Melanie took one look at the gaggle of adult witches in the bookstore, and made a face. Hermione was particularly eager to get a signed copy of the books belonging to the author currently in the store, but the others were not as enthusiastic.
She looked to everyone but Hermione.
"Anyone up for a run through Knockturn and it's semi-illegal shops?" asked Melanie, almost pleading.
"Seven yes," said Daphne. She made a face at the mass of people. "I can't stand Lockhart's nonsense."
"But he's so handsome!" said Astoria.
Before Daphne could respond in a likely snide manner, Tracy had a sudden idea. A very evil, positively Slytherin idea.
"You're up to something," said Daphne.
"Hey Melanie, who did you bring as a chaperon today?" asked Tracy.
"Father insisted on coming, as he wanted a run at the mundane bookstores once we are done school shopping," said Melanie.
"Perfect," said Tracy, grinning wickedly.
"Oh that is evil," said Daphne, already grinning like the wicked imp she was. "Melanie, go grab your father."
Melanie was confused at first, before she realized the plan. She began to grin wickedly as well. Malleus looked more bemused than anything, and suspected the girls to be up to some mischief. As usual, his horns were hidden under a spell and his ears were hidden behind his long hair. He wore more modern clothing, bought by Lilia. He was in a pair of low-rise blue jeans, and a buttoned up black shirt that hugged his frame in a way that hid very little to the imagination. His hair was pulled back in a slight ponytail, framing his face.
It took exactly five seconds for every witch to become aware of the drop dead gorgeous eye-candy that had entered their vicinity. Lockhart was very confused trying to determine why the adoration of his female audience had gone dead silent until he saw the inhumanly beautiful creature entering the store with several underage witches.
Malleus looked to his daughter with obvious fondness in his eyes.
"What exactly did your school list require for this year?" he asked, the cultured lilt making a few of the weaker willed witches almost swoon from the sound of it.
Melanie informed him, and they went in deeper into the store to pick them up. Sound slowly returned to the store, but now the older women were all paying full attention to the father-daughter duo out for their school shopping.
No one was particularly stupid enough to dare interfere or even speak in his presence, and Daphne noted with absolute glee the sheer number of women observing Malleus' ass like hawks eyeing a particularly fat rabbit.
As they paid for their purchase, Lucius Malfoy arrived with Draco and his wife.
"Lord Malleus. A pleasure to see you again," said Lucius, his tone conveying an unusual amount of respect towards the unknown variable.
"Lord Malfoy," said Malleus, inclining his head politely. "Grandmother wished to express her delight at the book of potions you sent. She was quite displeased at how out of date our stock was."
"It was one Severus recommended," admitted Lucius.
Once the pleasantries were completed, Malleus left with the girls. Behind him, several pure bloods were reassessing this complete unknown...he had to be very important for Lucius Malfoy of all people to show complete and absolute respect in public.
Lockhart was very disgruntled at his signing event being derailed so thoroughly. He was even less pleased that all the lovely witches could talk about was the mysterious "lord Malleus". Even the news of his new employment at Hogwarts as the Defense teacher did little to sway their attention back to him.
Outside Fortescue's Ice Cream parlor
Daphne was doing her best not to pass out from laughing hysterically at the chaos they had sown in the bookstore. Malleus' presence alone had derailed that pompous fool, to the point he was barely a foot note. It was absolutely hilarious.
Malleus was bemused, and was currently enjoying the largest order of ice cream he could reasonably get away with. Fortescue himself was very happy, because the number of sales in his shop had gone up exponentially from witches (and the odd wizard) wanting a discreet view of the unearthly beauty enjoying a treat with his daughter. After all, it wasn't like he could take offense to fellow patrons eating ice cream. He just happened to be in their view is all.
"Did you see his face?" said Daphne, wheezing slightly.
Tracy was all but cackling. Lockhart had looked like someone had spiked his hair gel with hair remover and he had found out far too late.
To their surprise, Draco politely requested to sit with them. His expression was gleeful.
"Well?" asked Daphne.
"Mother would like to thank you for the entertainment, and father wishes to express his great glee at how you derailed that ridiculous signing," said Draco, trying not to laugh. "Also, it seems the reason we were forced to buy all his current books is because Lockhart is the new Defense teacher."
Daphne almost spat out her ice cream.
"What."
"My guess is that no one bothered to apply," said Draco dismissively. "Mother has complained that the only decent thing about the books was that the few spells in it were sound, but it was a glorified travel log from a mediocre wizard."
"Sounds about right," said Tracy.
"But he's done so many great things!" said Hermione.
"He's said he's done great things," corrected Daphne. She had had this argument with Astoria before. "He doesn't go into great detail about how he got to half the places he's been and there's very little explanation about the locations in question."
Malleus made a note to actually read these...required texts. It sounded far too much like he'd have to send Melanie to Hogwarts with some real books on defensive spells.
