By the time Hermione and Vanessa made it to the kitchen everyone had taken their place at the table. Vanessa's facial expression still hadn't changed, she would've looked lost in a day dream had her brows not looked like they were going to disappear into her hairline. "Vanessa? You all right, dear?" asked Sirius, his hand reaching to touch her hand but she jerked away, "I'm fine, I just ha, saw the uh...heads of your past elves. Kind of creepy, don't you think?"

"Barbaric if you ask me." said Hermione under her breath but Vanessa caught it and pulled back a smile as she took her seat in between Hermione and Ethan. "My uh, mother did that. Somehow convinced Kreacher that it would be an honor." said Sirius, a smile hidden in his voice. Vanessa inhaled the sweet smell of just cooked bacon and eggs; the steam of the porridge heating her face as she peered down the table. It must've taken Mrs. Weasley hours to cook all of that food.

She thanked Mrs. Weasley quietly, who replied by beaming at her, patting her cheek affectionately. The whole tabled was covered in silence as everyone began eating, the food was that good. Vanessa ate until she felt her jeans getting uncomfortably tight around her hips. Even when Mrs. Weasley tempted her with more food which she would've happily taken had her stomach been able to fit anymore,

"Oh but Vanessa dear, you're looking a little thin. Are you sure? There's plenty more."

"Fred, George, are you going to be apparating there or coming with us?" asked Mr. Weasley, grabbing the small pot of floo powder. "We're gonna apparate of course."

"What's the use of being able to do it and not use it?" asked George grinning before popping into thin air, Fred following right behind. Ethan muttered words under his breath, biting his lip whilst staring at the spot where Fred and George were once standing. He wasn't of age when the test took place, he would be taking his apparation test the coming semester but that didn't stop him from being a tiny bit jealous, and Vanessa saw it written all over his face. Vanessa watched Hermione step through the green flames, shivering as she did so.

"Diagon Alley."

And with that, she was picked up in a tornado of emerald flames and was gone.

"Ava, I'll be fine, really."

Vanessa's ears perked at the sound of Sirius conversing with her mother. She turned around, smiling at the sight. Her mother had her hands laying flat on his chest, a look of longing on her face, "I know, I just...I don't like it that you're all cooped up in here. Why don't you come to my home and-"

"Ava, we've had this conversation a hundred times. It isn't safe for you and the kids-"

"Vanessa, you next."

Mrs. Weasley threw the floo powder into the fire place, stepping to the side before Vanessa climbed into the fireplace, the cold wave passing through her. Her body shook involuntarily, no doubt goosebumps sprouted all over her. Begrudgingly she said clearly, "Diagon Alley." Her eyes pinched close as the ice cold flames wrapped around her like a vine, sending her off to her destination. Before she could process the nauseous feeling swirling in her full stomach she felt her feet hit the firm ground. Her brown eyes flew open, the busy street of Diagon Alley in front of her. Vanessa quickly stepped out of the fireplace, dusting off her shoulders, looking in all different directions for Hermione, Fred or George. Luckily she didn't have to look far, she spotted Hermione a mere ten feet away, staring inside Magical Menagerie. The object of her attention, a large fluffy gray cat with large gray orbs.

"This is where I got Crookshanks two years ago. Oh look at him, his so adorable. Crookshanks could use a friend." said Hermione, tapping her fingers gingerly on the window. The cat inside turned in her direction and began rubbing himself against the window, strutting back and forth. "Hermione, Crookshanks has Lovely." Vanessa smiled at the thought of her cat, who was probably sitting on her bed, getting his white fur all over her black comforter. "I know but, oh, he's so adorable." said Hermione, laughing as the cat rolled on its back, belly up as his paws padded at the glass directly where her fingers were.

"Now, lets see. Ah, let's go to Flourish and Blotts. Molly do you have their list?" said Ava, adjusting her pointed green hat. Hermione padded at the glass, waving a goodbye to the cat in the window, it mimicked her motions. Both Hermione and Vanessa giggled and waved back. Ginny caught up with them as the three of them made their way into Flourish and Blotts. Normally Vanessa loved to be in Diagon Alley, she could've spent hours there but not this year. All of the damn people, it was making her anxious. She just wanted to get out of there. She didn't want to see a specific head of reddish blond hair. Not today. Just the idea of seeing IT gave her a feeling as though there were fish swimming around in her breakfast.

"We need Advanced Potions level five and seven. Oh, what else does it say? Defense Against the Dark Arts level five and seven, Transfiguration-" Vanessa heard her mother's voice trail off as the elderly man behind the desk began pulling out stacks of books on the counter top. She looked over at Vanessa and grinned, "Well that was easy." She winked and set her two sickles and 11 galleons on the glass counter top.

"All right, Vanessa, we need to get you fitted, you've grown about an inch already and your bust-"

"Mum!"

"Oh, sorry, I'm just thinking out loud, dear." muttered her mother. Vanessa felt her cheeks get warm as she felt Ron and Harry's amused gaze hit her face.

"Not a word." whispered Vanessa as she passed them, earning a smirk to cross Ron's face. The clan of thirteen made their way into Madame Malkins, taking up half of the space there. The older woman was working on a young thin man, sticking pins in his sleeves.

