Waiting for the Christmas break
Clara and Draco were walking in the front garden of the Manor without talking. Today Draco would return to Hogwarts and she would be at his house with only his mother, most of the time.
It was a very cold day, as Christmas was only two weeks away.
"Draco, where is Gringotts bank?"
"Huh? Why do you need to know?"
"I have to go there to withdraw some money and make some shopping," she answered dryly.
"Well, it's in London. You could talk to Father about going, or Mother."
"Yeah…and where are we now?"
"The Manor is in Southern England, in Wiltshire. And Hogwarts is in Scotland."
"I see. Thanks!"
"So, she's got some money! And she knows about Gringotts. But how do I make her fall for me? Be a Slytherin, Draco! Besides, Father is right for once. I am a Malfoy."
There was silence again. Clara was looking at the teenager beside her. So polite, so cold! And so full of hate and preconceptions! But she didn't feel pity for him. "I have to respect him. It's not with vinegar that one attracts flies. He'll be mine soon!"
They got back in the house, their cheeks pink with the cold outside. His parents were in the living room but ceased all discussion as they heard them come in.
"Good morning." Clara said as politely as she could.
She walked toward Lucius and looked at him straight in the eyes.
"Lucius, I'm very sorry about last night. I was out of line."
"Not to worry, Clara. Apologies accepted," he answered.
She nodded and, a minute later, she was back in her room. Not long after, someone knocked on the door.
"You can enter without knocking, Draco…." She started saying, but swallowed her other words when she saw Narcissa standing in front of her door. She forced a smile.
"May I enter, Clara?"
"Of course, Mrs. Malfoy. Please, have a sit," she said pointing to the armchair Draco had conjured Friday night.
They sat in silence for a moment, Narcissa checking her. She finally spoke:
"My husband thinks that you and I started on the wrong foot, so to speak. He thinks we should become friends of some sort and that I shouldn't judge you by the…persons who raised you."
"Does he? And what do you think?" Clara asked her, staring her in the eyes with a very harsh look on the face.
Narcissa seemed to have a hard time in speaking her mind. But she looked back into Clara's eyes, sustaining her gaze.
"I…I don't trust you, I don't like you being in my house and, most of all, I don't like you around my son!" she burst.
"Yes, I know. It was obvious. And I suppose you don't quite agree with the idea of Draco becoming Voldemort's slave!"
"Absolutely not!" Narcissa said and immediately covered her mouth in horror.
Clara smiled slyly at her.
"Well, at least I know where you stand. Don't worry, I won't tell!"
Narcissa's face showed worry, hate and puzzlement. She didn't know if she could trust her and, actually, she didn't want to trust this girl. Nevertheless, she regained her composure.
"Draco will be leaving after lunch."
"Oh, all right! So I guess…most of the time, anyway, we will be the only ones in the house, with Mr. Malfoy being out for business and all…" Clara said.
"Yes!" Narcissa answered and went to the door.
Clara followed her and, when she reached the doorknob, extended her hand.
"Truce, then?" she asked Narcissa.
"Truce…for now, but only if you promise we shall have another chat…a serious one…when we'll have some privacy!" Narcissa answered but didn't shake her hand in return.
Clara nodded and closed the door behind her. She took two packs of cigarettes out of her trunk and put them in her skirt pocket and went knocking on Draco's door.
"Enter," he answered.
He was making his clothes float and fold in his trunk. Clara smiled and stopped in the doorway to admire the show. "I bet I can do it, even if I don't have a wand!"
"I thought you might need some of these." she said to Draco and threw the cigarettes in his trunk.
Draco looked at her, curious that they've just met and she is giving him something that wouldn't be easily obtained for one closed in the manor.
"What about you, Clara? I'm not sure I can give them back…I mean, I don't know if I can buy two other, to replace them."
"Don't worry! Just be careful at school…and either stay away from Umbridge or become her favourite student…I believe that the second option suit you better….for your cover. "
"What are you talking about?" Draco asked, visibly irritated.
Clara stepped very close to him, so close that their lips almost touched. Draco held his breath and raised an eyebrow.
"Just because your father and Voldemort didn't notice your hesitations, it doesn't mean you're so good in concealing them."
She turned around, whipping his face gently with her hair and walked towards the door. She gave him one last look before closing the door.
Draco stood in the middle, unable to move. She popped her head through the door.
"And, Draco? Breath!" and she left.
Draco exhaled loudly. "She's unbelievable! I'm sure she's reading my thoughts…but I never felt her trying to make her way inside my mind!"
He finished packing and went downstairs for lunch. She was already there, actually having a civilized discussion with his mother.
Lunch was uneventful and the time came for Draco to return to Hogwarts.
One thing was for sure, Clara never saw such a cold farewell in a family. Draco didn't get kissed or embraced by any of his parents (not that she would have expected that kind of gesture from Lucius).
"Good luck in classes, Draco." Clara said.
He simply nodded in response and disappeared into the green flames of the fireplace.
She excused herself and headed to the Malfoy library with a big grin across her face. "So, I'll start with the right side of the room, first book on the bottom."
