I do not own Harry Potter or Carrie. In this chapter a pompeous Malfoy for the first time is made to eat his words. :)
Chapter Eight: Perfect Little Anaconda
There she waits in white and lace
she looks so frail as the air whips about her
all sweetness and innocence, so says her face
As innocent as Eve before the Fall occurred.
She looks as though she is of angel's grace.
But as the serpent that came before
who also still carried his heavenly features
so she hides her menace, her secret core
no one ever suspects ways lays beneath all those layers
the angel that was far much more.
And you are charmed as she wraps around you
enchanted as she squeezes tighter
smiling until reality finally breaks through
when your bones start popping and you can't fight her
when she sinks in her fangs and she owns you.
For she is the perfect little Anaconda.
-Perfect Little Anaconda by Makilome
Carrie
It was not long after she had tapped on the bricks and stared at wonder at the sight before her that a beautiful falcon, a northern aplomado of tan and brown color came flying down towards them. Something was attached to the bird's right leg, and she watched as Dumbledore held out his arm and the bird landed. "Such a lovely creature!" he said as he untied the message from the bird's leg. He handed it over to her, petting the bird as he did so. She took it eagerly, wondering from whom it had come. The seal was made with red wax, with what she supposed to be the White Family Crest upon it with the letter W just above it. It was almost a pity to break it open. Yet she was curious.
My beloved Carrietta,
Meet your new messenger bird, Faustus! He is young, and strong, and has proved himself able to travel long distances, so that you can keep in touch with us all. Father is most obessed with your progress! I have set up an account for you at Gringott's, so that you may use it anytime you need something and not have to wait for the process of verification as you would using the family account. It has currently 1,000,000 galleons, which should more than cover your expenses for the year, as well as weekend clothing and proper bedding. It is, after all, less warmer over there than here. Be sure to send back receipts for whatever you buy so that I can have it for my records.
Be good, my dear sister. Make us proud! I look forward to hearing about your experiences. Also, write Mother as soon as possible. She is worrying herself to death because you didn't write to her immediately as soon as you reached England. Have fun!
Your Most Devoted Older Brother,
Luthor
The smile that lit her face could not be hid from anyone. She looked to Tom and said, "That beautiful bird is to be mine! And I have my own bank account at Gringott's! More money than I even knew existed!" she was ready to bounce up and down. He returned her smile, and when he did, she couldn't stop the flip flops her heart did at the sight of it. She shook her head. No way could one such as he be interested in THAT with her! At her words, the older wizard, with a twinkle in his eye and a knowing smile on his lips set the bird on her shoulder. "We shall have to find a proper cage for him, but first, we must be off to the bank. I knew your brother would send a generous amount. "How generous?" asked Tom, curious. "$1,000,000 galleons, whatever galleons are..." she replied. Tom's jaw dropped, and it made her giggle. She had never been treated with such kindness. She now had everything all those girls that treated her so badly had. But she would not be like them!
She had a REAL family now, one she was more than happy to make proud. And she would rather die a thousand deaths than disappoint Tom. She had to make herself ready, so that when the time came, they could go forward with the Cause. As these thoughts drifted, she looked around at the sight before her. The cobblestone streets themselves fascinated her. The clothing was strange and wonderfully medieval looking on all those that passed by her. Some wore the typical witches hat or wizard's cap. Others did not. All bustled about quickly, many pulling along children from staring into windows of toy shops with wonderous magic toys. Tom had to jerk her arm a little, to get her away. The magic about the place was very strong, and very old. Yet it wasn't as overwhelming as it had been when she had first entered the Leaky Cauldron. She felt her power embracing the power of the place. The vibrations comforting.
