Summer seemed to rush through too quickly for Rodrick's liking, he had enjoyed it immensely with the Greengrass, it helped that they lived quite a good lifestyle. There was still no luck in the housing department, although Cyrus was certainly trying. He and his friends had taken to meet up several times a week, it was quite easy through Floo Travel, each time the group met they did one or another thing one member enjoyed the most.
Rodrick found himself least enjoying Tracey's ideas as they involved flying, he hadn't gotten any better and he doubted he ever would, he was the only one using a training broom. Daphne's parents had brought her a brand new Comet broom to use and had offered him one as well, he had, obviously, refused. No need to add fuel to a raging fire.
Blaise's idea of fun involved Rodrick teaching them advanced spells or more specifically curses, the girls had, of course, rebuffed the curses and got him to focus on less dark magic. The boy sulked but accepted none the less, he did seem happy when he realized even the more neutral spells could be used 'effectively.'
Rodrick took to potions practice much to everyone's chagrin, he had on more than one occasion changed their appearance accidentally or in Blaise's case definitely on purpose. The changes ranged from Robe colors to hair and in an unfortunate incident with Tracey, enlarged her nose. All of it was contained quickly enough, after the laughter stopped anyway. Daphne's entertainment involved homework, although the others unanimously agreed it was more due to her parents watching her.
...
His grandfather had been drilling him on his lack of movement during duels; shield charms were not the only way to avoid getting hit by a spell.
He didn't always see his grandfather, he'd received stranger dreams as the summer went on; He kept on seeing a red haired girl running away from something in the castle. At first, he had thought the girl to be Tracey, but found the colouring wrong. The dreams never lasted very long; he was certain he'd have to look into it once the year started, there was no need to worry about it now.
The family had been having breakfast, served by a house elf, when their letters from Hogwarts had finally arrived, listing all the things they would need for the year. Rodrick was quite glad knowing he would have a brand new set this time. He didn't mind using secondhand things but he was in Slytherin, they looked down on that sort of thing, at least this time he won't need to hide any of his clothing or personal things.
"We'll be studying using Gilderoy Lockhart's books!" Daphne squealed.
Rodrick groaned, the girl had spoken about the famous wizard one too many times over the summer. When he looked up, he saw a similar look on the girl's mother. 'Like mother like daughter,' thought Rodrick grimly. He did note with amusement on the crease of annoyances on her fathers face, Astoria couldn't care less, not unless Gilderoy was a brand of chocolate.
"Rodrick, will you be fine with the books?" Roxanne questioned fondly.
Rodrick was a little taken back before he nodded with a smile.
"Hey Rodrick, you can finally read them with me this time!" Daphne spoke towards him with a sparkle in her eyes.
"I highly doubt that, you couldn't get me to read them all summer," Rodrick replied, he noted with amusement the frown on Roxanne's face, she seemed to be quite a fan.
"The boy has good taste," Cyrus quipped.
Daphne rolled her eyes, "You have to! Its part of the course for this year!"
"I'll willingly fail, my last year's results will balance it out and let me advance to third year," Rodrick spoke half serious. The two Greengrass adults started laughing at his antics.
"That's not how it works," replied Daphne.
Rodrick winked at the girl before continuing his meal.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She narrowed her eyes slightly at him.
Rodrick wouldn't reply, the girl kept on asking feeling more and more flustered. Roxanne was slightly confused herself. Cyrus gazed at the boy with new found respect; he had actually managed to change the subject.
...
The family had just left Gringotts bank, The Greengrass's had needed to take out some galleons to spend, Rodrick was quite surprised to see the vault they owned, it was much larger than his family vault and certainly lacked the curse element. It seemed that the Grindelwald vault owed its high-level security due to its contents rather than its wealth. It had more than enough to warrant a good lifestyle for several generations, but it was nothing compared to the Greengrass one, gold wise anyway. He himself had plenty left from his last visit.
