I didn't really like this chapter. I was kind of out of it.

I would like to thank Undead Artist and Obscure Stranger for submitting a Story Alert and I would like to thank Jessica Iberg and Jean Potter for reviewing! Thanks guys!!

Enjoy and please review!! I'd highly appreciate it!

Chapter 11

Shopping Buddies

….\~/….

Friday: September 13:

Draco glared at her through the entire Potions class. That glare probably covered up his nervousness that he had grown for her after the night before. Logan glared right back, her chin resting in her hand as she waited for her potion to simmer for five minutes. The white liquid was supposed to turn into somewhat of a paste when it was done and Snape provided containers for those who accomplished the potion so that they could scoop some up and hopefully use it.

The blonde's eyes never left her, even when Snape handed him a container. Logan left his gaze to concentrate on her work and scooped some in, screwing the lid on. She dropped it into her bag and looked up to still see Draco staring at her. She stuck her tongue out at him and he grimaced, finally breaking eye contact.

Snape stopped in front of Logan, blocking her out of Draco's view. "Meet me after class, Miss Wolfram. We will be leaving right after."

Before he could leave, she asked, "How are we going to get there?"

He turned back towards her. "Floo Powder…" He walked away, heading over to Neville's cauldron to hopefully find something to taunt him about for the remainder of class which wasn't long, only ten more minutes, but if Snape did find a problem, those ten minutes would be the worst for Neville.

Draco's diverted his attention to her again and she put her cheek in her hand, wiggling her fingers at him, a cheeky little smile on her face. All got was a scowl and that scowl made her amused…and she liked being amused.

….\~/….

Hermione left without saying a word. She acted like she was still mad about the night before and she probably was. It wasn't like she was lying; she hadn't been scared how that dog. It wasn't like she could lie; but on the other hand, she could because she was lying about her family life, so what would more lie do?

Harry and Ron didn't say anything to her either and Lunar looked at her, rushing out of the room with Padma when Logan caught her look. Draco, Pansy, and their goons glared at her venomously as they walked out the door. Logan sighed, sitting on one of the stools. She laid her head in her arms as she waited for Professor Snape to come back.

All she could hear were the fading footsteps of her fellow classmates, and the occasional, yet rhythmical plop of a droplet of moisture somewhere in the dungeons. All she could smell were the fumes of the leftover potions and the soap that Snape had in his classroom, ready for students to use when needed. And all she could see was the emptiness of the room, almost like the loneliness that she had suffered for so many years.

She didn't look up when Snape entered the room, but he stopped, looking over at her. "Come on, Miss Wolfram, or have you changed your mind in accompanying me?" he asked, his voice bearing that hopeful tone that maybe she would stay at Hogwarts.

"Of course I'm coming…" she trailed off, earning a quizzical lift of the eyebrow from the dark-haired man. "What seems to be the problem, Miss Wolfram?" What most people would think was a question of concern; he turned into pure curiosity, no concern or worry in his voice whatsoever.

"Are you scared of anything?" she asked, looking up at him. His face made no change; he was actually showed no emotion unless you called a firm-lipped line for a mouth as a show of concern…

"No…I'm not…"

"Then…do people get mad at you when you say you're not scared of something absolutely terrifying when you're actually supposed to be scared?"

He gave her an odd look. "What is the point of this conversation?"

Logan didn't speak, "Let's just…go…"

….\~/….

She had to accept that it hadn't been that long when she was last at the Leaky Cauldron. She was glancing around, receiving some strange looks from tea-drinking witches and wizards. They were probably wondering why in the world she was with a man such as Professor Snape.

He turned to her, a deep frown on his pale face. She had to wonder if he ever smiled… not smirk…smile… "I have some other errands to do, other than getting wormwood. In the meantime, I give you the privileges of doing whatever you want, but-" He took a step towards her. "-if I hear one complaint about your uncouth behavior, I'll send right back to Hogwarts and I'll make sure you never lift a troublesome finger again, are we clear, Miss Wolfram?"

Logan gave him a lazy salute, "Crystal, Professor Shopping Buddy!" She hid the smirk that was so desperately wanting out when he scowled and walked away. Once he was out of earshot, she started laughing, walking to the back room, tapping the bricks, and entered Diagon Alley.

….\~/….

