PoV change dictated by two sets of '...'
The chapter is also set a day before the previous interlude.
..
Cyrus stood still outside the Gringotts bank, Rodrick by his side. They were currently waiting for his wife to make a withdrawal for their day- He would've been inside as well, but for some odd reason Rodrick had almost turned to stone at the sight of the place. And not because it looked strange to him, which given he was raised in muggle surroundings certainly made sense- Albeit it would've meant that Malfoy when he'd taken the boy through Diagon Alley for the first time to get his school supplies had paid for it all out of his own pocket, either that or the boy had been given the money he'd needed by his caretaker which if the boy's own words regarding her made Malfoy the more likely candidate.
He recalled the boy calling said caretaker a 'penny-pinching old hag.'
And well, managing to get Malfoy to pay for anything, for someone else's sake, was certainly a rather worrying thought, though given the lead contender- The only person he knew had some form of stake in the boy for whatever reason being a Black made it more likely.
Yet even then, it didn't explain why the boy seemed so worried at the sight of the bank. Worried enough that even his youngest had picked up on his mood.
So, he'd elected to wait outside with him (Daphne had offered to stay as well and was quickly vetoed by his wife on the manner), and if anything he figured it'd be a good time to... Well, he supposed bonding with him wouldn't be a fruitless endeavor given his wife's thoughts regarding the kid.
Still, he wasn't entirely sure what to think of the kid, he seemed good-natured from what he'd seen- And if half the stories he'd heard were anything to go by, definitely painted him in a good light.
The main thing he'd noticed however was that his personality appeared to change. At least depending on what he was doing at any rate- During their outing to the muggle world the previous day, he'd seen the boy act far less... Jumpy. He was much more comfortable than before, which meant it'd been a good idea to actually go to the muggle theatre as opposed to just using the one in their home, he supposed.
Though he had been amused at the sheer look of confusion when he'd been told that his 'pajamas' were okay to go out in- Being comfortable after all was a much-preferred form of clothing on a casual outing as opposed to doing it the Malfoy Way.
"Is it the building?" Cyrus idly asked, earning a surprised look from the boy. "I suppose the magic in the air is certainly rather intimidating?" He chuckled.
"No," Rodrick answered curtly. "Less the building more..." He turned and took in the boy's expression and found his gaze following all the wizards and witches around them.
Ah.
He let a slight smile build up on his face at that. "Not much of a fan of crowds?"
"Something like that," The boy chuckled, a tad uneasy.
It wasn't long before the others came back- And with them, to his surprise, was one Tracey Davis and... The Mother.
Letting out a mild snort at the luck- They were supposed to pick the girl up from her parents, though not this early, Cyrus idly walked up to his wife and greeted his wife's longtime friend.
Politeness was a virtue he agreed with after all- Even if the pureblood witch in question had terrorized him during their school tests.
It didn't take very long before said witch gave her leave, though not before casually telling her daughter to behave- Said daughter ignoring her entirely, too busy teasing his own already.
And so started every wizard's nightmare.
Shopping- And he had to do it with three witches.
This... Was going to be a long day.
...
...
When the others finally returned from the fifth dress shop, Rodrick couldn't help the amused look on his face as he heard Cyrus let out a sigh of relief beside him, given the three witches elected to actually come out with proof of having bought something this time!
The amusement vanished the slightest bit when he was unceremoniously dumped with two of the bags that Daphne was carrying.
Idly staring at the two bags in his hands, he let out a shrug and just started levitating it- Before watching Cyrus do the same with his wife's belongings, the action earning a pair of rolled eyes from the woman.
"Oh... you're so lucky Daphne..." Tracey muttered quietly, giving him a pair of wide and utterly fake innocent eyes as she said it.
Rolling his eyes, he levitated her bag as well and snorted at the thumbs-up he got for it.
"You know, they do say that the guy should try to win the girl's friends over!"
He blinked at the redhead with a frown, while Daphne facepalmed.
"But." He tilted his head. "We're already friends Tracey." A beat passed. "I don't get it."
"..." The girl gave him a flat look, while Daphne had elected to start snickering for some reason.
Feeling a pull at his sleeve, he turned towards a straight-faced Astoria with a raised eyebrow.
"...Are you secretly dumb?" The younger girl questioned him, genuine interest in her tone.
"No?" He answered, bemused. "I am actually one of the smartest in my year."
"Oooh." Astoria replied before smiling at him. "So you're stupid then!" She nodded, the verdict evidently set while he twitched. "Gotcha, gotcha."
"...You've kinda put me in a box here," He admitted. "I feel like arguing over whether I am stupid or not with a ten-year-old would make me stupid for doing it, and not doing so would seemingly make you right..."
Astoria blinked at him once. "I am not ten yet though."
He opened his mouth and promptly closed it. "Fair enough." He deadpanned after a moment. "I guess I am stupid then?" He snorted, earning a chuckle from the girl.
"...He's surprisingly good at this, isn't he? Really hitting all those marks. He's definitely got Astoria's approval." Tracey's attempt at a whisper had faltered, rather exceptionally.