And she took it out of the shell. "Hmm, how appropriate: Lexicon of jinxes and hexes!"
She sat in an armchair by one of the huge windows lighting this magic room.
Twenty minutes later she was "eating" the last page with her eyes. "Only 1583 pages! I need some more!" She put the book back to its place and took out the next one…a few minutes later, she took another. And so, it was already dinner time and she had read about twenty very interesting books.
Lucius was looking at her. He had been observing her for the last hour without her being aware of his presence in the doorway. "What is she looking for exactly? She's passing from one book to another…she's certainly not reading or memorizing anything…hmm…who sent you to spy on me, girl?...and what have you been asked to find in my library?"
"Hmm. Clara, would you like to join us for dinner?"
She looked at him with such joy and content on her face that Lucius almost didn't recognize her. She was glowing and her eyes got once again that amber colour.
"Sure, Lucius. Let me wash my hands and I'll be right there." she said smiling slightly.
"What is she up to? Does the Dark Lord doubt me and my commitment? Or is she Dumbledore's spy? No, that can't be…she was with Snape and he would never betray the Dark Lord…again…" Lucius thought, frustration rising inside as he was looking at her entering the diner room. "Maybe I shouldn't have given this mission to Draco and take it myself…surely she won't be able to resist me!"
Clara was looking back into the ice-blue eyes of this man in front of her "…now, that's a devil in disguise…sadistic one…I bet life with you is a peach…I will kill you myself, Lucius…and that's a promise! "
After dinner, the three went into the living room. Lucius poured two glasses of cognac. He gave one to Clara and kept one for himself. The silence was ears-piercing and Clara was looking at the flames in order to avoid their gaze.
Suddenly, Narcissa spoke: "As my husband will be tomorrow with business in London, would you like to go for shopping, Clara?"
Clara almost chocked with her drink but succeeded in concealing it and answered with a smile at the end of her lips.
"I would like that very much, Mrs. Malfoy. But I have to go to Gringotts Bank in London first, for a withdrawal."
"Certainly that won't be necessary!" Lucius answered. "You are our guest, Clara."
"I'm afraid I have to insist, Lucius. I benefit of your generosity too much already…besides, I have to do some serious shopping. Do they use Muggle currency at Gringotts? In fact, my question should be: what kind of money do we use?"
"Galleons, dear! The purest gold." Lucius said, unable to hide his astonishment. "But they will change it into Muggle money if you need."
"I see. Well, it's settled then. When shall we leave, Mrs. Malfoy?"
"Right after breakfast." Narcissa answered.
"I see…in that case, good night." Clara said rising from the armchair.
"Good night!" came their answer.
Clara entered her room but didn't go to bed right away. She lit herself a cigarette and smoked it slowly in front of the window, embracing the cold night and imagining about her next day.
Draco was sitting in the common room with his usual circle of "friends": Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy right next to him like a cocklebur, Zabini and a few other sixth and seventh years.
"So, I heard you were at the meeting on Friday night," Zabini said. "Did you receive it?"
"Wouldn't I be showing it to you, Blaise?" Draco answered, sounding bored. "You're smart enough to know that You-Know-Who accepts only people of age and who have completed their education."
"Well, too bad for you then," came the mocking answer.
"But Draco got to practice the Cruciatus," Pansy said without hiding the pride of being Draco's girlfriend under such circumstances.
Draco made a who's-tough-now face to the other students but got overwhelmed inside by this feeling that has been haunting his mind and his soul…The shame of what he did to Clara was like a huge rock on his chest. He couldn't get rid of the memory of her initiation even if he knew that she had faked almost everything. "But she felt the first one and then she got the Mark. I've seen how she looked afterwards."
"I'll see you tomorrow," Draco suddenly said and walked towards the boy's dormitory.
But they were all too busy speculating who Draco had tortured and how he did it to notice that their subject of discussion had left.
Pansy noticed though, and she was next to him in a few steps.
"I'll keep you company," she said in a meaningful manner.
"That won't be necessary, thanks." Draco dryly answered.
She stood speechless in front of the stairs, with a surprised look across her face. He had never refused her company before. They always ended up snogging on his bed or somewhere in the castle.
But Draco didn't even look back, and entered his bedroom. He threw himself on his bed without bothering to change in his pyjamas. "God! How could I be so stupid? I was so angry when she told me that she faked it that I overlooked what she said about restraining herself. Why? Why would she do it? And I'll have to wait two weeks until I get an answer! Or, I could write her. No! That would be stupid! Father is sure to intercept any owl. Damn it!"
That night he didn't sleep well at all. He felt like he was drowning in his dreams and he feared he would never wake up. He was dreaming of Clara, of being in her bed at the Manor, her legs wrapped around him, feeling the touch of her skin on his…But she was so cold, like a dead person. He was holding her tight in his arms but couldn't warm her and his tears were rolling down her back, making her tattooed wings spread and cover their bodies in a black silk blanket of feathers. Then he couldn't see anything anymore, he was surrounded by walls of wind circling him. And suddenly, he heard Clara's voice: "Your place is next to me!" and two red eyes were shinning in the fog of dust around him. He heard Voldemort's evil laughter all around him, piercing his ears: "He is mine! He was born to be mine!"