Then again, Melanie was a very avid learner. The blood wards she had arrived with had been altered shortly after her seventh birthday and were now an extension of the same wards around Castle Blackthorn. Wards that were made stronger provided there was a Draconia in residence.
Queen Maleficia was rather pleased about the addition, and was very interested in what the wizards had to offer since it was a ward she hadn't seen before.
She wore a pendant with a small fragment of rock that came from the castle, which meant she had an active ward scheme around her at all times. And with a bit of tweaking, Silver and Sebek carried their own protective pendants.
"I almost forgot. Grandpa was curious if you'd be willing to join us for dinner Melanie. He rather enjoyed talking with Lilia before," said Hermione.
Melanie perked up. She looked at her father hopefully.
"I see no issue, so long as Silver and Sebek go with you," said Malleus.
Hermione was already texting her parents, and got a reply almost immediately.
"Mom said she has no issue with them coming as well," said Hermione. "Also, I'm pretty sure she's managed to track down our copy of that show you became enamored with last time."
"What show?" asked Daphne.
"There's this really, really old show that Melanie was watching with Grandpa when they dropped me off last week. It's called Keeping Up Appearances."
"I think I've heard of that one," said Draco, surprising everyone. "That's the one with the muggle woman who insists her name is 'Bouquet', when it's really spelled as 'Bucket' isn't it?"
"That's the one," said Hermione. "You've heard of it?"
"My grandmother on my mother's side was a fan of it. She said it was a rare example of muggle entertainment that showed actual class," said Draco. "It was also one of the rare forms of muggle entertainment that was allowed in the house. Mother was something of a fan, but it stopped airing some time ago."
Hermione snorted.
"Remind me to introduce your mother to a muggle invention called a VCR, or better yet a DVD player. Grandpa was watching the box set mum gave him ages ago of the series," said Hermione. "If your mother has any other old series she liked, let me know."
"So...what is next on our agenda?"
"Father was planning to take us to Knockturn for a bit of business," said Draco.
They had gotten a bit side tracked due to Malleus' presence in the bookstore. It was well worth the entertainment.
"That sounds lovely," said Melanie. "It is so hard to find a good book on curses in the Ministry run side of things."
Daphne nodded in agreement.
"Plus you can get all sorts of interesting things in the semi-legal side of Knockturn."
Lucius' estimation of Malleus went up a tad, as he didn't show an iota of discomfort being around such dark artifacts.
Melanie was particularly interested in the large cabinet in the corner.
"Father, do you think this would suit the second bedroom at the summer house?" asked Melanie.
Malleus gave the cabinet an appraising look. Melanie could care less about appearances, but they could sense the active magic on the cabinet.
"I do believe you are correct," he said calmly.
"Two hundred galleons," said the shopkeeper promptly. Anyone who would openly rub elbows with Lucius Malfoy clearly had money. Especially if Lucius wasn't trying to act superior in the least in their presence.
Lucius gave him a flat look, but said nothing. Malleus calmly pulled out the enchanted bag used for purchases and calmly hummed. He reached inside and pulled out a second smaller bag that held the exact amount required by the man.
After counting out each coin, he cheerfully proclaimed Melanie a "witch of good taste" and the proud owner of the cabinet.
He gaped rather unattractively when Malleus used his magic to teleport the cabinet to another location for further inspection. He closed his mouth with a snap and didn't dare overcharge another item.
Some time later...
"It appears to be what the wizards call a 'vanishing cabinet'," said Lilia after some reflection. "Though I haven't the foggiest as to where it leads. We'll have to do further inspection at a later date."
Malleus ruffled the hair of his daughter.
"Good job."
Lilia was beyond pleased when he realized the other end of the cabinet let to Hogwarts of all places. Melanie made a note to find the other end and place it in a much more secure location. Having a quick exit to a secure location could come in very handy.
~*~*~*~
In a last ditch to enjoy their freedom before classes began again, Hermione suggested a popular water park for them to enjoy. For some, it was their first visit to a purely muggle park. Sure, it meant having her go over their outfits (especially the swim suits), but that was a small price to pay.
Malleus was beyond pleased, partly because he was acting as chaperon along with Lilia, but mostly because he was able to enjoy watching his daughter interact with her peers. Even more enjoyable was being able to spend time with Melanie as a father-daughter, and using the 'inner tube' to go down the slides.
Though he was still baffled as to why so many women made a point of sitting so close to their group, or were watching them with such intent.
Lilia, bafflingly, would just laugh hysterically whenever Malleus asked.
"That was so much fun!" said Melanie happily. Even better, she got to spend an entire day with her daddy.
Malleus made every female (and the odd male) swoon when he smiled at his daughter with open fondness, which wasn't helped by the fact he was still more or less soaking wet wearing a shirt that barely hid his very well toned body and his natural good looks as a fae.
Lilia, to the confusion of the two dragons, simply laughed his butt off. Mostly because they were utterly confused by how the mortals were reacting around them.