Logan sat on a bench, leaned forward with her chin rested in her hands. She pondered about what to get Hermione for her birthday and what to get everyone for Christmas. Since she was in Diagon Alley, she might as well get some Christmas shopping done. Her eyes scanned the calm streets, looking over every sign that stretched out from the building. They stopped at one sign: Stationary Shop. Logan remembered Professor McGonagall taking her in there to get her quills and writing things. The girl stood up, pacing over to the store and walking in, listening to the soft chime of the bells.

The walls were covered in different kinds of quills, inks, and parchment. On the wall to the left was the wall covered with small bottles of ink, in so many different colors. Logan walked over, ignoring the curious look of the shop owner.

"Aren't students supposed to be in school?" he asked.

Logan examined a bottle of red ink, "I'm with a teacher so I'm okay."

The man left her alone after that, only sitting there to watch her look over the inkwells until she came across packages of inkwells, containing ink in colors of the rainbow. She grabbed that and a screech owl quill that seemed to fit Hermione's personality. Well, she was bossy and did seem to screech out answers or orders…

Logan set the items on the front desk, digging her hand into her bag, taking out six Galleons. "Can you wrap those?" she asked. The man nodded went in the back. She heard the rip of paper, the slice of the tape, and the crinkle of the bow being wrapped around the paper. The man came back to the front, handing her the gifts.

"Thank you for shopping here. Have a nice day." He wasn't enthusiastic when saying that. He must have some really rude customers that come through here. Logan smiled, "You too."

Logan left the store, leaving a shocked, yet pleased store clerk.

….\~/….

When she had received the news that Harry made the Gryffindor Seeker, she was happy for him, but when she heard that he was youngest Seeker in over a century, she couldn't help but not be surprised. It seemed that he had a special treatment amongst the teachers that no one else seemed to receive. Dumbledore especially treated Harry with a kindness that he showed no one else.

Logan found herself heading to the Quality Quidditch Supplies. On her last visit to Diagon Alley, she had heard some kid asking his mom for the model of the Hungarian Horntails. She walked in, not greeted by the bell and looked around to see the model immediately. Logan approached it, watching the fake, but moving Quidditch players zooming around the field, playing a game amongst themselves.

"Fourteen Galleons?!" she said, a little too loudly because the shopkeeper came out, a frown on his face. "Do we have a problem, girl?" Logan looked up at the hard-faced man.

"Well, no, it kind of shocked me, that's all."

The man's frown deepened, if that was possible. "If you don't like it, get out!" He walked to the back, grumbling about kids and their whiney attitudes.

"Wait, come back here!!" Logan shouted, causing the man to come sauntering back in. "Is there any way you can wrap this?" she asked, setting the model on the counter. He grabbed some wrapping paper, "Of course I'm able to; what do you partake me, stupid?" Logan narrowed her eyes to the man's rudeness.

"Do you want me too?"

The man snarled, "Of course not!"

"Then stop suggesting it before I consider the idea." She dug out fourteen Galleons and set them on the counter. "Now please wrap it." She frowned at the man's sneer as his fingers worked the paper around the box, tying it with a bow. "Get out, troublemaker." Logan stood there, watching the man amble back into the back room and Logan left, the present under her arm.

….\~/….

The bookstore was crowded with people, making it hard to maneuver the package under her arm so that it wouldn't hit people. Gasps were coming from the crowd that gathered around what she could make out through the gaps between people as a chess table. The people at the chess table she could not make out however, which made her frustrated. She laid her present near the door, tucked away behind some books, out of sight. Logan pushed through a number of people, who all gave her annoyed hollers as she moved her way to the front. There at the table were two men: the left person was thin-face with a balding head and a frustrated expression on his face as the man on the right, a very handsome, very calm man who had his hands folded under his chin, waiting for the other to make his move.

The bald man threw his King piece down, standing up hurriedly. "I can't do it! Wherever I go, he'll beat me!" The man threw his poster down and the calm man laughed, "I told you I don't do autographs!" Logan moved so that the loser could stomp his way out.

"That was for my son too…" he muttered as he passed her.

"Wait…" Logan said. The man stopped, looking down at her. "Wait a moment and I guarantee an autograph for your son."

"Anybody up for another challenge?" the winner asked. The crowd muttered and Logan looked up to see a banner saying, "Wizard Chess Champion: Anthony Goodwin." Logan looked back down to see Anthony's eyes on her.