Draco woke up on Monday morning all sweaty and nervous. He quickly took a shower and headed for breakfast hoping he will be able to get some proper sleep that night.
But he didn't…Not Monday night, nor Tuesday, nor any other day until Christmas break. He looked even paler than he usually did, always grumpy and nervous. The only benefit of this was that Pansy got off his back for a while. But he knew she wasn't going to give up so easily.
At three o'clock in the morning precisely, Lucius took hold of the Portkey and apparated in the new headquarters of his master. Snape was a few steps away from him looking grumpy, as always.
"How is she, Lucius? The Dark Lord wants her to be prepared for her training."
"She is fine. She recovered amazingly well. Why so much interest in her? Did she steel your heart? I didn't know you had one," came Lucius's sarcastic answer.
Snape looked as indifferent as always but deep inside he felt like cursing the bastard in front of him.
"As I said, the Dark Lord asked," he answered dryly.
Without another word they entered the room in front of them.
Voldemort was sitting in his armchair and Nagini was at his feet, near the fireplace. He looked pleased at his two most loyal servants. They both bowed deeply.
"Lucius, I hope you bring me good news of our young Death Eater."
"Yes, my Lord. She recovered quite well. We are actually very surprised to see her on her own feet so soon after the initiation."
"Good, good! I need her to start a proper training and you are in charge of that, Lucius. For the moment. Severus will continue as soon as she will be at Hogwarts. No need to tell you that your son is not to know about the plan and about her attending the school."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Anything else?" Voldemort asked.
"Well, actually there is something, Master," Lucius said in a very smooth tone. "Something I find to be very odd about her."
"What is it? Did you manage to break her mind barriers?"
Both Voldemort and Snape were looking intensively at Lucius.
"No, Master. I haven't found a breach yet. She is very interested in my library, though."
"That is very good. She must read as much as possible," Voldemort approved.
"Of course, Master. But I'm not sure she is really reading the books or even a part of them."
"Speak up, Lucius! I'm not in the mood for riddles."
"Forgive me, Master! I sneaked on her to see which books she was interested in. She took several books, turned page after page until she reached the end of them…But she didn't seem like she was reading. She was just scanning every page with her eyes."
"Hmm…Severus, what do you say about this?" Voldemort asked in a nettled tone.
"My Lord, if I may…I think Miss Noctus has hidden talents, more than the obvious one in Occlumency. But she should be inquired about this odd behaviour. She seems to be a very direct person who isn't afraid to tell the truth."
"How did you come to that conclusion, Severus? Have you become her trusted friend over night? Or maybe something different?" Lucius said in mockery.
"Enough with the unnecessary comments, Lucius! You know that I do not appreciate that between my Death Eaters."
"A thousand apologies, Master! I have no wish to make you angry," Lucius said and dragged himself in his knees to kiss the edge of Voldemort's robes who looked so very pleased at his display of fear and loyalty.
Snape felt like he could empty his stomach at such a show of cowardness but remained inexpressive.
"You will pay a visit to Lucius this weekend and have a little chat with her, Severus."
"As you wish, my Lord," Snape said and bowed.
"Meanwhile, you will observe her from the distance, Lucius. Let her do whatever she wants but keep a close eye on her. And so should your wife. You can't trust a woman!"
"But, Master, you trusted her enough to make her yours," Lucius said.
Without warning, Voldemort rose and pointed his wand to Lucius, casting the Cruciatus. Malfoy was suffering the terrible pain in his every bone and muscle silently and, although Snape admired him for having the decency to shut up, he couldn't hide the feeling of content seeing the fucker being tortured. "That will teach him to keep his opinions to himself!" Voldemort stopped and was sited again. Lucius stood up, shaking.
"You are in no position to question my judgement, Lucius! Nobody is! And if I allowed this woman in my circle of Death Eaters it's because, for now, she is the solution to my problem. She is only a mean to an end. So, neither one of you should see her as competition."
Both Snape and Malfoy bowed to him.
"Now, go and train my little spy. I need to see progress in her. You will bring her to me on the first day of the New Year."
"Yes, Master!" they said and left.
Monday morning, Clara couldn't believe that she was still there, that it wasn't a dream. She was having a cigarette in front of her window, watching the mist rise from the trees around the Manor. She had been here for two days already. She was feeling good now, just like she was Friday night, before getting the Mark. It was odd, but last night she felt it burning in her sleep but she didn't wake up.
It was half past seven in the morning and she was fully dressed, provocative as always, she put some make up, she had done her nails with black nail polish, she had breakfast and was now waiting for the Malfoys to wake up and have their breakfast. She was excited with the prospect of visiting Gringotts Bank. She hoped she wouldn't make a fool of herself by standing in front of an empty vault.
She had made a list of things to buy after taking everything out of her trunk. The funny thing was that the compartment where she kept her packs of smokes seemed to refill itself…That or she had a stock for at least one year, because every time she got off two packs, they seemed to be replaced by other two. So she stopped removing them after four packs and erased the cigarettes from her list.