She laughed at the children who ran past her. If it weren't for Tom keeping hold of her arm, which made it hard for her not to blush, she doubted if she would of ever made it to the bank! And what a impressive bank it was! A beautiful tall white building, with graceful Greek columns greeted her. The doors were wide, and she gasped at the beauty of the inside of the building. Great crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the carpet had intricate and interest designs. The creatures that ran the bank amazed her. She smiled like a young child looking at them. "You are not repelled by them? Usually others are." Tom whispered to her. "Others are fools. They are interesting! Look how efficient they are! I couldn't think of better bankers." she whispered back. He nodded and he and Dumbledore followed her as she made her way up to the front. She stopped at the line. "Oh, come on lass, I don't have all day!" remarked a strange, bald goblin who was yet dressed wonderfully, in a robe that almost seemed like a long suit jacket with bell sleeves and a blue silk tie.
She made her way up, shyly. "Carrietta White, I need to make a withdraw from my account." she said. "Ah, Miss White, we have been expecting you! Well, come on then! Off we go!" and the goblin opened up a small door in the long counter and ushered all of them through. The goblin looked up at Dumbledore. "It's not usual for your school to accpet foreign students. Usually they go to Italy. This must be an interesting case." he commented. "You have NO idea!" replied Dumbledore, causing Tom to snort aloud. Carrie didn't know what to think, when they came to a tunnel, and at the end of the tunnel was a stream and a boat. "What in the world?" she asked, looking at Tom. He shrugged his shoulders at her. She mock hit him in the arm. "YOU are SO not helping right now!" she snarked. "Why should I?" he remarked, teasingly. "Children! Act your age!" scolded Dumbledore light heartedly. She giggled. She had never before had this much fun! The further they got into the vault however, as she now knew it was, the more trouble she began to have.
The magick here was older than even outside. They were deep underground, and the tendrils of both light and dark magick were stifling her, and she had to sit and fight the shivering. Dumbledore didn't seem to notice, as he was still talking with the goblin. Tom sat down behind her, though he made no move. She did not need steadying, yet! "Carrie, what is it?" he asked softly. "The energy is very old, stuffy, and suffocating! It bores down on me like an anvil." she answered. "Hold on, it won't be long! We'll be out soon." he assured her. She nodded, but still, the feeling of being slowly crushed to death was not letting up any. Finally, at long last, the boat stopped. Both Tom and Dumbledore helped her out of the boat. "The magick my dear?" asked Dumbledore. She nodded a yes. He took her right arm, and Tom took her left. They entered the vault and inspite of the sensations rocking through her small frame, she gasped aloud at what looked to be the proverbial king's ransom inside! "How much do you think I'll need?" she asked. "I would take $3000 galleons, so you have some to play with later." Tom remarked.
The goblin raised an eyebrow at the suggestion, but said nothing. "That's a bit steep. Your books won't cost that much. And depending on how much you think you need in clothing for the weekends I don't think you would be able to spend all that money." said Dumbledore. "But there are the Hogsmeade trips, professor." remarked Tom. Her eyes kept switching back and forth between the two of them. "I'll take $3000 galleons, for I would like to make an impression today. I may be running into other students, after all." she answered. "Very well Miss White." said the goblin, who collected the sum for her. "Mr. White asked I do the collecting, as you have never been to the vaults with him before." he remarked when Dumbledore eyed him strangely. He was quick, for it was not long after that they were back in the boat and on their way back to the main building, making Carrie sigh with relief. The closer they were to the tunnel, the less opressive the magick was on her. When they finally reached it, she had stopped shivering, and a little of her strength had returned. She thanked the banker quickily, before nearly flying back outside.
"I don't want to go back to that place often!" she remarked when the two others had caught up with her. "So that's why you removed so much!" Dumbledore said and laughed. She caught the glare Tom sent in his direction. "Are you alright now?" he asked her. "Yes, I'm ready for the day. Let's get the harder stuff done first. Lead me to the book stores!" she said. "Very well my dear." said the older wizard.
A few hours later...