The group made their way to Flourish and Botts, Astoria would make them stop every time they went past a particular sweet she found appetizing which was all of them, it seemed the adults simply didn't know how to refuse the bubbly girl. Rodrick asked Daphne whether her sister was likely to turn into another Bulstrode from their class. Strangely, Daphne flushed. It was then that her parents mentioned that she'd had a similar sweet tooth to Astoria before she'd received her Hogwarts letter. Rodrick stared at the girl trying to hold his laughter at the image of a Daphne throwing a tantrum over sweets.
He saw the book shop in the distance; he felt himself stiffen slightly when he saw who was approaching it from the other side, much closer than they were. Rodrick subtly craned his neck to get a look at Cyrus and his wife and noticed a scowl on their faces. 'This ought to be good...'
Rodrick sped his pace up slightly, if the others noticed they didn't mention it. When he entered, he found Lucius Malfoy talking down someone, the man had blocked his view. His entrance, however, seemed to catch the man's attention as he had turned around the moment he passed through the door.
Lucius was slightly surprised when he heard someone enter after him; he was even more surprised to see who it was. Rodrick Grindelwald, this put him in an awkward situation. He knew very well that Greengrass was most likely with him. It wouldn't due for him to be seen acting anything less than noble, with Weasley around that was slightly difficult. He barely noticed Rodrick grab the book from his hand.
...
Rodrick eyed the book in Lucius's hand, a first-year book, it looked second hand, considering the company surrounding the Malfoy, Rodrick could guess what was going, he quickly took the book from man, best to diffuse the situation before it got out of hand. Lucius was surprised but made no reaction to having the book taken. Draco was eyeing him curiously. He moved further into the store; he felt his irritation rise as he noticed how crowded it was, no one was paying him any attention, it seems Malfoy and Weasley hadn't quite caused a commotion yet.
"Strange gift to be giving me Mr. Malfoy, I believe I've already finished my first year," Rodrick spoke up as he walked past the man, he heard Draco scoff, Malfoy raised an eyebrow at him but subtly moved to let him pass. As he walked past Rodrick saw who had been behind him, it was a girl, red hair... His breath hitched; She was a copy of the one he saw in his dreams. His eyes widened slightly before he caught himself, she was eyeing the book in his hand, 'must be hers.' He quickly dropped the book into her not so empty cauldron earning stares from the rest of her family. "Thanks," he heard her murmur to him quietly.
"Rodrick?" Daphne's voice came up from behind, Rodrick turned to see the Greengrass family had caught up.
The three family's stood in silence, unsure of where to go from that. It seemed the elder Weasley had calmed down after the younger one had gotten her book back, he was currently gazing at Rodrick curiously. Harry Potter was eyeing him warily, he wasn't sure what to expect of him, he was a Slytherin who had helped them but had used advanced and illegal magic in the process, he had just helped Ginny get her book back but he also seemed to be on good terms with the elder Malfoy, he did just let him take the book without saying anything after all. He was quite positive he was friends with Draco.
Ron Weasley was eyeing the boy's new looking clothes annoyed; He was fairly certain remembering him in secondhandclothing, where did he suddenly get the money? Did the Greengrass family help him? The idea irritated him, accepting charity so readily... Sure he might need it but he should have some pride... The most irritating part of it all was perhaps that Draco had another thing to use against his family, he could just imagine the blonde making fun of his family about how an orphan can afford better things than them.
Rodrick kept on moving ahead before he found a queue stopping his path, it was too long, he wasn't sure how long he could stay around with this atmosphere. Ahead of him, he saw his answer, however. his mouth twitched up slightly into a smirk.
Daphne had reached Rodrick before she saw the smile on his face... A sense of dread settled into her stomach.
She could vaguely hear her parents conversing with the Malfoy, Weasley was more intent on talking with the Hogwarts gamekeeper who had just arrived. Hagrid was confused at all the tension there was, probably Malfoy's fault. The man's voice disappeared after he gave Harry quite a loud goodbye.