She was actually anxious to get back to the Manor because she wanted to read some more books. And most of all, Clara wanted to practice some of the spells and jinxes she had read about. Not quite all of them, especially that there were many used to torture and kill. And unnecessary blood on her hands wasn't part of her plan. Even if she was dark inside, even if she felt that she was the incarnation of all that represents evil and bad to the rest of the world, she didn't want to kill innocents, if there is such thing as innocent…not yet. She felt it wasn't the time to decide whether she had has the right to take one's life. "Later. I'll see to that later. I did promise Lucius that I'll take care of him, even if he doesn't know that now. And there is the other bastard!"
Lucius and Narcissa had finally come down for breakfast. When the house-elf popped next to them, Lucius asked in a harsh tone.
"Where is our guest? Didn't I tell you miserable creature to wake her up?"
"We did as Master asked, but guest was already up at half past six. Guest already had breakfast."
"Hmm! So she's a morning person. Anxious to go shopping, like every woman. Leave us!"
"Yes, Master," the elf said and popped out of the room.
Narcissa didn't comment but felt hurt by Lucius's remark.
Clara was carefully studying her list and was thinking of a way to go to Muggle London shops for some of the items on the list. She imagined that wizards do not mingle with Muggles. Someone knocked on the door.
"Enter."
"Good morning. We are ready to leave," Narcissa said.
"Good morning, Mrs. Malfoy. I'm coming," she replied and took her coat from the armchair, smiling at her host. But all she got from the ice-queen was a look of indifference. "No matter. I'll break her!"
Lucius was waiting for them near the big fireplace of the living room and, after bidding Clara "Good morning", he tossed some green powder and said with a clear voice "the Leaky Cauldron," stepping into the flames. Narcissa and Clara followed, repeating his gestures.
When she arrived at destination, Clara was surprised to find herself into a pub so full of people that she was sure that they entered unnoticed. So many wizards and witches discussing over a mug of drink or a meal!
The three new arrivals passed everybody quickly and headed to the entrance door. As Lucius had instructed, Clara had her hood over her head and tried to stay as insidious as possible.
"This is Diagon Alley," Lucius said once they were outside. "Further to your right is Knocturn Alley, and I wouldn't recommend you to go there without proper escort."
Clara took a look around her, studying carefully the buildings and the sea of people walking everywhere.
"I have some business to attend to at the Ministry. I'll leave you with Narcissa. Don't forget not to draw attention on yourself!" he added.
"Of course, Lucius. Low profile, I got it!" she answered smiling widely.
Lucius looked at her amused and took his leave.
"We should head for Gringotts first," Narcissa said.
"Yes, we should, Mrs. Malfoy. You lead the way, please."
They walked for about ten minutes until they reached a huge building which had the inscription "GRINGOTTS BANK LONDON - HEADQUARTERS" above the massive door.
Narcissa stopped and turned to her.
"You should know that the employees of the bank are not humans. They are goblins. Be careful how you react, they get offended very easily. I hope you did bring your key!"
Clara nodded and followed her into the building. The only key she had was the one found in her trunk and she hoped it was the good one.
The goblins were indeed funny creatures in a creepy way, much similar to the house-elves but with a vicious look on their faces. The two women walked to a desk where an old goblin was writing something down with a beautiful white quill. He raised his eyes as Narcissa took a seat in front of him.
"Oh, Mrs. Malfoy! Such an honour! What can I do for you?"
"We are here for a withdrawal. In the name of Clara Noctus."
"Certainly. Key?"
Clara took the key out of her cloak and handed it.
"Oh! It's…it's you? Gringotts values your patronage, Miss Noctus! Please follow me!"
Narcissa looked at Clara inquisitively and with great suspicion and Clara looked back at her with puzzlement and amusement as they followed the old goblin.
They took the back seat of some sort of machine going on trails and the goblin took the front seat, starting to manoeuvre the mini train. They entered a semi-dark tunnel, going up and down like in a roller-coaster, passing near many door with numbers on them…The vaults.
Finally, they stopped in front of vault 713.
"This is our most secure vault, miss Noctus. I personally guarantee for the safety of your galleons."
"Thank you, sir. What is the exact amount at present?" Clara asked.
Even with the ice-cold indifference mask on, Clara could see an increasing interest in Narcissa's eyes while the goblin was opening the vault. He handed the key back to Clara.
"Well, since the money has been transferred, we counted nine hundred and twenty six billion galleons, but we have only covered about twenty four percent of the amount, miss."
When the door opened, Clara was standing mouth wide opened in disbelief in front of the largest amount of gold she had ever seen. She even heard Narcissa gulping as the goblin announced the amount.
"I see," Clara finally said. "I will withdraw one hundred thousand galleons and…what is the rate currency for English pounds?"
"It is one to ten, miss."
"One galleon for ten pounds? That's robbery! I'll give you one to forty."
"I cannot accept that, miss! One to thirty."
"One to twenty five?"
"It's a deal, miss. How many galleons in pounds?"
"Ten thousand galleons. That gives us two millions and five hundred thousand pounds if I am correct!"
"Exactly, miss."
He entered the vault and exited with two small wood boxes, so small that they could fit in a not very large pocket.