Carrie was TIRED! She had never spent so long in a book store! Getting the wand had been interesting, though she felt drained afterward. Rowan, 9 ½ inches, with a Leprechaun hair inside. Tom had laughed for a solid five minutes after she glared at him. "Would you like to know what it is like AS a Leprechaun hair?" she asked him, oh so sweetly. He stopped, but smirked at her. "I don't think you'll have much use for that wand. You already do better than over half the wizards and witches I know without one. But come on! Leprechaun! Are you Irish Carrie?" he said mockingly at the end. "I don't know! I don't care. Let's just get going!" she said fustrated. As they walked, her own smirk crossed her face as she heard a whap, Dumbledore slapping Tom in the back of the head. "I now know where the saying comes from "Act your age, not your shoe size!" she heard the older wizard mutter. "Alright, it seems all there is left is for the extra stuff. Clothing. I am going ahead." she said. And at her words, she ran off, as she really had no patience left and everything was wearing on her.
The thought of suspending someone up in the air by their toes sounded highly appealing at the moment. The first clothing store she saw reminded her a lot of Macey's, with the expensive fabric and the showy displays in the window. She went right in, and some velvet hooded cloaks immediately caught her eye. She removed a long, midnight blue one, with the only adornement being the gold dragon clasp at the throat, which had a red ruby acting as the dragon's eye. It was absolutely lovely, and she let out a small squeel, not anticipating anyone to hear or see her. Tom and Dumbledore were still several paces behind outside. She measured it against herself, twirling abit, when a polished, accented voice came up from behind her. "A little expensive for the likes of you, don't you think?" it sneered arrogantly. Carrie was in NO mood! She put the cloak back in place and pivited on her ankle. She didn't let the sight of the handsome man before her with long platinum lockes and grey eyes fool her any!
She fixed him with a glare. She was tired, she was already fustrated, and was just looking for an excuse to snap already. "And just does that mean, "the likes of me?" Do you think you are my better?" she said, sounding sweet but dripping each word with venom. Yet she felt like playing a little cat and mouse, and so she kept her power in check, just for the moment. "Oh dear thing, I KNOW I am your better! Just look at what you are wearing! But then again, Americans aren't known for their taste, are they? I imagine you are a mudblood, one without much breeding, by how you are acting." he snarked. She laughed, laughed in his face! "Oh really, says a Malfoy! I could smell you from when you came in! All arrogance with no breeding. Just how far up is your family from when you use to serve the Percival's household, four generations? Maybe five?" she snapped back at him. For a moment, Abraxas could not reply. She could tell he was not expecting that sort of reply. He was expecting her to be intimidated, like everyone else.
"Who ARE you?" he asked, angered. "Now he asks who I am! Manners, manners! And you expect me to BELIEVE you are my better? Why with such awful graces, no wonder no one can tell! But I digress. It appears that you need taught a lesson, and what a treat for me! I was hoping to find a way to blow off steam!" and with a flick of her wrist, Abraxas found himself no longer on the floor but upside down in mid air! He had to fight to keep the robe from obscuring his vision! "Much better! Now let us try this again. My name is Carrie, Carrietta White, daughter of Atia and Praetor White. And yours?" She asked. "Let me down! I get it! You are a White, I am a fool! Give me some of my dignity!" he yelled at her. "I rather like how she has you now, Malfoy!" came a welcomed voice behind her. She smirked as Abraxas eyes widened. "This, boy decided it was alright to insult someone whom he had never met. I was teaching him on how not to make that mistake again. I can't leave him up there though, more's the pity." she replied to Tom.
"Yes, mise well have mercy on him. But first, he has to answer you." he agreed with her. "Abraxas, Abraxas Malfoy. Now don't be such a vicious prat Tom! Make her let me go!" he said. "Make her? I don't MAKE Carrie do anything. But before you meet her again, I suggest you do your research. Your father would be most displeased if you were to make an enemy from one of such prestigous family." said Tom. With that, Abraxas hit the floor, Carrie not even trying to soften the landing. He got up and dusted himself off. To her shock, he took her hand brushed a kiss to it. "My apologies lady. There have been to many mudbloods about..." he started. "No apologies to me. Forgiven, for now." she couldn't help that her heart sped up when he did the simple gesture of the look of hunger fixed her, even if the hunger was more about ambition than her. She heard a soft growl, barely audible behind her. "Be on your way now." Tom ordered him. With what dignity remained him, Abraxas scampered away.