Diagon Part 2
Last time…
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm getting tired," she admitted, "It's getting harder to think."
"Ok," he nodded, "Let's get our stuff done then."
She agreed, and they left the book shop. Draco checked to make sure no one was watching them before they went to Ollivander's. They were both old enough that it would draw attention for them to be going into the wand shop. Plus, Draco knew that they’d been in the alley long enough for any aurors about to be keeping tabs on him.
"Hello?" he called. The shop was empty and dusty. It looked just like Draco had remembered from when he was eleven.
"Draco," Amira whispered, "The magic in here is crazy."
"Is it too much?" he asked. She shook her head, but cut off her reply when Ollivander himself appeared at the front desk. His aura was still just as unhinged and mysterious as Draco recalled.
"How can I help you Mr. Malfoy?" he asked. His light colored eyes seemed to look right through Draco into his very soul.
"We need a wand," Draco said, gesturing to Amira. Ollivander inspected her.
"I do not know you," he said finally, "You are a Dumbledore."
Amira glanced at Draco worriedly. He just shrugged. There was no way to describe how the man knew what he did.
"You are also older than most who come to see me," he said, coming around the desk. He gasped as he drew closer to her, "Very, very powerful indeed."
He measured her with his tapes. He tapped her arms, and went through the whole ordeal that Draco had done five years ago.
"You do not really need a wand," he said finally. He leaned back and crossed his arms, looking put out.
"I need one for show," Amira explained. Ollivander inclined his head and rubbed his chin.
"Perhaps one to help you focus instead," he said. Amira looked at Draco again. Draco ground his teeth together. The Dark Lord wouldn’t have sent them here if he was worried about Ollivander. Still, it was unnerving, and dangerous. He then disappeared between the shelves.
The old man came back holding only one box many minutes later. When Draco had been here, he had emerged with fifteen to twenty boxes.
"This is the only wand I have capable of holding you," he said. "It's been waiting for you for fifteen years."
He took it out of the box. It was of average length, but it was thin, and darkly colored. There was some interesting patterns along the base.
"It is ten inches, and has two cores. Basilisk venom, and phoenix feather. It is made of ebony," he explained and handed it gently to her. Amira took it. There was a gust of wind and the wand glowed for just a moment. Power that even Draco could feel emanated from the wand. Amira's eyes seemed to glow for just a moment. The lights flickered and dimmed.
"Oh," she breathed. "That feels right."
“Yes," Ollivander said, "You won't be able to cast much with it, but you might find other uses for it."
She nodded. Draco had no idea what he was talking about.
"How much for it?" he asked.
"Take it free of charge, no one else would be able to wield it, not only did it choose you dear, but it was made for you. Since I crafted it, I’ve always wondered who you would be." Ollivander said. He turned to Draco, "You better go, you have much to do, and she is tiring quickly."
Draco nodded and accepted the man's odd warning. Amira slid her new wand into the pocket of her robes, and then left the wand shop. Amira did look a bit fatigued, but she was hiding it well. Draco was sure that the magic in that shop had taken a toll on her. He was impressed that she was handling everything so well.
"That was odd," Draco mused. His feet turned towards the entrance of Knockturn Alley.
Amira stayed quiet. Her hand reached out for his again and he took it. He loved walking hand in hand with her. It made him feel good that his magic grounded her.
There was a large group of chattering children and parents, and he felt Amira flinch away from them. He switched their positions so that he was walking nearest to the crowd and she was given a little more space. He paused before they entered the alley.
"It's... different down here," he said, "Stay close to me and keep your eyes down."
She nodded and he led her into the darker section of the busy street. The noise and hustle and bustle died down. The people grew more serious and dangerous looking. Even the sun seemed to go behind some clouds, leaving it dark and dreary. Draco walked confidently, as it was the best way to avoid any awkward encounters. They were almost at the shop when he felt Amira jump and let out a noise beside him. He stopped quickly and turned.
"Hello pretty girly," a man huddled on the street leered at her. He had grabbed her wrist from where he was sitting. He was dirty, greasy, and Draco could tell he was a werewolf from the way his lips curled up around his teeth.. She tried to tug her hand away, but he wouldn't let go. "Come here-"
"Let me go," Amira said confidently as Draco drew his wand. The werewolf snarled at her, and before Draco could do anything, he felt Amira send a wave of magic down her arm. The werewolf yelped and let go as a sizzling sound occurred on his hand. Draco quickly pulled Amira before they could make a scene. The man whimpered behind them and curled around his hand.
"Nice work," Draco complimented.
"Thanks," she said shakily. Draco squeezed her hand reassuringly. After confirming that she was alright, he continued on their path. They entered the shop and he pulled out his bag of galleons from his robe.
"Ah, Draco, I was wondering if I would see you today," Borgin said when he walked in.