"Here is your money, Miss Noctus. Will there be anything else, here at the vault?"
"Nothing, thank you."
Narcissa didn't say a word, acting as if nothing happened. They took the little train back and the two women exited Gringotts, leaving a very happy-looking goblin behind.
"I guess this withdrawal gave him a lot of money in commissions," Clara commented.
"I believe so," Narcissa answered dryly.
"So, where do we go now, Mrs. Malfoy?"
"First tell me why you need Muggle money."
"Well, I need to do some shopping, things I doubt I'll find on Diagon Alley."
"I'm not going to Muggle London!"
"All right, I'll go alone. There's no problem."
"Out of the question!" Narcissa answered, visibly irritated.
"Are you afraid I might think of never coming back?" Clara asked, looking at her straight in the eyes and giving a mischievous smile.
"Well…"
"Hmm. Not to worry, Mrs. Malfoy. I'll give you a very good reason for which I love being at the Manor."
"Really? Would that reason be my son? Or maybe my husband?" Narcissa asked in a high-pitched voice.
"Your son, as I understand, is taken. And your husband? Icky! He's old enough to be my father so, no, thanks!"
"What is your reason then?"
"Your library, obviously!" Clara said.
"Our library?" Narcissa whispered, staring at her in disbelief.
"It's a huge treasure of knowledge."
After a few seconds of silence, Narcissa said: "You should probably go to Muggle London first. I will show you the way out of Diagon Alley and I shall meet back with you at the Leaky Cauldron in two hours. Will that be sufficient?"
"It will be great, thanks a lot!"
They walked back to the inn without any other words. In the backyard of the Leaky Cauldron there was a wall of bricks. Narcissa got out her wand and tapped in different directions. Suddenly the bricks moved and a passage was opened.
"One more thing before you go, Clara."
"Yes, Mrs. Malfoy."
"My husband must not know about this. As far as he is concerned, we went together, I made a scene. Don't be late! And call me Narcissa from now on."
"Sure, Narcissa. I'll see you in two hours," Clara answered and left.
She finally entered familiar places: Muggle stores. She purchased clothes, many of them casual and sport, shoes, make-up and nail-polish. Two hours later she was standing in front of the passage and the wall opened itself. Narcissa was standing with her wand out on the other side. She even cracked a little smile at Clara, who smiled back.
"You are on time! Come, let's buy all the necessary for a witch now. We meet Lucius at half past one for lunch."
"All right. Where do we go first?"
"Ollivander's. You need a wand."
That's a strange behaviour from someone so decided to ignore me a few hours ago! I wonder what her plans are. Clara was thinking to herself as she walked with Narcissa toward the shop.
They entered but it seemed to be empty, except for mounts of little long boxes all over the large room. Clara saw a little bell on the front desk and touched it. Somewhere from the back of the room, an old man slid on a ladder hooked on the shelves.
"Good day, miss! Oh, Mrs. Malfoy! Is there something wrong with your wand?" he said concerned, as soon as he laid eyes on Narcissa.
"Good day, Mr. Ollivander. My wand is fine, thank you."
"What can I do for you then?"
"I need a wand," Clara spoke before Narcissa could answer.
"And who might you be?"
"I'm Clara Noctus, Mr. Ollivander. Pleased to make your acquaintance!"
"Pleased, I'm sure. All right, then! Let's find you a wand."
And he disappeared behind the shelves for at least ten minutes. Narcissa was sited in the only chair of the store, next to the window, while Clara was looking carefully at all the boxes everywhere, without moving from her place.
Finally, Ollivander reappeared with his arms full of different boxes. He carefully put them all on the counter.
"All right, Miss Noctus. I've selected a few wands that might suit you. Please begin to try them."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Just give it a wave. It should be sufficient."
"All right."
And she waved. And waved, and waved. She tried at least ten different wands, but the man wasn't satisfied.
"Is there something supposed to happen, Sir?" she finally asked when arriving to the fifteenth wand.
"This is unbelievable!" the old man said nervously. "But wait a second! I think I might have the right one, though!" he added and left once again.
Narcissa, even if bored, looked very interested on the outcome of this particular shopping. Clara, on the other hand, was frustrated.
A few minutes later, Ollivander gave her a very old and dusty box. The moment she touched that wand the shop was filled with sparkles and light, and Clara felt a wave of electricity passing through every inch of her body and every nerve.
"This is it!" the man exclaimed. "This, young lady, is a wand that's worth every galleon. It's handcrafted by the elves, has splinters of dragon scales, unicorn and thestral hair, and essence of sandalwood. Fifteen inches and five hundred galleons!"
Clara put the wand on the counter without taking her eyes away from it, took s handful of galleons out of her box and counted in silence five hundred pieces that she gave to Ollivander. The man started to wrap the box after putting the wand back in, but Clara stopped him.
"Wait a minute, please! I want to try a simple spell."
She almost burst into laughter at the sight of their faces.
"Don't worry, I won't blow up the store!" she said smiling.
She took the wand in her right hand and pointed it to her packages brought from Muggle London.
"Reducto!" she simply said, almost whispering.