"...He's good at testing?" Daphne remarked after a moment of just staring daggers at the redhead. "Can... Can we just drop it though?" She added after a moment.
He idly nudged the younger girl beside him and actually whispered to her.
"What are they talking about?"
He wasn't sure why she found it funny- And more importantly, why she refused to answer the question!
After a rather awkward moment- Mostly for him 'cos he wasn't sure why one of the Greengrass girls was laughing, the other was embarrassed, and Tracey was judging him on a strange scale- He calmly asked if the shopping was done for the day.
He was slightly dismayed when Roxanne Greengrass chose to join in the conversation with a no.
When Rodrick asked her what was left, the woman just smiled at him and told him it was a surprise.
Oh.
Great.
Surprises.
Those all end well, don't they?
When Daphne added that he might not actually enjoy it, he silently thanked the universe for letting him at least read that one correctly!
Needless to say, before he could say anything against the surprise, he found himself suddenly being fitted for a new pair of robes that he definitely couldn't afford!
...
He stared at the floating bag in front of him with thinly veiled everything.
Embarrassment was top of the list.
Not only had he practically been dragged to a rather expensive store- The woman who'd effectively done the dragging had... Had...
Oh Merlin he was in debt.
The second year hadn't even started and he was already in debt-
Roxanne Greengrass had paid for a set of robes for him and he hadn't even had the chance to say anything before she did!
"Rodrick," The woman chuckled, still amused as to having tricked him into said debt- "It's a gift!"
"This gift costs more than my orphanage..." He muttered.
"That's just sad." Astoria deadpanned, idly licking the ice cream she'd seemingly bought while he was been put through a financial obligation!
"Rodrick it's fine honestly- It was actually cheaper than the hat I'd bought-" Daphne tried to help, and naturally failed given he turned a very judgy look towards her for it.
"I think that says more about you than me."
She twitched at him. "...I am just saying, you don't have to worry about it..." She remarked, quieter than before.
"To be fair he's not wrong Daph." Tracey chose to join his side of the Inquisition. "That hat did not look good."
Nevermind.
She was just as nuts if that was her problem with it!
"It's..." Daphne turned from him towards the girl. "I... I wanted it because-"
"Yea, yea you saw it on a poster and thought it was cool two years ago- I was there remember." Tracey snorted. "And I didn't think it looked good then either honestly."
"Tracey..." The girl whined. "You're supposed to be supportive!"
"I am." The redhead deadpanned. "I am supporting the fashion world."
"I am supporting sweets." Astoria jumped in.
"...I am supporting idiots." He elected to add his own two cents while indicating the levitating items.
The adults in the area chose to keep themselves out of it, though their amusement was practically reeking out of them.
Still, his own personal sense of something wouldn't have it. Regardless of what it would take he would pay the woman back every galleon... for the gift!
When he turned and tried to say that though, she gave him a glare that quickly silenced him.
Blinking at that, he idly moved closer to Daphne and whispered, "Can't lie your moms a little scary," who in turn just snorted at him.
"You have no idea."
"Mother-in-" Tracey made to say something, already chuckling at that, before Daphne's hand quickly covered her mouth.
"Also, it's fine honestly." Daphne, still covering Tracey's mouth, turned towards him. "It's dad's vault that's being used,"
He twitched at that.
"So you're saying the wizards here really have no say in this whatsoever?"
Roxanne pretended not to hear anything, while Cyrus, for some strange reason, instead of being annoyed by Daphne's comment, had to hold back his laughter.
He was clearly too far gone.
"Rodrick I think you're the only orphan I know who gets upset over getting gifted anything that costs money!"
Rodrick stared at her for a few seconds before stating he was the only orphan she knew in general.
...
The family eventually, somehow, made it back to the Greengrass Manor, and after a rather big dinner, he and the others were all sent off to bed- Tracey was staying in Daphne's room, instead of the one she usually used when she stayed over, which considering the latter's room was opposite his own meant a silencing charm was probably going to be necessary. As he doubted either of them looked ready for bed- Mostly because both of them had pouted at having to sleep so early-
The shopping trip had taken hours, and it was literally dark out when they made it back!
Also because Astoria had elected to join the other two.
He seriously doubted that girl was going to sleep after all the sugar she'd consumed!
When he reached his room and changed. He got into bed, prepared to doze off before he heard the door open. Daphne was staring inside his room with a curious look in her eyes. And before he could even say anything, she made her way over to his bed and sat down; though she squealed slightly at the cold causing Rodrick to snort.
He'd asked the house elf to change the temperature for him.
"I don't think this is your room," He deadpanned.
"Tori and Tracey are throwing pillows at each other," She shrugged.
Rodrick blinked at her. "That doesn't tell me anything."
The girl rolled her eyes at him. "It's kinda hard to sleep with that happening."
"...Okay. So... Do you want me to go stun them or something?"
Daphne tilted her head in confusion, "Huh? What? Why?"
Rodrick waved his hand, "Well, I mean, I dunno how else to sort that out." There was a small pause before he continued. "...Oh, wait, you just used that as an excuse to come here didn't you?"