"I have the payment," Draco explained, "I would like to inspect it one more time."
"Very well," he agreed. Amira let go of his hand so that he could do what he needed to.
Draco went over to the cabinet and looked at it, casting his diagnostic spells. It was the same as it had been before. He was still just as clueless on how to fix it as he had been the first time, but it was his best shot if all of the other plans failed. Regardless, the cabinet would still be helpful to the Dark Lord when he inevitably took Hogwarts. Privately, Draco hoped that day was far, far in the future.
"You're still planning on leaving it here?" Borgin asked.
"Yes," Draco said.
"I have your other package ready to go, you can take it today," Borgin said.
"Good," Draco said. He knew he wouldn't be able to bring the dark necklace with him on the train, but he had spoken to his father about getting it to him through other means. He exchanged the payment with Borgin. He placed the securely packaged necklace carefully in his pocket. He looked around for Amira and found her in the corner of the store, looking at a severed hand.
"This place feels gross," she told him, "Most of these objects...." she trailed off and shivered. Then her gaze shifted, “Some of them feel seductive though, like this one.”
She pointed at a vase that seemed innocent. She reached her hand out to touch it, and Draco quickly pulled her back. “It’s best not to touch the things in here until you know what they do.”
She shook her head as if to break herself from some trance and nodded.
They walked back towards the entrance, and Amira paused at Draco's cabinet.
"It's broken," she murmured, laying her hand on it.
"Yes, I'll need to fix it." he said evasively.
Amira furrowed her brow as she felt it.
"This is... I can't quite place what it does," she said. Draco wondered if she could be of help to him in fixing the cabinet, with her abilities. "Is there another, somewhere else?"
He nodded slowly. He wasn't allowed to tell her about it, and it was his task to solve.
"Their link is broken," she said, "Not broken, twisted. And it's stemming from the other side."
Draco knew as much from his own diagnostic spells, but it was helpful to have the confirmation that he was correct.
Amira dropped her hand after a moment. "I won't ask what you need with it. I know you can't tell me."
He nodded. Then he offered his hand, and they headed out of the shop together. Draco stayed far away from the man on the ground this time. On the way out of Knockturn, he spotted two Death Eaters who made eye contact with him. Macnair and Avery.
They approached. Draco stood up a little taller.
"Malfoy," they nodded to him, "Out on errands?"
"Yes," he said, "Yourselves?"
He felt Amira clutching his hand tightly, but didn't know why. Maybe she was just tired.
"Personal business," Macnair answered. He pointendly looked at their intertwined hands.
"She yours now?" he teased but the joke felt dirty and wrong.
"I figured it was safer to be close in case anything happens," Draco said confidently, as if he was bored. "She can handle herself, but it's best not to make a scene."
"Ah, I suppose," Avery leered, "She is quite the sight isn't she? So many people might want to take a piece. You better keep a close eye on her."
He was going to retort but Draco was shocked when Amira spoke with a controlled venom before he could, "Our lord would kill anyone who tries to. Or who has tried, if he was made aware. I'm not afraid."
There felt like a hidden meaning there, Avery paled and stepped back, while Macnair sneered, "You better watch yourself little girl."
She turned her fierce eyes on him, "I'm not the one who is expendable. And I don't believe either of you have permission to speak to me."
Draco didn't know what to make of this whole situation, but he had a sick feeling that this trio had history. He was also clued in by the trembling of Amira's hand that was in his. He couldn't tell if it was rage or fear.
"You can't rely on him to protect you forever," Macnair hissed.
"I don't need to," she said calmly, stepping forward, "Try me."
"I wouldn't," Draco stepped in hurriedly, "You'll regret it. And we have to go."
Macnair sneered one more time before Avery tugged him away. Avery had always been the smarter one, according to Draco's father. He looked terrified, and Draco was desperate to know what Amira had to do with them.
Draco hurried with Amira out of Knockturn, praying that they wouldn't run into anyone else. Amira didn't speak, and simply looked at her feet for the rest of the walk back to the Leaky Cauldron. Her hand was still shaking in his, and it made him quicken his pace.
"You go first," he directed her when they finally reached the fireplace. She nodded, and threw in a handful of floo powder. She had barely said the words "Malfoy Manor" before she was whisked away. Draco didn't hesitate to follow her.
He stepped out of the fireplace quickly and found Amira already hurrying upstairs. He hustled after her.
"Amira, wait," he called once they were in their hallway. She slowed her steps and turned to him. Her eyes were frantic and her face was pale. "What happened? What was that?"
"I-," she took a breath, "I don't- I can't-" She seemed like she couldn't focus on what she was trying to say. She tried to take a step and stumbled.
"Woah, okay, come on," he said, and guided her into her room. She wasn't having a panic attack, but her eyes were looking around like crazy and she was shaking. Draco was hoping she wouldn't start hyperventilating. "Everything's okay."