A thread of black-green energy surged from the tip of the wand and the packages started to slowly reduce their size. She lifted her wand when they reached the size of small boxes, picked them up and put them in her cloak pocket, looking very happy.
"It was very well casted, Clara!" Narcissa said, visibly impressed.
"Thank you, Narcissa! And you, Mr. Ollivander, for your help. We should be leaving now. Have a nice day!"
"My pleasure, miss. A nice day to you as well! Goodbye, Mrs. Malfoy!"
They exited the store and headed straight ahead.
"Where did you learn to cast?" Narcissa asked.
"I merely imitated Mr. Snape, and Draco showed me how to return things back to their original size, but this is the first time I hold a wand."
"And why did you whisper the spell?"
"Oh, that! I was afraid I might blow something up or minimize other things as well if I spoke out loud. I guess it was an instinct."
Out of nowhere, a crow flew straight to Clara and landed on her shoulder. Narcissa had her wand ready and was looking around for a potential threat. But the bird was soon followed by a skinny, tall man, dressed in an old and black robe.
"I'm really sorry, my ladies! Hugin has never done this before. Apparently he fancies your daughter, ma'am!"
"Apparently you need to educate your birds!" she answered dryly.
The man was desperately trying to take the bird off Clara's shoulder but, as the named Hugin felt him approach, it gripped more firmly and penetrated the cloak's fabric with its claws, causing Clara to wince.
"Don't approach further, sir. Hugin obviously likes me so much that he decided not to let me go."
"But, miss, I can't follow the bird around and you as well. I don't understand his behaviour. Never, in a hundred and twenty years since he's been in our family, has the bird been attached to anyone!"
"Yeah, well…How much?" Clara asked seeing the impatient look on Narcissa's face.
"I can't sell it, miss! I just told you, Hugin has been in my family for a hundred and twenty years," the man said, his hand reaching to grab the bird.
But Hugin was decided to have a new master. So it bit the hand that wanted to take him away.
Clara spoke again, this time adopting one of Narcissa's attitudes, the one when a person could think something smells really bad around.
"I have no time to waste. Here are one hundred galleons for the bird. It should be more than enough!"
Then she turned around and started walking toward the Leaky Cauldron with the bird on her shoulder and a very amused Mrs. Malfoy walking next to her.
"You can relax now, Hugin," she said to the bird caressing its chest and admiring the beautiful black of its feathers while they were waiting for Lucius in a very private room of the inn.
Of course, everyone turned their heads when two women entered, especially when they saw two cloaked figures trying to pass unnoticed and one of them was having a big, black crow on the shoulder.
Lucius joined them a few moments later.
"You're supposed to have a cat or an owl, Clara," he said looking surprised at the bird which didn't leave her shoulder.
"Hugin found me, Lucius!" she answered and started to tell him how it happened.
"I see. This is unusual. Not many wizards or witches have a crow as a pet. I think I might have a book at home on these birds. So, how was your day so far? Tell me everything, and let's order some food, we haven't finished the day yet!" he said.
Clara ordered to the plate in front of her as she saw the Malfoys doing, and which she thought was very funny, and started to talk to Lucius.
"Well, first I dragged your wife into Muggle London, after I withdrew money from Gringotts, and then I purchased my wand at Ollivander's."
"You took Narcissa into Muggle London?" he asked shocked.
"Well, she didn't want to let me go by myself…"
Lucius was looking at his wife with wide-opened eyes, unable to picture her surrounded by nothing but filthy Muggles.
"Yes, I didn't want to leave you, Clara. And I shall take a long and nice bath as soon as we get home, to wash the filth away," Narcissa said making one of those faces again. "But Clara should tell you what happened while buying her wand!"
"What?" Lucius asked with caution.
"Mr. Ollivander had me try at least fifteen wands but none of them worked."
"Do you still have no wand? The Dark Lord will not be pleased, Clara," he said in a preventive whisper.
"Relax, Lucius! I have my wand," she said taking it out and handing it to him.
He admired the beautiful handcraft without a word and gave it back.
"By the way, when will I see…him?" Clara inquired.
"Soon, as a matter of fact. I will train you first, he wants to see some improvement in you," Lucius said in a low voice.
"Oh, but I've improved, Lucius! Ask Narcissa."
He looked at his wife who looked back and simply said: "She cast Reducto."
"And I did it perfectly, as you can see," Clara added proudly, showing him the reduced bags in her pocket.
"Very well, Clara! Very well indeed. Now, let's finish our lunch. I still have some business at the Ministry this afternoon and I believe you two haven't finished your shopping."
The two women parted from Lucius in front of a brooms shop that displayed a gorgeous broom.
"Narcissa, does Draco like brooms?" Clara asked.
"Yes, he loves them and Quidditch, that's a game. I'm sure he'll explain you the rules when he comes home."
"Yeah…what do you with them?"
"Well, you ride them, of course!"
Clara entered the store and, a few minutes later, exited it with two packages containing the new Nimbus Extreme broom. Narcissa didn't comment.
