Harry
In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin stood Harry on a stool next to him, slipped a long robe over his head, and began to pin it to the right length.
“Hello,” said the boy, “Hogwarts, too?”
“Yes,” said Harry.
“My father’s next door buying my books and mother’s up the street looking at wands,” said the boy. He had a bored, drawling voice. “Then I’m going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don’t see why first years can’t have their own. I think I’ll bully father into getting me one and I’ll smuggle it in somehow.”
Harry was strongly reminded of Dudley.
“Have you got your own broom?” the boy went on.
“No,” said Harry.
“Play Quidditch at all?”
“No,” said Harry again, wondering what on earth Quidditch could be.
“I do – Father says it’s a crime if I’m not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you’ll be in yet?”
“No,” said Harry, feeling more stupid by the minute.
“Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I’ll be in Slytherin, all our family have been – imagine being a Hufflepuff, I think I’d leave, wouldn’t you?”
“And what exactly is wrong with Hufflepuff, Draco?” came a distinctly female voice from behind both boys. All Harry got to see in the mirror he stood before it was a flash of a blue dress, and black hair. That is until he glanced back over to the blond boy next to him just in time to see her grab his ear.
“Ow, ow, ow… Evie! That hurts!” the blond boy exclaimed, arms flailing as he tried not to topple over.
“Now, children…”
“It should hurt! Now take it back or else I’ll tell da…”
“Evelyn Felicity Snape! Release Draco this instant!” Harry stood with wide eyes as a figure, a very tall and very black figure, came swooping in to snatch the girl away from the blond.
“But da, he was being a prat again and saying how horrible Hufflepuff is to be in!”
“Evelyn….”
“But it is horrible! And Merlin knows that’ll be exactly where you’ll go just like your…” whatever the blond had been about to say was cut off by a glare Harry’s uncle could have only wished to attempt.
“That is enough, both of you. The way you two fight, you would think you were raised by barbarians. Madam Malkin,” the man, the girl’s father, addressed the seamstress as he turned to her, bowing slightly. “I beg your forgiveness for the disturbance these children have created.”
“Oh, not at all, Mr. Snape. Not at all. They are children, after all.” She was all smiles, but the man, Mr. Snape, was anything but.
Then that black gaze turned on Harry… And then to the large window, which showcased Harry’s chaperon for this trip. “Hagrid…” he eyes were back on Harry once more. “Which would make you Harry Potter, I presume?”
“Yes, sir,” Harry replied, nodding his head.
Snape made a slashing motion with his hand, silencing the excited gasps from both Evelyn and Draco. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Severus Snape, I will be your Potions instructor. This is my daughter, Evelyn.” Harry’s eyes fell to the excited girl, waving at him from her position at Mr. – Professor Snape’s side. “And this young man is Draco Malfoy.” At which point Harry’s eyes rose to the blond boy he had been talking to, who smirked but otherwise looked more interested and friendly than before.
“Hi,” was all Harry could think of to say, smiling a bit in return to Evelyn and Draco.
“Well, I am done here. I will have your robes done in a jiffy. So off you go.” Harry almost sighed in relief when finally the robes were off of him, and he received instructions on when to expect the finished uniforms to be delivered.
“Oh, I’m done too!” Harry looked at the black haired girl bouncing on the balls of her feet, seeming entirely too excited. “Da promised me we would go get ice cream while we are here, you should come too!” She then turned on her father and Harry couldn’t help but smile a little at her antics. Ice cream would be nice. It had been a while since he had been able to sneak a bite. “Please, daddy. Can Harry come with us to get ice cream?”
“Oi, what about me?” asked the blond in an affronted voice as he hopped down from his stool, obviously done being measured as well.
“Well, I guess you could come too.” Harry bit his lip to keep from laughing at the petulant face Draco wore, and the exasperated sigh the girl, Evie, gave.
“I suppose so, if Mr. Potter here wishes to…” At the inquiring look his future professor gave him, Harry nodded his head enthusiastically. “Then Mr. Potter, you will need to ask your chaperone first; and Draco, I believe that is your father entering the store, so go on and ask permission.”
Harry and Draco were shooed off, and both boys rushed from the fitting space toward the door, Harry barely stopping to give Draco’s father a smile and ‘hello’ in greeting as he went out the door. What transpired then left Harry sure that there could not possibly be a better day to happen in his life. Gifted with an owl for his birthday, spending the day with kids his age that did not want to bully him… Harry never wanted it to end. Even the teasing he liked, as Draco teased Harry and Evie both for cooing over the fluffy white owl – and yet he was right along with Harry, pouring over books newly purchased, trying to not get ice cream on the pages, attempting to find a fitting name for the bird.
Harry left with assurances that Evie and Draco would be waiting for him at the platform. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could spoil his day. Not his aunt and uncle with their demands on him the moment he returned, nor the shoving his cousin got in. Oh no, it was a happy Harry that fell asleep in his larger bed, with his familiar threadbare blanket. His head was full of the happiness and hope to come.