Sunday, April 27, 2008
Continue Story (I copy and paste from internet) - Chapter 4 - 'SHE'S SO COLD'
CHAPTER 4
'Yes?' Clea's tingling voice responded from inside.
'My Father sent me to ask if you have your things packed for today's journey. Do you?' Draco found it a little irritating talking through a door, but a second later, Clea appeared with a smile, her hair in two plaits that hung to her shoulders, a muggle summers dress in the color of purple hugging her figure.
'Yes, I think so. Well, I have everything that I brought with me packed up.' Clea noticed Draco's eyes wandering over her, and she cleared her throat. Draco was jolted back to standing in front of her - not that he'd been anywhere else really.
'That's muggle clothing...' He observed out loud, and Clea raised her eyebrows.
'Indeed it is... is that a problem?' She questioned, her fingers now tugging at the above the knee hem of her dress. Draco hesitated.
'Shouldn't you be wearing... well, wizards robes?'
'But I'm not going anywhere as formal as to require them.' Clea laughed, and then turned and retreated back into her bright room, leaving the door open as an invitation for Draco to follow. He did so almost reluctantly.
'Are you a pureblood?' He suddenly asked, halting in his tracks. Clea turned back to face him, a smile playing on her lips.
'Ahhh...' She paused. 'If I wasn't... now, that would be a problem, yes?'
'It could cause... problems. But it was a stupid question; of course you're pureblood. My Father would never have let you into our-' Draco stopped himself sharply, catching himself before he finished the sentance. Clea had now crossed her arms over her chest, and she looked unimpressed to say the least.
'You know, Draco, perhaps if you looked further than blood, you would find...' She trailed away, and Draco gazed at her expectantly. She gave a small laugh, and shook her head briefly, before moving over to her bed and sitting on the egde, pulling a scroll of parchment from beneath one of her pillows, and unfolding it. She gesutred for Draco to come and sit next to her, which he did, after closing the door.
'What is it?' Draco asked, slowly sitting down next to Clea.
'Nothing exciting.' Clea replied with a shrug, handing the parchment to Draco. 'A letter from Professor Dumbledore, including a list of all things needed for the forthcoming school year.' Clea leaned over, close to Draco, to re-read the letter over his shoulder. Her hair brushed against his cheek, and he gave a slight shiver. Clea reached forwards and tugged her hair back over her shoulder, whispering a smooth apology, and then notioning for him to carry on reading.
'Do I have everything I need?' Clea questioned nervously, as Draco turned to look at her, and she moved herself back from him quickly, only just noticing their close proximity.
'Have you been to Diagon Alley? I mean, I know you haven't whilst being here, but have-'
'No.' Clea interrupted carefully, shaking her head again, her curls of blonde hair sneaking back over her shoulders from where she had just removed them.
'Well then we should take a trip - unless you already-'
'I don't have a cauldron. Or a wand-'
'You don't have a wand?' Draco gasped, restraining himself from jumping from the bed - what kind of witch didn't have a wand?
'I did!' Clea protested quickly. 'It... it got broken. So, I guess I'll need a new one. Okay I know I don't have everything I need, so... what I really wanted to know was: Will you help me find everything?'
Draco visably relaxed. He was intrigued as to how Clea's wand had been broken, but he decided not to ask; the week of Clea's presence had told him that she rarely answered any questions to do with her past or her family, and Draco had suspicions this involved both.
'Of course. But we'd better get going now, before it gets too late.'
'Welcome to Diagon Alley.' Draco grinned as he gestured with both arms to the walls of shops stretched ahead of them, gushing with people making their way to and from the other end of the street, at which proudly stood the magnificent white washed building that was Gringotts Bank. Clea was frowning though, and she turned to look back over her shoulder at a plain brick wall.
'I still don't understand how we got in.' She mumbled, shaking her head. Draco restrained a laugh.
'It doesn't matter; I'll show you another time. Do you have much money with you?' Draco asked, as he began guiding himself and Clea through the many chatting people, who were creating a constant buzz of noise as they walked.
'Umm... well no. I need to go to-'
'Gringotts. Well we'd best head there first.' Draco took Clea's hand in his own, even after noticing how out of place she looked in her muggle dress, and walked slightly ahead of her through the crowds, making his way to Gringotts. A few moments later, they reached the stone steps leading up to the open doors, which witches and wizards were pouring in and out of. Clea stopped and stared up at the building, before realizing Draco's hand still enclosed hers. She pulled her fingers free of his slowly, an air of apology surrounding the gesture. She took off up the steps in such a hurry though that Draco had to run after her, gaining his place back at her side only once they were inside of the huge bank.
'Wow...' Clea whispered, so as only she and Draco could hear. 'Umm... where do I go?'
