have your accountant draw up a business agreement and I'll sign it when it's ready. You use Grutch don't you? He's very reliable."
"Yes, he's a good man" said Mrs Smith " – goblin, rather."
"We'll have to build upwards to expand but that's no problem" said Mr Smith, planning for the future.
With books sorted out and all that was needed for potions, quills and parchment – and several biros too from the WHSmith in the nearest tube station – they were getting on well.
After seeing to the purchase of owls for whichever of the children she had collected wanted them, and the purchase of school robes and uniform for the new ones and those of her older ones, notably Erich and Romulus, who had been busy growing out of theirs, and David too, Krait declared it time for an icecream in Florean Fortescue's.
There were other children in there, and a couple of mothers who were being so icily polite to each other their enmity was apparent. Krait could not bothered to find out why; it was amazing how an excess of children could sap the natural inclination to nosiness!
One of the women asked bitchily,
"Are all these yours? You don't look like a Weasley woman."
Krait regarded her with disfavour.
"Alas, although apparently the strain means I look as old as you, I've not had a chance to breed more than two of my own…but my husband and I have several wards. And of course nice children attract friends so we have my appearance as the pied piper of Hamelin. Your child appears to be quite alone I notice."
The woman sniffed.
"Well I'd not want MY little girl associating with all and sundry; I see hags and goblins in here actually talking to your children…but I suppose it's your own lookout. Who were you by the way?"
Krait gave her a flat unfriendly stare.
"I'm Madam Malfoy; Madam Krait Malfoy. And you had better warn your child not to make racist comments such as you have been uttering when she is in my class or she will take the consequences. Now, you were continuing to contaminate my breathing air why?"
And she turned away.
"Dear me, Merele, have you managed to annoy one of your precious wealthy and powerful Malfoys? How sad" said the other mother.
"And your child is….?" Asked Krait.
"This is Rupert…..Rupert Granville" said the woman "No, it's not a wizarding name, I married a muggle and he's been a most excellent husband and father."
"I'm glad to hear it" said Krait. "I don't do blood status. That poor little girl is going to have a hard time of it if she doesn't learn better than her mother."
"Her name's Romneya…The surname's Coulter now I think, her and her husband Slytherin's Slytherin."
"No, that's me" said Krait. "And I claim a better insight into my ancestor Salazar Slytherin than the half baked little racists that missed several points and a few lessons in basic humanity. Well well, we shall see. Your lad might as well introduce himself to my lot; you can't tell race or blood status under a layer of exploding lemon sherbet icecream anyway."
There was one other moment of excitement; not all the children wanted owls so they visited the Magical Menagerie. The proprietor was busy serving them when Krait noticed a small child who must have escaped from her parents toddling up to the boa constrictor tank.
"Fnake" said the babe; and then hissed off a rattle of parseltongue before climbing nimbly into the tank with the snake, chatting happily.
The witch in charge of the shop screamed.
"Leave this to me" said Krait, lapsing into parseltongue herself.
""My scaly friend, I do not wish to harm you but I must deprive you of the little warm one…my child, you are not allowed in there"" she added, lifting the babe out. She was no older than Lilith. "What's your name?"
The babe regarded her thoughtfully. The lady likes snakes too, so she decided to answer.
"B'yony" she said.
"Bryony! What a pretty name! Now where are mummy and daddy?"
"Be'ind ve wall" said Bryony.
"Hmm" said Krait "Well, let's go look for them shall we? Severus, you have the conn…"
"NOT an enviable position…. I was trying to slouch through shopping unnoticed."
"Like every other father in Diagon Alley…. I'll be back."
Those who were MSHG already shouted,
"HASTA LA VISTA BABY!"
Krait exited Diagon Alley to find some very upset parents looking frantically for their little girl, with very little practical help from the proprietor of the Leaky Cauldron who was wishing the muggles and their disappearing offspring elsewhere. They must be sensitives to even see it. Krait debated telling them the truth and decided to leave it for now.
"Excuse me, but does this child belong to you?" she asked
There were glad cries of delight at being reunited with their little one.
"Where was she?" asked an exhausted mother.
"Oh she'd got out back and through a fence… I looked for holes my own daughter could get through, as they're of an age, and tracked back" said Krait with smooth mendacity. "Up from Norfolk for the day?"
"Yes, is the accent so obvious?"
"I have relatives from the region" said Krait, without too much stretching of the truth. Not if one counted Salazar Slytherin, anyway: and Krait did. She wanted to lie as little as possibly; small Bryony would likely be coming to Hogwarts. "Tell me, are you related to Crispin D'aubrey?"
"I don't know the name" said Bryony's father "But we do have D'aubreys on the family tree."
"Our name is Nuffield" said the woman.
"Well, best of luck getting home with this young Houdini!" laughed Krait "And if she decides she wants a pet snake it's because she was busy making friends with mine."
"Don't they carry meningitis?" asked the man.
"Only Coral snakes I think; and only if they're imported. If they're bred in this country they're quite safe" said Krait.
If the child had a pet snake of her own it might stop her trying to find other snakes and maybe getting into trouble!
At last all her charges and their friends were ready, outfitted, provided with equipment and books and ready for a new term's hard work.
Krait treated them all to a meal in Belcher and Goodtime's restaurant; and since the proprietors had heard what had happened in Flourish and Blott's and had more sense – and did not wish to lose a customer like Lucius Malfoy – they came out themselves before any waiter could make an adverse remark and saw all the children seated tenderly and served with Krait's suggestion of 'a whole lot of indigestible finger food and I'll have the steak with stilton please'.
Next day would be the day to board the Hogwarts express; and Krait smiled to herself wondering how many children would find it difficult to sleep tonight from excitement!
And how many David Fraser would have to discover and bring to where they were supposed to be – in his capacity this term as a prefect too, as was Grace!
And there would have to be a new head boy or girl with Draco left.
Krait thought Ginny Weasley would do very well; she must suggest it to Grace and David if they had not already thought of it.