She nodded, "I know, I'm just a little o-overwhelmed."
Her voice was shaky, but clearer than just seconds ago. They sat down on the edge of her bed. Draco looked down and saw her fingernails digging into her hands. He took them and massaged them until they uncurled and relaxed.
"Just take a moment," he soothed, "You were exposed to a lot of magic today, and you handled it really well."
She nodded and took a few deep breaths on her own. Their legs were touching, and she placed a hand on Draco's knee to ground herself. A few moments later she relaxed her shoulders just a little bit.
"Ok, it's a little better now," she said. Draco was relieved until he saw tears fill her eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked desperately.
"I'm sorry," she said, blinking furiously, "I just hate being like this."
"Like what?" he asked calmly. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear so that he could see her face more clearly.
"I just- it's like any time I have any emotion, the stability of the magic around me just goes insane," she explained, "I was fine. I was mad, but I was fine, for the most part. But then everything got out of control."
Draco had the dawning realization that these were frustrated tears. Draco could understand why that would be hard. Draco himself experienced a variety of strong emotions, but he always prided himself on being able to control them and his reaction. If he spiraled every time he felt something, despite his best efforts, he’d go mad.
Amira had balled her hands into fists again. Draco allowed it as it didn’t look like she was using her fingernails this time.
"And then I'm freaking out and I don't know what's going on and I can't calm down," she vented as tears fell, "It's so exhausting, and it's embarrassing."
"Well, I don't want you to feel embarrassed," Draco said, wiping a tear for her, "But I understand being frustrated."
"I don't want to be a burden," she said quietly, "I just want to be normal."
"You aren't a burden," he said, "You didn't ask for any of this, and none of this is your fault. I know you're trying your best."
She sighed, and leaned her head on his shoulder. He laid his hand on top of hers and stroked the back with his thumb.
"You're doing so much better too" he murmured, "Don't forget how far you've come."
"It's thanks to you," she whispered. "You're the only person who makes me feel safe."
Draco's heart did a little flip. "I'm glad I can help."
Then, in a bold move he turned his face and placed a gentle kiss to her hair, before resting his head atop hers lightly. Amira intertwined their fingers and squeezed his hand.
"Are you doing okay?" she asked after several minutes of comfortable silence had passed. "I know they've been keeping you very busy."
"I'm alright," he said, "It's not great, but it's much more bearable than I had expected."
It was the truth. He hated going down into the dungeons with Bellatrix. He’d already seen things that he knew were going to keep him up at night for years to come. And this was only the beginning. These were strangers, muggles. When the war truly began they would be people he recognized. Possibly people he went to school with. He would have to be the one casting the curses as well.
His task with Dumbledore made him feel sick anytime he thought about it. He was going to fail. He knew it in his bones. His whole family’s life was on the line.
But somehow, through all of that, he still managed to feel happiness. It was Amira. She was the light of his life. She was a breath of fresh air through all the muggy darkness. None of his own struggles seemed important when he was with her, or when he was thinking about her. Her smile washed away the blood stains on his mind, and her laugh cleared away the sounds of the screams that seemed tattooed on his ears. When she was having a problem, the entire world disappeared and all that mattered was making her okay again. She was his lifeline, and with her, he could survive this.
"You're so good at pretending," she said.
"You think?" Draco asked. He didn't know if it was a good or a bad thing that he was able to act like a convincing Death Eater.
"You would fool me, if we didn't spend so much time together," she explained, "I wish I could do that. It would make things easier."
"You don't have to though," he pointed out, "He likes the way you are."
"Because I'm not a person to him," she sighed, "Just a weapon. Is that better or worse?"
"Neither," Draco said simply.
Silence fell again. Draco went back and forth on asking her what her history was with Avery and Macnair. He decided that if she wanted to tell him, she would. If it came up again though, he would ask. Eventually, Draco's back got sore and he had to sit up to stretch a little bit. Amira did the same.
"We have the rest of the day off," he commented, "What do you want to do?"
Amira looked longingly at the bed. "A nap?"
Draco chuckled. "Ok. I could use a nap too."
He made to stand up, but she offered, "You can stay."
She didn't wait to hear his response. She climbed up the bed and tucked herself under the covers on the far side. Draco shook his head gratefully and climbed in next to her. He kept a respectable distance, but he did use his wand to shut the curtains.
She fell asleep quickly, he could tell by her breathing. He wasn't as tired, so he stayed up pondering the odd spot they were in their relationship. They were friends. But they were friends who took naps together and fell asleep together often. They were friends who held hands, and shared secrets with each other. They were also friends who seemingly got jealous when other people flirted with each other. And Draco was falling in love with her. So he wasn't sure if they were considered friends anymore.
Soon, he drifted into sleep as well.