Next they went into an ink and parchment store where Clara brought plenty of beautiful quills, green and black ink (enough for at least five years to come!) and hundreds of rolls of parchment of the finest quality. She also bought black wax and silver envelopes and ordered a personalized seal with her initials.
Afterwards they entered Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions where Clara bought robes and cloaks and dresses and corsets. Narcissa insisted to talk to the owner for Clara's dress for the Christmas party, to go over every detail. So, after being measured for the dress and taking advantage that Narcissa was busy, Clara went across the street where she had spotted some leather pants.
She entered and discovered that not only they were selling leather clothing but also they had a tattoo shop. She picked four or five pants and two pairs of boots, and then asked to see the patterns used for the tattoos.
"I want this one," she said pointing at one of the pictures. "On my left upper arm, please. Do you have Lifeink?"
"It is very rare, miss. And very expensive, not to mention dangerous!" the young man behind the counter answered.
"Yes, but it's of best quality, right?"
"Indeed, who told you about it?"
"I have a tattoo on my back with this type of ink. The craftsman who made it told me it was very, very rare but it was the best. And don't worry about the payment, I'm sure I have enough galleons."
"All right, miss. Please step into the back chamber, I will call my master."
She entered a small room with weird smells. An elder man followed and introduced himself as Ink Master Octavius. He has a bottle of ink in his hand that looked like one of the potion vials Snape had in his office.
"My apprentice has told me that you had another tattoo in Lifeink. May I see it?"
Clara removed her blouse and undone her bra, turning her back to Octavius.
"You are very courageous to have such a big one on your back. The one I will make for you today isn't going to hurt that much!"
"This one didn't hurt either, sir. Although I was very surprised to wake up after and hour and see it done. I was under the impression that it takes months and a lot of needles for one so big!"
"Needles? That's a barbaric Muggle method! But the one who made this magnificent art of work is either insane or stupid!" the Ink Master burst while she got dressed.
"What do you mean?"
"He put you to sleep with Muggle medicine, for sure. You never mix Muggle medicine with magic! NEVER!"
"Well, I didn't know. But I'm still alive, so no harm done!" Clara said smiling.
Her left arm was uncovered but she placed it in a way to hide her Dark Mark. The Ink Master applied the pattern she had chosen.
"Are you ready?" he asked her.
"Of course," Clara answered, asking herself why the man was acting so weird.
She soon found out as he poured the silver ink on her arm. The liquid ran, following the pattern, and then penetrated her skin like a million burning needles. She closed her eyes and took a strong hold of the chair, trying very hard not to scream. He removed the pattern.
"Well, it is ready. Your arm will feel dull for a day or two. It will be twenty galleons."
She opened her eyes and admired that beautiful drawing coiling on her arm, dressed herself and paid, thanking the Ink Master for his work. Then she went to collect her purchase and exited the store with a content look on her face, feeling that it was a great day. She could see Narcissa, still in the store across the street, talking to someone, choosing some fabrics. Then her eye got caught by a tall man dressed in dark robes, turning somewhere in a street at her right. Thinking it could be Snape, she hasted and followed him. As she entered the dark street, she read the inscription Knocturn Alley but saw the face of the man she followed. It wasn't Snape.
How disappointing! Well, if I'm here I could just as well visit! She said to herself and entered a store called Dangerous and rare potions.
The man behind the counter was not only ugly but very creepy. Clara looked at the different vials with odd inscriptions and suddenly was lightened by an idea. She had a mischievous grin all over her face and went straight to the clerk.
"I need a set of the rarest potions you have."
"Look, girlie, I have no time for this! As you can see, I'm busy," he answered dryly. "Customers waiting!"
"I'm sure all your invisible customers won't mind you serving me first, as your store seems to be quite deserted! If money is the problem, have no worries, I can pay!" she growled.
"I think I made myself clear. Leave!" he said raising his voice.
"Is that it? Than maybe the Dark Lord himself should come for this purchase, as you seem incapable of serving me!" Clara hissed.
"Who do you think you are, you little brat, coming here to threaten me with He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named? GET OUT, NOW!" the man shouted.
But then Clara just rolled up her sleeve and put her left arm in the man's face. He gulped and said with all the honey he could gather in his voice: "My apologies, miss. I'll be right back with some new vials I've just received from the Caribbean. Exquisite merchandise! And for a very good price, too!" he said shaking like a leaf and trying to put a smile on his face.
Clara rolled back her sleeve and watched the man retrieving with at least a dozen vials of various colours on a beautiful black wood support.
"Perfect. Wrap it, I'll take the lot!" she growled.
"That would be one hundred and fifty galleons, miss."
She raised an eyebrow and looked at him as if she was ready to punish him for such insolence.
"But, of course, I could make a discount," he added quickly. "Let's say a hundred and twenty galleons?"
"One hundred!" Clara said dryly.
"Sold, miss!" he answered and made some nice silver paper float and wrap itself on the bottles.
She paid the man and got off the store and the creepy alley with her arms full. She could barely carry the packages with her tattoo still hurting. She then got struck with the obvious and reduced them.
Clara saw Narcissa pale as a parchment standing in front of Madam Malkin's store, looking in every direction. She approached from behind the woman.