"Say Daphne," Rodrick started quite loudly managing to outdo the half giant, he got the attention of their classmates, even some of the adults seemed to release a breath at his voice, specifically the Weasley patriarch, Lucius Malfoy and her parents. 'They're paying attention to him?' Daphne thought slightly confused, her parents and perhaps even Malfoy she understood, but Weasley was surprising. Daphne reluctantly turned her face towards Rodrick, aware he was about to do something most likely idiotic.
"You know what the big deal is?" Rodrick questioned he was waving his hand around indicating his surroundings, it was loud enough to grab everyone's attention, particularly one Gilderoy Lockhart, Daphne narrowed her eyes at him dangerously, she knew what he was about to do, and she had almost no way to stop it.
Everyone's attention fell to the man in question; he turned his eyes over towards the source. 'Someone who didn't know him? Preposterous.'
Daphne prayed he wouldn't fall for the bait, it really wouldn't look good for him. She saw the man in question start to walk up towards them, the queue in front of him moving away. She sighed.
"That my dear boy would be about me, after all, I am the one and only Gilderoy Lockhart!" the man spoke with so much confidence it was almost unnerving. The females in the room smiled at the showman ship, Malfoy was currently sneering, Cyrus had a calculating gaze towards Rodrick, wondering what the boy was trying to do. Weasley was still currently trying to get a read on Rodrick. Most of the students there, minus Hermione who was beaming at the man and Ginny who was more curious than anything, rolled their eyes, considering it was mostly male students it wasn't a big surprise.
Rodrick locked eyes with the man in question and felt confused when he saw the man wince at his eyes. Rodrick knew it set people off, the Occulemency shield he had on himself set people on edge, those with Legillenmency almost always got roped into using it on him when they met his eyes for the first time, and if they didn't know the art, they simply felt their magic stiffen. He was fairly sure the headmaster had accidentally used it on him, he was the only Professor at Hogwarts he'd accidentally caught eyes with. It helped give him an idea of the person in general, if they visibly winced it spoke measures of how weak they were, a good wizard could hide it properly. The man in front of him had flinched quite openly. If his books were anything to go by, he should've easily held himself.
Rodrick saw his opening; the man had managed to part the queue for him. He quickly looked away and moved forward, past the wizard. Whatever it was, it didn't matter to him. He had planned to make another scene of it but just lost his drive, it really was pointless, Of course doing so earned him glares from what Rodrick assumed where the man's fans, you don't just disregard a celebrity after all. The man in question, however, gave no reaction, he simply let him pass.
Gilderoy was panicked, it was almost as if the boy had seen through him completely, he had just moved past him without a care in the world, perhaps... No, it was too risky to try and obliviate him, best to get this over and done with, he simply turned to his crowd and gave off a dazzling smile.
"The boy's in a hurry to learn about me it seems," Gilderoy joked, the glares on the boy had quickly turned to amusement and understanding.
Rodrick smirked, that helped make things easier, he could get his required books and leave. He stared up at the counter and asked for a set of books.
Draco on seeing his chance to get his things quickly followed Rodrick to the counter, everyone else was still distracted by the celebrity in the middle. Daphne seeing both Slytherin up front, shrugged and turned to her father to get some gold, he raised an eyebrow at her before he gave her the gold galleons. She turned back and went forward; she couldn't help smiling when Lockhart noticed her approaching, however. He had an amused smile on his face after seeing the three students so eager to get his books.
Percy was currently scowling at the line jumpers but said nothing. He saw his brothers attempt to skip the queue, but a glare from their mother had them stay in place, he heard Lucius scoff at them. His father surprisingly, however, had his attention elsewhere from the Malfoy, it was directed at the one that had caused the disruption in the first place.
"Very curious," Arthur muttered to himself. There was something oddly familiar about the boy.