Daphne blinked at that before she turned to look down. "No?"
He rolled his eyes at that.
"You're bad at lying you know." He deadpanned, before shrugging. "So, what's on your mind then?" He questioned sitting in a cross-legged position.
It was probably going to be about the whole gift fiasco-
"Do you know what your family name is?"
Rodrick stiffened.
Well then!
He didn't see that one coming!
Daphne blinked before waving her arms, "You don't need to tell-"
"It's just... Complicated." He remarked. "I... Do. I just..." He let out a sigh. "It's complicated." He elected to repeat himself.
Daphne stared at him for a moment.
"...Are you uncomfortable with it?"
"Yeah, something like that." He stated carefully.
She nodded at that, still uncertain, though at least seemed to understand. "That name is why you're so confident you're a pureblood right?"
He blinked at her. "Yes?"
She nodded. "It's okay you know." She started. "I am sure there's a lot of people that come from bigot families! It's nothing to be ashamed of!"
...He laughed. Oh god, he just started laughing at that one.
Said laughter seem to surprise her given the sudden confusion and embarrassment that filled her face.
"I- Sorry was that-" He continued laughing, this time earning a pout as the girl tried to say something. "Rodrick!" She pouted some more. "It's not that funny- I. Just." She threw a pillow at him, and promptly huddled into herself, wrapping her arms over her knees. "You're a jerk."
He couldn't help himself. "Apparently I am from a long line of jerks."
It didn't take long before he calmed back down- And despite the mock-hurt the girl was trying to show, he had a feeling she was actually happy for some reason. "...I'll tell you at some point," He chuckled. "I think I owe you that much."
She processed that for a moment before nodding at him and smiling in return.
"Well, you'd have to if you wanna pass the test." She replied.
He didn't really get it, but he nodded anyway.
It was probably an inside joke.
Seemingly satisfied the girl promptly got off the bed and left the room, though not before waving and saying goodnight at him as she did.
"Night Rodrick!" Someone shouted from the other side of said door a few moments later- It wasn't Tracey.
That sounded like the sugar-crazed little demon.
...
The next day Rodrick woke up to two green eyes staring at him. He almost shot up from his bed at the unexpected sight. Daphne stared down at him curiously before she grabbed his arm and urged him to get up, it took a few moments before she threatened to douse him in water which quickly did the trick, he stared at the girl and noticed she was wearing the dress she'd bought the previous day- And the hat as well.
Huh.
Tracey was wrong, it actually looked kind of cute-
...Cute... Huh. It actually looked really cute on her.
Was the hat magical?
Did it just make someone look... Eh. Better?
He blinked at the word and tilted his head the slightest bit as he stared at the girl, patiently waiting for something. "Um." He cleared his throat. "Looks good. Yeah. You look good."
She let out a sigh of relief, which he admittedly found endearing, before telling him to get ready and promptly walking out of the room.
He sat there for a few moments, slightly confused as he thought over the words that had immediately hit him at the sight.
...Endearing... Huh. He wasn't sure how a hat could make someone look endearing-
Oh, crap the hat wasn't magical.
...Oh... Crap...
The realization was... Slightly sobering if he was honest- Even if he suddenly covered his head with a pillow as he really processed every blasted thing he hadn't understood that had come out of Tracey's mouth.
Astoria was right, he really was stupid!
...
...
Daphne didn't mention the fact that both his face and hair had been glowing that morning, she felt somewhat uncomfortable thinking about it, it really wasn't normal at all- But then again she supposed nothing about Rodrick was particularly normal, to begin with.
Which, she found slightly funny- It really was rather impressive that someone else could make anything seem out of the ordinary with a family like hers!
After a few more moments of silence, however, she let out a sigh, still stuck on the spot just outside of the door.
It was pretty telling that, despite the fact the boy's freakin hair and face glowed- It didn't really bother her, or rather her feelings at all.
Tracey was right.
She really was screwed, wasn't she?
For Merlin's sake, she'd put on the freakin outfit for no reason other than to see his reaction- The party wasn't even starting for another seven hours!
"Daph?" Tracey remarked, groggily as she stepped out of their room. "What are you doing-" When the redhead actually noticed her, and what she was wearing, she snorted and just lay there against the wall still in her pajamas. "Merlin you got it bad, huh," The grin on her face was probably the most annoying part of her statement.
"I was just making sure it fit."
"Right, right." Tracey nodded. "That's all." A beat passed. "And?" She raised an eyebrow at her.
"...I don't..." At the girl's pointed look, she let out a sigh. "He thought it looked good?"
"Oh?" Tracey's eyebrows rose. "Well, if he thinks you look good in that hat then, shoot, I think there might be hope!" The girl chuckled.
"...Why am I friends with you again?" She twitched.
"'Cos I am the best, duh." Tracey rolled her eyes and promptly went back into the room, yawning all the while.
It was at that point that Astoria decided to show her face through the door, take a look at her, and promptly start laughing-
THE HAT WASN'T THAT BAD!
...
The hat was that bad.
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