"Do I sense a challenger?" he asked. More mutters…

"Only if you won't cry after I beat you." Logan said, walking up to the chess table, sitting opposite to Anthony. "Now, if I win, you get to sign two-" Logan held up two fingers. "-posters. If I lose, you don't have to raise a hand to sign two boys' future posters." She leaned forward. "I wouldn't want the Wizard Chess Champion's wrist bone to fracture or anything." She leaned back, gesturing towards the board.

"Your move."

Anthony frowned, moving a mere pawn. Logan did the same. Anthony moved his bishop three squares to the left. "Ah, the old capture your enemy's King in five moves trick. Personally, I think that is so lame, but hey, it's your game…"

Anthony frowned deeper, and Logan caught the nervous look in his eyes as he moved another piece. Logan watched as he tapped the table, stroking his chin anxiously. So she found his weak spot? The game progressed, both losing piece by piece until there were only a few left. Logan's eyes scanned the room, noticing that people were starting to inch closer to the chess table. The man from earlier watched in anticipation, licking his dry lips. Chess must've been a very competitive sport in the wizarding world…

"Check." Anthony muttered, smirking. Logan looked back down at the board. She moved her bishop to his meek knight, smirking herself when Anthony clenched his fist. He was probably already thinking of the Daily Prophet's headline: Wizard Chess Champion beat by eleven-year old!

"Do I sense stress?" Logan questioned, lifting an eyebrow. Goodwin scowled, moving his one pawn. "You think you've defeated me, but you haven't…not yet."

Logan leaned back in her chair. "I know I haven't defeated you. There's four different ways you can capture my King, but of course, you seem completely oblivious to maybe three of them. The victory is in your hand, but you're too stupid to notice it."

Anthony jumped up, hands clenching the table. "I've had enough of your ignorant taunts. Give me the damn posters!" Almost like she was expecting this to happen, Logan held up to the two posters and conjured an inked quill with his wand.

"To…"

"Ron Weasley."

To Ron Weasley,

Thanks for being one of my fans. Maybe someday we'll play each other.

From,

Anthony Goodwin

"Now the other one…" Logan said, looking over at the father. "What's your son's name?" she asked. The man stepped up, his bottom lip quivering, looking like he was going to cry. "His name's Cane." He turned to Logan, "Thank you, so much."

Anthony stuck out the posters. "Get out…" he muttered, not bothering to look at them. The girl grinned, taking her gift. She paid the cashier for a slip that she could put the poster in. She reached for a Mythical Creatures book for Lunar, paying for it, grabbing her other items, and leaving with the father.

She was about to walk in the other direction when the man caught her shoulder. Logan turned, staring up at him. He smiled, "Thank you for that. My son's a big fan of him and he would've come to see him, but see, he's sick…"

Logan nodded, "It was my pleasure, plus, I liked seeing that guy get flustered!"

The father nodded, giving her a pat on the shoulder. "I tell my son about what you did. I'm sure he'll appreciate it." The man smiled once more before walking away, leaving Logan, carrying a heavy model of a Quidditch Pitch.

….\~/….

The last place where she stopped was at the Flower shop that was just down the road from the bookstore. There was no small ring when she opened the door which disappointed her; she always liked having the bell tell people that she was coming in. Even when there was no ring, a young, blonde woman came bouncing up.

"Can I help you?" she asked her voice a little too high for Logan's liking. She nodded, frowning when the blonde stared in awe at her scars. "Oooo, where'd you get those?" she asked, pointing at them. The werewolf narrowed her eyes, shirking away.

"See, I have this friend that's interested in plants and I want to get him something that he can take care of while at school. Anything that you recommend?" she asked, taking a step away from the curious blonde.

"Of course," she exclaimed, prancing over to a small bush that sort of quivered and shook when the blonde picked it up. "This is a Flutterby bush. I'm sure your friend would love to take care of it! All it needs is a bit of pruning every week and watering everyday and I'm pretty sure it'll shake all the time!"

Logan watched it relax, then shake vibrantly when she fingered one of its leaves. "Can you send this to Hogwarts on Christmas Eve? I don't want my friend to see it before then."

"Sure, just give me your name and we'll send an owl on that day! Be sure to pick it up because Flutterby bushes hate the cold!" Did this girl have to say everything with excitement? Logan's poor ears were beating in her skull every time this girl spoke.

A clipboard was shoved in her face. Logan pushed it away a bit in order to scribble her name down. The girl beamed, showing off her perfect pearly whites. "Thank you and that will be four Galleons!"

….\~/….