Rodrick stared down at the three set of books in front of him and his two Slytherin friends. He turned to see a smirking Malfoy, delighted he got the books before the Weasley's.
Rodrick knew the thoughts likely going through his head at that. 'This only proves my family is better,' most like. When he turned to Daphne, however, he saw her fidgeting and staring at the books and towards Lockhart, it took a few seconds before it clicked for Rodrick. He turned to the man in question.
"Can you sign my set?" Rodrick asked.
Gilderoy's eyes lit up at that before he quickly nodded and proceeded to write down his signature on the books.
Rodrick saw a look of envy on Daphne's face. To everyone's surprise and some people's shock. The three book sets shrunk down. Rodrick subtly took and pocketed Daphne's set; the girl stared at him frantically before she saw him wink at her, she gave him a grateful smile and pocketed the signed set. Malfoy stared ludicrously at the small sized books and his housemate's actions of putting a book set in a robe pocket... He shrugged and copied them anyway. He was pretty sure Rodrick was responsible for shrinking the books but said nothing. The three quickly made their way back to their families, a look of indifference on their face although Draco did glower at the Weasley's when he passed them.
Lucius Malfoy was very amused, the situation turned out better than he thought, he managed to put the book in that blood traitors cauldron, thanks to Grindelwald got what he needed without humouring that celebrity show off and the best part, it looked it his son managed to take advantage of a situation to make the Malfoy's look like the better off family, it helped that Greengrass played along. It gave off the message; money can go far. Something the Weasley were certainly incapable of doing.
"Another day, Greengrass," he gave his goodbyes to the Greengrass patriarch who simply nodded in turn, not trusting his words, Rodrick wanted this to end without any problems. He then turned to his daughter and ward and gave them a smile before leading the family out; his mouth twitched up when he saw his wife pout at leaving so soon, it reminded him so much of when they were younger.
Molly turned to her husband, Arthur's attention was still occupied by the boy, her family looked like they wanted to say something, anything at the treatment shown but found themselves unwilling to do anything, her famous glare made sure of it. Although even she seemed to expect Arthur to say something, for him to be so quiet... it was worrying. Harry Potter, bless him seemed to follow along so well, the boy really was well mannered. She would need to speak to Arthur later, ask him what was wrong. The black haired boy seemed pretty normal, why was Arthur so fixated on him? So much so he seemed to forget Lucius Malfoy existed!
"Oh very well... I was hoping to get his autograph though..." Roxanne spoke as they left the shop.
"If it's any consolation, Mrs. Greengrass, Daphne's set is autographed," Rodrick spoke, Daphne turned and gave him a beaming smile.
Cyrus watched this all play out, Malfoy had already disappeared from the street, and so the atmosphere was a lot more positive.
"You really don't need to call me that you know, makes me feel so old!" complained Roxanne, earning a chuckle from her family.
Rodrick raised an eyebrow at this before a smile crept its way onto his face. "Would Roxy be better?" He questioned with as much a serious face he could.
Roxanne brows had raised at this before she broke out into laughter, "Oh you really are a joy!" she spoke fondly.
Astoria tugged on Rodrick's arm, staring at him.
Rodrick looked at the 10-year-old curiously, she was reaching his neck in height, Rodrick thought slightly put out, Ron had seemed to grow taller than him already. He himself barely reached Harry Potter and Draco's height. Daphne was only an inch or two shorter than him. "Yes Tori?" he questioned.
"Just curious why everyone's afraid of your eyes," she replied.
Rodrick stared at her before he broke into a chuckle, the girl was becoming self-aware, soon enough sweets won't be the most important thing in her head. "I don't know; maybe they look too much like a snakes..." He answered, he added in hissing sounds to prove his point. She wound up laughing at his antics.
The adult's stared at the interaction before shaking their heads in amusement, making the boy a ward was proving to be better and better as time went on...