"What's wrong, Narcissa?"
"Are you out of your mind? Where were you?" Narcissa asked, restraining herself from yelling.
"Sorry, I was right across the street," Clara said, alarmed that the woman looked as if she was going to collapse.
"NEVER, EVER leave my sight without a word like you just did! These streets may look safe and all to you but they are not! Do you understand?"
"Calm down! For a minute I thought you were genuinely worried about me. I'm not a little kid, you know?" Clara said with a little sad smile across her lips.
"What are you on about? Of course I was worried about you!"
"No, you were worried of what might happen if you were to lose me. Have we finished with the dress?"
Narcissa sighed slowly. What Clara just said hurt. Mostly because it was the truth.
"Yes, we finished. Let's get your other packages inside. Then we'll meet Lucius and go home."
Clara heard wings flapping behind her and felt Hugin land on her shoulder. The bird left her when she entered to get the dress. She was glad it had decided to turn back. Narcissa didn't say a word.
They met Lucius at the Leaky Cauldron and, after hearing his comments on how women spent money on things they don't need and looked suspicious at the packages Clara didn't bother to shrink, they used the Floo powder to return to the Manor.
It was almost dinner time so Clara put everything on the floor, near her trunk, took a quick shower and headed straight to the library.
Lucius found her with a huge book on potions on her lap, turning page after page again.
"Are you really reading those books, Clara? Or are you looking for a specific topic and don't know in which book you can find it?"
"Oh, I'm reading all right, Lucius," she answered smiling at the man. "I'm using a Muggle technique for fast reading, that's all."
"Muggle?" Lucius said twisting his lips in disgust.
Clara didn't answer but kept her smile, amused at his turmoil.
"So, I guess it's dinner time."
"Yes, are you joining us?"
"Hmm. Is Narcissa still mad at me for dragging her into Muggle London?"
"She's furious! She spent the last hour in the tub," Lucius said rather amused.
"Perhaps I shouldn't come to dinner, then."
"Nonsense! She will get over it soon," Lucius said taking her by the shoulders and pushing her through the library door.
Clara muttered "Ouch!" because her arm hurt and made a movement to loose Lucius's touch.
After another icy atmosphere at dinner that matched the frosty weather outside, Clara went to her room, lighted a cigarette and started to unpack.
Hugin was comfortably sitting on her night table, watching her move across the room. She hid the brooms in her wardrobe and went to sleep long after midnight.
The week passed quickly and Clara developed a routine consisting in reading all day long, without eating, having dinner with the Malfoys in a quasi silence (Narcissa was still not talking to her) and practicing with Lucius some spells until one or two in the morning. She enjoyed those hours spent exercising the spells she read about and whispering them with her wand extended and a very vexed Lucius next to her. He couldn't understand how come she didn't cast out loud but her spells were efficient and very well cast. But what he hated most was the young woman's indifference to his charms. By Friday night it was clear to him that he won't get to her. Well, Draco will have to do better then! We can't afford to let her loose, can we? he was thinking while watching her cast a protecting shield around herself. He could feel the energy of the shield almost burning him while it remained dark green around the girl.
"I think we can call it a night, Clara. By the way, Snape got detained for tomorrow so we'll see him at the Christmas party."
"Mr. Snape was supposed to visit?" Clara asked surprised.
"Oh, didn't I mention it? Yes, well, he will be here Tuesday evening."
"All right. Good night, Lucius!" she answered trying to look indifferent to the news.
But she wasn't. She was sad because this past week she had discovered things and she needed to share them with the only person she more or less trusted. She went to her room, petted Hugin's chest for a while, lit a cigarette and started to tidy up her dress for the party and other things she had ordered during her trip to Diagon Alley and that had arrived that day. Friday. It's been a week already! Maybe this isn't a dream after all!
She was lost in thoughts watching her marked arm, admiring her new tattoo and consolidating her long term plans. She fell asleep thinking of Draco and of how Harry Potter might look like.
The weekend wasn't any different from the rest of the week and then came Monday.
Clara was reading again and got interrupted by none other than the Mistress of the house. She smiled at Narcissa who looked like one of those Roman statues, white and majestic. She found her so beautiful!
"We need to talk, Clara."
"Sure, no problem," she answered and put the book aside.
"Draco will return tonight for his Christmas holidays. I need you to…watch over him."
"I thought you didn't want me near him!"
"Yes, well, I've changed my mind. How do you like the dress, by the way?"
Not only has she changed her mind, but also the subject! Clara thought amused.
"I didn't unpack it yet. I want to be surprised tomorrow! But thank you for choosing it. I'm sure it is very beautiful."
Narcissa cracked a little smile.
"Why didn't you come for lunch these past few days?" she suddenly asked.
"First of all because I got caught in the reading so much. And…"
"And?"
"Well, I know you don't like having me around much, so I tried to make myself less visible."
"Oh! I've been quite hard on you…I'm sorry!"
"Don't worry, Narcissa! I understand."
The woman sighed and then extended her hand.
"Truce?" she asked Clara.
"Truce again, Narcissa. And I will watch over Draco," she answered squeezing her hand gently and smiling.
.