Chapter 4
Chapter 4
4th January 1991, Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England
“Bloody hell!” Draco exclaimed to Theo, throwing his hands up in frustration. “How is it even possible to run into the same Muggle girl twice in a city that big? Do you think it means something?”
Theo furrowed his brow in thought, his finger tapping his chin dramatically. “Hmm… maybe it’s destiny? Or maybe she’s stalking you.”
Draco rolled his eyes but couldn’t help smirking. “Oh, come off it. My Father practically yelled at me, the first time I saw her, and I barely got away the second time without him noticing. But still… I can’t stop thinking about her. There’s something about her I don’t get,” he admitted, staring at the ceiling like it held the answers.
“Did you at least get her name?” Theo asked, leaning forward as if this were the most exciting thing ever.
“No,” Draco sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck.
“What did you talk about then?”
“Nothing. Literally nothing. She kept asking questions, and I kept saying ‘No.’”
Theo raised an eyebrow. “And this is what’s got you all twisted up? You didn’t even talk to her! Why are you even thinking about her?”
“I know!” Draco groaned, burying his face in his hands. “I don’t know what I’m thinking.”
Theo patted his friend’s shoulder in mock sympathy. “Sounds like you’ve got it bad, mate. Maybe you should find her.”
Draco shot him a dubious look. “And how am I supposed to do that?”
Theo grinned mischievously. “You’re telling me the heir to the Malfoy and Black families can’t find one Muggle girl?”
“It’s not that simple,” Draco muttered. “I know where she lives… sort of. Her grandma’s pet shop, remember? But how am I supposed to get there? I’m only ten! I can’t just Apparate, and if my father finds out I’ve been sneaking into the Muggle world… well, it won’t be pretty.”
Theo rolled his eyes. “Stop being a coward, Draco. If you want to know what’s going on with this girl, you’ve got to go find her.”
Draco stared at Theo for a moment, then stood up with determination. “Fine. You’re coming with me. No arguing.”
Theo chuckled, watching Draco smooth out his robes with an air of finality. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, mate.”
Meanwhile, across town, Hermione was just as puzzled by the strange boy she’d encountered in the antique shop.
“Who was that boy, Mina?” her mum, Jean, asked as they left the shop.
“I don’t know, Mum. He was just… there,” Hermione replied, her mind drifting back to the odd encounter.
“What did you two talk about?”
“Not much. I was about to fall off a stool, and he caught me,” Hermione said, blushing slightly at the memory.
There has to be some reason why that boy keeps appearing out of nowhere, Hermione thought. He seemed different—unfriendly, even—but there was something about him that made her curious. She wondered if she’d see him again before leaving for home.
Back at Malfoy Manor, Draco was busy making plans of his own.
“Tippy!” Draco called, summoning his father’s house-elf. The tiny creature appeared with a green bow around his neck, his green eyes wide with attention.
“Yes, Master Draco?”
“Do you know which Muggle town my last errand was in?” Draco asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
“It was Dorset, very near the Manor, Sir” Tippy replied.
“Right. And do you remember the street with the park? I saw some flowers there and I’d like to have them on my balcony,” Draco said, attempting to mask his true intentions.
“It was Street No. 52, Sir. Shall I fetch the flowers Sir? Does master remember the plant's name?”
“No, it’s fine, Tippy. I’ll let you know if you need to.”
With a nod, Tippy vanished, and Draco wasted no time calling another elf—this one younger and more easily swayed.
“Pipo!” Draco called out. A small, eager house-elf appeared wearing a white tea-cloth and a pink bow on her head.
“Yes, Master Draco? How can Pipo help?” she asked excitedly.
“You’re not to discuss anything we talk about with anyone, do you understand?” Draco instructed, his tone firm.
“Not even with Master Draco’s father?” Pipo asked, her eyes wide with innocence.
“Especially not with him. Or my mother,” Draco added.
Pipo nodded solemnly, clutching her tiny hands together. “Pipo understands, Master Draco.”
5th January 1991, Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England
“Are you sure we should do this?” Draco asked Theo nervously as they prepared to leave.
Theo grinned, clapping Draco on the back. “What, you getting cold feet now? Come on, this’ll be fun!”
Draco sighed, still feeling uneasy. “It’s not that… it’s just… this is risky. If we get caught…”
“Then we don’t get caught,” Theo interrupted with a wink. “Besides, when have you ever played it safe?”
“Fair point,” Draco admitted with a smirk.
They gathered their courage and, with Pipo’s help, Apparated to the alley where Draco had first seen Hermione. The town bustled with life, but Draco’s focus was solely on finding the pet shop.
"How did Pipo do Master? Pipo has never been outside the Manor" Pipo held pride in her voice.
"You did great Pipo, Now stay here, Don't Move, Don't Talk, and Especially Don't be seen by anyone, I repeat anyone" Draco told Pipo.
"I'll be invisible Master" Pipo nodded and turned invisible.
“We’ve got an hour, then we need to get back,” Draco reminded Theo as they set off.
The two boys walked outside of the Muggle park that Draco saw that day, with Theo commenting on every odd thing he saw. “Is that a… what did you call it? A car? How do Muggles manage with such primitive transportation?”
Draco rolled his eyes. “Yes, Theo, it’s a car. Now can we focus?”
They finally reached the street where Draco had last seen Hermione. As they approached the shop, Draco’s nerves returned, but excitement pushed him forward.