"Oh, Ava. The boys need to go to Eeylops and Quality Quidditch Supplies, we'll meet you back at Flourish and Blotts." said Mr. Weasely, guiding the boys out of the crowded shop and into the bustling street.

"Now, like I was saying Vanessa, you need to get fitted again. Your shirt is much to tight around your bust-"

"Mum, can you stop calling it my 'bust'? It just sounds weird. And I know perfectly well its much to tight, I haven't been fitted in two years."

Vanessa stood in front of the mirror, examining herself while Madame Malkins ran a measuring tape around her waist, "88, 66, 91 centimeters." she said as she jotted down Vanessa's measurements down on parchment. She smiled to herself, she'd lost an inch around her waist. While Vanessa was running her hand over her front, she felt something on the back of her neck. That feeling of being watched. She unglued her gaze from herself in the mirror to the side where a man was sitting. Her stomach jumped into her throat as she caught the man's gray eyes. He was sitting very straight, blonde hair that past his collarbone laying perfectly flat across his front. This man was dressed very, very nicely. A large cloak covering his broad shoulders, two large silver snakes, one on each side. There was a walking stick on his left side, a snake head, its mouth opened exposing its silver fangs, with large emerald eyes.

He couldn't be older than forty, maybe younger. He had few wrinkles, even though his smirk looked like her wore it frequently. That smirk...

I know that smirk. I know, I know that smirk.

Vanessa scrunched her brows as she looked at him, he was very handsome, and very familiar. Why was he so familiar to her? She would surely remember meeting a man that looked like that. The attractive man inclined his head to her, raising a brow at her confused expression. Vanessa gave an embarrassed smile and jerked her head away quickly, her reflected cheeks growing cherry red.

Oh don't do that, he's bound to be married, no need to flatter his already thriving ego.

Thriving ego was right by the looks of it, his haughty expression and pompous ora said it all. That smirk, suggestive and ostentatious.

Oh no.

She felt as if she had been knocked off a broom, the shock of it. How could she possibly mistake him? Of course she knew that damn smirk.

To Vanessa's great satisfaction, they had all gotten fitted sooner than expected. Even though that man kept glancing at her, making the back of her neck sting, she ignored it. As much as one could, until...

Fwap!

"Oh damn, I'm so sorry!" said Vanessa, frantically gathering her books as fast as possible, not even looking up at who she just bumped into. That was until the unknown entity in front of her spoke in a silky voice,

"Its quite all right, my dear. Allow me." She felt a hand rest on her arm. Her arm didn't jerk at his touch,or crawl with imaginary insects, she didn't mind it at all actually. His smooth, warm hand ran down her arm gently, her body warming by his touch. She made the mistake of looking into the eyes of this man, the same man in the shop. Draco's father. Vanessa couldn't breathe, she blinked slowly as she continued to gaze into his gray orbs. There was something so interesting about them, she couldn't bring herself to look away and apparently neither could he. Mr. Malfoy lightly raised his brows, sucking in a breath before licking his lips, intent on speaking. But neither could he. He just stared, not a creepy stare where it made Vanessa uncomfortable. On the contrary, she felt quite at ease with this man. Someone cleared their throat behind them, loudly.

Oh I know who that was...

Vanessa shook her head, knocking herself out of her previous zombie like state. She held out a shaky hand, "Vanessa Cunningham." she breathed. She couldn't come up with anything else to say, she scolded herself mentally at how stupid she must have sounded. "Ah yes, I knew this must be your daughter, Ava." said Mr. Malfoy, not looking away from Vanessa. His eyes gliding over Vanessa's reddening face. He took her hand in his, not shaking, just holding it. "Lucius Malfoy." he said, smirking at her dazed expression.

Get a hold of yourself, girl. He's like 38 or something and has a kid. Draco! As his kid! Bad news...

"Charmed I'm sure. Vanessa we need to go, now." her mother's normally delicate voice said in a demanding tone. Why was she angry? Before Vanessa let go of Lucius' hand she heard someone say next to Lucius, "Oi Cunningham? What are you doing with this bunch?" Vanessa had to stop herself from rolling her eyes as she turned to Draco, "They're my friends, why the hell else would I be with them?"

Draco scoffed at her response, "A mudblood and blood traitor your friend? Vanessa, you're a Slytherin, you're giving us a bad name here. Oi Granger?" Malfoy called as Hermione began walking to Flourish and Blotts, she turned, her brows creased and her lips pursed. "Going to see your filthy muggle parents, are you?" Vanessa snatched her hand out of Lucius Malfoy's and went to pull out her wand but Hermione grabbed Vanessa's arm tightly, nearly knocking her off her feet,

"Excuse me? My parents filthy, lets see here." yelled Hermione, her face getting more red by the second. "My father isn't a death eater. I don't recall my mother ever sleeping around on my father much less running off with one of his so called friends! Honestly Malfoy, who's parents are filthy here?" Hermione huffed angrily, her face contorted in rage as she dragged a shocked Vanessa and an even angrier Ginny off towards Flourish and Blotts.