'Over here.' Draco replied, guiding her - this time without touching her - the an empty desk, behind which sat one of the ugliest Goblin's Draco had ever had the misfortune to lay eyes on. Clea stared, panicking, from Draco to the Goblin, and back again. Her eyes flickered quickly to all of the other desks, and on noticing Goblin's were serving all magical folk, she relaxed a little. Amused at her expression of shock, Draco wondered what she had thought of at that moment... the Bank was being held hostage by that single Goblin? Poor Clea - it seemed she had a lot to learn, and whom better to teach her than Draco Malfoy?
'Yes?' The Goblin suddenly interrupted Draco's thoughts, and Clea was now rummaging in a navy blue bag that was slung over her shoulder.
'One moment please...' She smiled politely, and Draco now raised his eyebrows. The Goblin looked startled too - it was rare for Witches and Wizards to show manners to any magical beings belows themselves - particularly Goblin's and House-elves. Clea suddenly pulled back from her bag, looking triumphant, and holding a small golden key on a chain. She placed it onto the desk with a clink, and placed the same patient smile on her lips as the Goblin picked up the key and twirled it in his... claws.
'What name and withdrawal amount?' The Goblin asked, his tone now a little softer than his greeting.
'Clea Harvey.' With a quick glance to Draco and a shrug, she carried on. 'Amount... amount... how much do I need, Draco?' Draco tried to remember all items on the lists, estimated a price and then doubled it.
'Two hundred galleons.' He suggested, and Clea nodded, turning back to the Goblin.
'Clea Harvey, two hundred galleons, please.' The Goblin turned and stalked away, it's pointy chin held high in the air. Draco leaned onto the desk now the Goblin was gone, and turned to observe the other people in the the building.
'How long do you think the shopping will take?' Clea asked quietly, and Draco thought.
'Depends how fussy you are.' He replied with a grin.
'Oh, I hate shopping. Give me whatever complies with safety regulations, and I'll take it.' Clea joked, but Draco stared at her with a smile.
'You hate shopping?'
'Absolutely! What an awful waste of time!' Clea laughed cheefully, but now the Goblin was back, looking tiresome.
'We have no account in the name of
'Well go and look again.' Draco snapped quickly - he had no time for Goblins... or any other creature for that matter.
'No. Perhaps it's in my... other name.' Clea had leaned forwards and whispered this to the Goblin, but Draco had still heard, and was now completely confused.
'Other name, Miss?' The Goblin questioned with a suspicious smirk.
'Yes... it's...' The name that Clea whispered wasn't caught by Draco, but the Goblin nodded and turned, stalking away once again. There was barely time for Draco to turn to Clea before the Goblin came back, this time accompanied by another Goblin, who looked superior in comparison. This Goblin wore gold rimmed glasses, and looked like he was attempting to balance some slippery object on the tip of his sharp nose.
'I have been informed you wish to wishdraw under the name of...' Clea leaned forwards, and signalled for him to keep his voice down, which, with a nod he did. The name had again already been uttered before Draco could lean in to catch it, and Clea nodded.
'That's correct.'
'Follow me, please,
'Where is he taking her?' Draco asked the remaining Goblin, his eyes still staring at the corner that Clea had dissapeared from.
'To make her withdrawal, Sir. Now if you don't mind, there are other customers.' The Goblin coughed pointedly, and Draco stepped to one side, dtermined to stay at the point until Clea returned.
Clea returned fifteen minutes later, carrying a black bag that jingled with galleons. She smiled at Draco - but looked unhappy compared to half an hour ago. She placed the bag into the one she had across her shoulder and took the key on the chain back from the Goblin, this time fistening it securely around her neck, rather than placing it in her bag with everything else.
'Take care, Miss...
'Why did you have to go with them? They banned anyone going into the vaults since the attempted theft last summer. You shouldn't have been allowed to go-'
'It's a 'special case'. I'd rather not disscuss it, sorry Draco. Anyway, it seems there's still shopping to be getting on with... I want an animal! It said in the letter you could have a rat, cat, owl, toad... or ferret!' Clea grinned, linking her arm through Draco's to hurry up his pace of walking. He winced at the word 'ferret', but when Clea gave him a puzzled glance he shook his head.
'And that's something I'd rather not talk about. Don't get a ferret, please, please don't ge a ferret.' Draco begged, staring at Clea desperately. 'You've no idea of the jokes there'd be if you're in Slytherin and friends with m-
'I don't really like ferrets anyway.' Clea laughed, putting Draco's mind at rest instantly. 'I was thinking of a cat, actually. I adore cats.'
'I can live with that.' Draco nodded, as Clea rolled her eyes playfully, and they began walking in the general direction of the pet store.
# posted by Sek Koon @ 8:42 AM 