Professor Snape was waiting for her near the Leaky Cauldron entrance. "Are we done shopping, Miss Wolfram?" he asked, upper lip twitching into a sneer after seeing all the gifts in her arms. "I know I am; I'm not sure about you though." Her remark made him scowl and walk away, Logan following him.

"You go in first." Snape said, pointing to the fireplace. Logan nodded, stepping in and throwing the Floo powder around her, shouting "Professor Snape's classroom!" She disappeared in the uproar in green flames.

….\~/….

She had only an hour to sit outside, watching the multi-colored sky get darker by each minute. Her feet were in the water, wiggling her toes in the cool liquid. Logan looked across the water and had a nagging feeling like she was missing something. Maybe she was half expecting that familiar garlic smell to come into the air again. Or maybe it was not talking to Hermione at all that day.

At least she wasn't the only one that wasn't afraid of certain terrifying things. She and Snape already had two things in common: neatness and fearlessness. But there was something about the scowl that he gave her; the angry look in his eyes that she saw every time he looked at her…there was something that didn't quite click. Maybe there was something that happened between them in the past that she couldn't remember.

Logan's eyes twitched when she heard the grass crinkle beneath someone's feet. "Logan…?" Logan didn't need to look up to know that Hermione was standing there, that musty smell indicating that there were books in her arms.

"What?" she asked, plucking on blade of grass from the ground. She lifted up to level with her eyes and examined it before running it across her finger, enjoying the smoothness of it.

"I just wanted to apologize for the way I've been acting. It's just…I want you to tell the truth."

The blade of grass tore the skin on her fingertip, blood quickly seeping through and sliding down her finger. Ignoring the sharp prick in her finger, she stood up, not bothering to brush her pants off. Hermione stepped away when Logan turned towards her.

"Okay, so maybe I was scared. I just…don't like feeling weak around other people. It bothers me." Hermione shook her head, "It's okay to be scared…everyone is…even the bravest person is scared of something." Hermione smiled, "Come on, let's go get something to eat. I bet your starving!"

Hermione started to walk away, but when she didn't hear Logan's footsteps behind her, she stopped, turning halfway to see that Logan was staring across the lake. "Aren't you coming?" she asked, trying to pinpoint the place where Logan was staring so intently at.

"Can you smell that?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow, turning towards her fully. "Smell what?"

"Garlic…" That's when Logan quickly dashed into the forest, twigs snapping with each step she took. Hermione shouted for her to come back, and the bushy-haired girl gave a hesitant look before dropping her books and bag and running off towards her friend. There was no sound when she ran in, only the faint sound of twigs breaking in the distance.

"Logan!" she called out loudly, scanning her surroundings. She stopped, looking to her left when she saw a rushed black figure. It crossed her view, gliding to a stop only a few yards away. Hermione's breath caught in her throat as it started moving towards her. The figure moved faster towards her, almost reaching the frightened girl when a unexpected person threw itself into it.

The figure toppled to the ground, slowly trying to get up. Logan bared her teeth at it, grabbing Hermione's arm, roughly pulling her away from the forest. "Come on, Hermione! Regain your mind and tell your legs to move!"

Hermione was still frozen though, and finally Logan hooked arms with Hermione's and dragged her out, cursing to herself when the figure had finally gotten up, regaining its posture. All she could see were the teeth that the black figure bared towards her, and it started to glide towards them, knowing that Hermione's added weight was slowing Logan down.

"GET UP, HERMIONE!!" Logan screamed. The girl in her arms jerked, and unfroze, stumbling into a run with Logan beside her. They grabbed the books and bag on their way towards the castle, not bothering to look back, though the smell of garlic was still so strong.

….\~/….

The two girls didn't bother going to dinner. They just went straight to the Common Room. Breathing heavily, they muttered the password and the portrait swung open. They stumbled into the room, throwing themselves on the couch in front of the blazing fire.

"What…was…that?" Hermione asked, gasping for breath.

"I don't know." Logan sputtered out, gulping for a deep breath, and then letting it out slowly. That was a lie because she did have a guess on who it was, but she didn't want Hermione to spill the beans when she wasn't so sure.

"Let's just…go to sleep. We'll sleep on this whole event? Right?" Hermione asked, looking over at Logan. Her friend nodded, and they walked into the Girl's Dormitory, changing their clothes and burying into their covers.

Just the thought of something that dangerous out in the forest was nerve-wrecking…

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything, not me. I only own Logan.