It was once again that time of the year, the letters from Hogwarts had come with their school supplies list and some back-to-school shopping was in order. Second years at Hogwarts had the same classes as first years, therefore most of the books on the list were the second-grade versions of last year's course books.
There was one notable exception, though, and that was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Quirrell had been turned to ashes by Wizarding Britain's very own saviour, The Boy Who Lived. Seeing as a little pile of dust had little in the ways of teaching prowess, a replacement had been selected.
Oleandra looked at the school supplies list and let out a low whistle. The required reading for Defense Against the Dark Arts was quite extensive, seven books!
Maxwell frowned. He knew Gilderoy Lockhart had filled the opening. It seemed like his daughters' new teacher had taken a page from muggle university professors, making students pay a pretty sum for the books he wrote. This seemed wildly unethical, but there was no precedent for this at Hogwarts, so there were no rules against it.
"Children, gather around the fireplace! We're leaving for Diagon Alley in five minutes!" said Maxwell Greengrass, her father.
"Where's mother? Isn't she coming?" asked Daphne.
"She is, how should I say this, dealing with some unsavoury matters. She's left for Knockturn Alley to sell some things, but she'll join us later for ice cream," Maxwell said, clearly uneasy with his wife's … collection.
"Is it about the Ministry's raids?" asked Oleandra.
"As the heir to the Greengrass legacy, your mother inherited some objectionable items. It wouldn't do to be caught red-handed with them, so she's getting rid of some of the worst ones," Maxwell said. "Now, come on, enough dilly-dallying, we haven't got all day."
A short trip through the emerald-coloured flames, and the Floo Network had spat them out in a fireplace in Diagon Alley.
"I'm so envious," said Astoria wistfully. "I wish I could be there with you and go on adventures too, but I have to wait another year."
She exploded in a fit of coughing, pulling out an embroidered handkerchief to wipe away a trace of blood from her nose.
"Ah, if it isn't my good friends from the Greengrass family!" exclaimed a man coming out from Knockturn Alley. It was Lucius Malfoy, accompanied by his son, Draco. "Draco has told me a great many things about your daughters."
"Lucius, good to see you!" said Maxwell. They shook hands. "Shopping for school supplies for Draco?"
"Of course. Shall we shop for our children's supplies together?" responded Lucius Malfoy.
Draco pulled Oleandra away from the group, indicating he had something to tell her. Ignoring her sisters' sniggering, she went along with him, slowing down so that they fell behind the rest of the group.
"Listen," he said. "I know you won Slytherin the Quidditch Cup last year, bringing glory to our House."
"Yes, they called me the youngest Seeker in a hundred years," Oleandra added, never missing a chance to stick it to Draco.
"Look, what will it take to get you off the team? I have to compete with Potter. I have to prove I'm better than him, so I have to be Slytherin's seeker this year. My father has already purchased some Nimbus 2001s to donate to the team so I'm guaranteed a spot."
To Oleandra, this was a dream come true. An excuse to quit the team AND she was going to get something out of it? Somebody pinch me!
"I suppose I was going to try and focus on my studies this year," said Oleandra, pretending to examine her fingernails. "Just get me a little something, as a gift, and I'll leave you my spot as Seeker."
By saying she had intended on quitting all along (even though it was true!), Oleandra was making it easier on Draco's conscience, so that he'd get her a nice expensive gift! He was buying his spot on the team, after all.
But apparently, Draco had taken her words literally, since no sooner than she had said those words that he had pulled out an ugly, twisted hand from his pack.
"Here," he said, handing her the … thing. "It's a Hand of Glory. If you give it a candle to hold, it'll produce a light that only you can see. I bought it from Borgin and Burkes while my father wasn't looking. It's great for thieves and marauders, apparently."
Draco actually looked somewhat sad at the prospect of having to part with his Hand of Glory. Oleandra accepted it and put it in her pouch, trying her utmost not to let the revulsion appear on her face.
"Thank you, Draco," she said, trying her best to keep a straight face. "I'll be sure to make good use of it."
An hour later, they finally arrived at Flourish and Blotts, where they were met with a storm of camera flashes. Oleandra blinked, briefly blinded by the lights flashing her eyes.
"Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have great pleasure and pride in announcing that this September, I will be taking up the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" said a rather handsome man on stage.
Oleandra rubbed her eyes. Was she seeing things, or was that Potter on stage with Gilderoy Lockhart?
And then, Draco just had to open his big mouth.
"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter? Famous Harry Potter. Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."
"Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!" cried a little red-headed girl. Perhaps another one of her numerous second cousins, the Weasleys.
"Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!" said Malfoy, smirking.
"Looks like you've got one yourself," responded Ronald Weasley, saying it as if it were an insult.
Insult or not, Oleandra took it personally. Me? Draco's girlfriend? In his dreams! Everything this little red-headed boy said rubbed her the wrong way!
"Not like you'd ever know what it's like to have one, dear cousin," Oleandra said.
Ron's ears went deep red. They might have shared half an adventure last school year, but everything she said rubbed him the wrong way! He put up his dukes, ready to get into a fight. Oleandra curled and uncurled her fingers, a slight smile forming on her face. If cousin Ron wanted to throw hands, then he'd spend the next half hour frozen in the southpaw boxing stance. Oleandra doubted anyone could unravel her magic that easily.
Before anything happened between the children, the adults got into a fight. Mr. Lucius said something inappropriate and Mr. Weasley responded with his fists. Punches and books were sent flying. Oleandra's father tried to get in between the fighters to stop the fight, but he regretted it soon enough when Lucius Malfoy accidentally kicked him in the shins.
A great big mountain of a man navigated his way through the fallen books to the fighters.
"Break it up, there, gents, break it up —" said Hagrid, pulling the two men away from each other.
Mr. Malfoy noticed he still had the girl's book in his hand from his one good eye. The other one was turning a nasty shade of purple.
"Here, girl — take your book — it's the best your father can give you —" said Lucius.
The Greengrass and Malfoy departed from the bookstore after making the purchases, trying to keep whatever dignity they had left after that ugly episode.
The two families bid farewell to each other, and then the Greengrass family went to get some ice cream.