The door opened with a soft chime, and they were greeted by an elderly woman sitting in a cosy armchair. “Hello, young boys! Looking for a pet?” she asked with a warm smile.
“Uh, yes, we are,” Draco replied, trying to stand tall and confident. Behind him, Theo whispered urgently.
“Draco! We don’t have any Muggle money!”
“Well, that’s just Shite!” Draco muttered under his breath.
“Pardon, dear? Did you say something?” the old lady asked, peering at him curiously.
Draco quickly composed himself. “I, uh… we were wondering if you had any… dragons?”
The old woman laughed heartily. “Dragons? Oh, you’re quite the imaginative one, aren’t you?”
Draco forced a grin. “Well, I’ve always wanted one. My father says I can have one someday.”
The lady chuckled again. “I’m sure he does, but a dragon might be a bit much for a pet, don’t you think?”
“Maybe… but I’m up for the challenge,” Draco said, trying to maintain his cool facade.
“Well, I don’t have any dragons, dear, but good luck finding one!” she said with a wink.
Draco exchanged a look with Theo, who whispered, “Ask about the owls. Seems like Muggles don’t keep dragons.”
“Right, do you have any owls?” Draco asked, trying to steer the conversation in a new direction.
“Oh yes, my granddaughter is particularly fond of them. I have two. Would you like to see them?” the woman offered.
“Sure,” Draco agreed, following her into the yard where the owls were kept. His eyes scanned the area, She must be inside the house, wondering how to bring Hermione out.
“Doesn’t she have an owl of her own?” Draco asked, trying to sound casual.
“Not yet, but I think she’d like one. Maybe I should give her one before she leaves,” the old woman mused.
“Doesn’t she live here?” Draco blurted out, realizing too late that he might have given something away.
“Do you know her?” the woman asked, her curiosity piqued.
“No! I mean… no, not really,” Draco stammered, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks.
Before the old lady could question him further, she called out, “Mina! Come here for a moment, dear!”
Draco’s heart skipped a beat as he heard Hermione’s voice from the window. “Coming, Grandma!”
Moments later, Hermione came running out, only to freeze when she saw the two boys standing there.
“These boys are here to buy an owl, and I thought you might want one too. What do you think, darling? Do you have any preference?” her grandmother asked.
Draco stared at Hermione, utterly captivated. She looked just as he remembered—messy, wild hair but today, she had paint smeared on her face, looks like she was painting, Draco thought to himself.
“So, you finally came to buy these owls, huh?” Hermione said, her eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion.
Draco blinked, startled that she was speaking to him. “Uh, yeah… figured it was time you know, with Hog- Uhh- I mean it was time.”
“What do you mean by that?” Hermione asked, tilting her head curiously.
Before Draco could answer, Theo nudged him sharply in the back. “They looked so nice with you… I had to get one too,” Draco said awkwardly, realizing too late how ridiculous he sounded.
Hermione giggled, clearly amused. “And here I thought you didn’t even remember me.”
Draco flushed, trying to play it cool. “Of course, I remembered. Just… took me a minute.”
Before Hermoine could respond, the shop door chimed again, signalling another customer. Hermione’s grandmother hurried off, leaving the three of them alone. “Well, I’ll leave you kids to decide. I’ll be inside if you need anything.”
As she walked away, Theo leaned in and whispered to Draco, “What are you doing? Talk to her!”
Seizing the moment, Draco tried again. “So… your name is Mina?”
Hermione laughed. “No, that’s just a nickname. My actual name is Hermione. Hermione Granger,” she said, extending her hand for a shake.
Draco hesitated, looking at her hand as if it might bite him. After an awkward pause, Theo took the lead, shaking her hand enthusiastically. “Nice to meet you, Hermione! I’m Theo, and this is Draco.”
Hermione smiled at Theo, then turned her gaze back to Draco, who still seemed lost in thought. “Do you live here with your grandma?” Theo asked, trying to fill the silence.
“No, I’m just visiting with my mum and dad. We’re on holiday,” Hermione explained, her eyes flicking back to Draco.
Theo pressed on, “Where do you live?”
“London. But why all the questions?” Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.
Theo grinned. “Because I’d like us to be friends if you don’t mind.”
Hermione looked between the two boys, her expression thoughtful. “Sure, but where do you guys live?”
“Draco lives in Wiltshire, in the Malfoy manor, and I’m his neighbour, I live in Nott Manor,” Theo said, a hint of pride in his voice.
Hermione looked at Draco, who was finally snapped out of his reverie. “But how will we be friends? I’m leaving for London tomorrow.”
Draco suddenly felt a pang of frustration, both at the situation and at Theo for pushing things too far. “Let’s go,” he said abruptly, turning to leave.
Theo blinked in surprise. “What? We just got here! What’s wrong?”
Hermione’s brow furrowed as she watched Draco’s sudden shift in mood. “Wait, why are you leaving?” she asked, genuinely confused.
“Let’s leave, Theo. We’re getting late,” Draco repeated, his voice tight as he avoided looking at Hermione.
Hermione stood there, stunned, as Draco marched out of the shop, Theo trailing behind him. She couldn’t quite understand what had just happened, her mind racing with questions.
Hermione stared at the door long after they’d left, still trying to piece together the odd encounter. “What just happened?” she muttered to herself, feeling a strange mix of curiosity and confusion.