[Chapter Size: 1900 Words.]
---------------------------------------
At Madam Malkin's signal, Amanda and Draco each stepped onto a small stool.
Madam Malkin had just draped a black robe over them when several measuring tapes floated up and quickly began taking their measurements.
"My dear, try these on first. I'll attend to the other customers."
Smiling, Madam Malkin slipped away between the racks, leaving the two of them entangled in the enchanted tapes.
The measuring tapes were clearly mischievous and not entirely focused on their task.
First, one bounced onto their shoulders, then stretched down to their feet, gave a playful flick, and tugged at their sleeves and hems.
"Honestly!"
Draco was clearly irritated by the tape bouncing around. He slapped at it impatiently, but the tape lifted one end indignantly and smacked him hard on the thigh.
"Ow!"
Draco yelped in pain.
"..." Amanda almost couldn't hold back her laughter. If Lucius had appeared at that moment and seen his son in such a state, his fury would likely have bent his nose out of shape.
"...Excuse me, I'd like to try—wait, Amanda?"
A somewhat hesitant, youthful voice asked stiffly, then turned unexpectedly cheerful.
Hearing that familiar tone, Amanta turned and saw a boy with messy black hair and broken glasses peeking through the racks.
"Harry! What are you doing here?!"
Amanda feigned surprise.
"Ah... it's a long story. Uncle Vernon didn't let me out at first..."
Harry gave Amanda a quick account of the past few days, ending with: "It's a shame you didn't see Dudley grow a pig's tail. It suited him perfectly."
Amanda raised her brows with mock regret.
"That is a pity. Where's Hagrid? Didn't he bring you here?"
"Hagrid seemed a little down after we left Gringotts. He said he wanted to stop at the Leaky Cauldron for a drink."
The two were chatting so animatedly they nearly forgot about the boy standing nearby.
Draco had already finished his measurements, hopped off the stool, and crossed his arms, watching Amanda with an increasingly sour expression.
When she noticed his scowl, Amanda realized this was probably the first time in his life that young Master Malfoy had felt completely ignored.
His mood must not be allowed to worsen, she couldn't forget her purpose today!
Rolling her eyes, she quickly grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him toward Harry.
"Harry, this is Draco Malfoy. Draco, this is Harry Potter."
"Harry Potter?"
As she expected, Draco's eyes widened at the name.
Harry gave him a warm, friendly smile.
"You're Amanda's friend? Hello, Draco."
Harry extended his hand. Draco took it and forced a polished, formal smile.
"Hello, Harry. A pleasure to meet you."
A chill went down Harry's spine. With his current experience, he couldn't fathom how anyone could change expressions faster than flipping the pages of a book.
Amanda stood by, quietly satisfied.
For now, at least, Harry and Draco had managed a civil start,beven if only because of her presence and Harry's fame.
Still, the lack of conflict was a good beginning.
She patted both their shoulders approvingly.
"That's settled then. Shall we keep shopping? Harry, would you like to join us?"
"That'd be great, but I should probably check in with Hagrid first... Hey! Over here!"
Outside the shop window stood a giant of a man, nearly twice normal height, with wild hair and beard. He held two enormous chocolate ice creams topped with raspberries and nuts, grinning broadly at Harry.
His appearance left no doubt, this was Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper and half-giant.
Harry rushed from Madam Malkin's shop, with Amanda and Draco following behind.
"Little Harry! You've made so many new friends already?"
Hagrid handed Harry one of the giant ice creams, then glanced at Amanda and Draco with a genial smile.
"Ah, shame I didn't get one for your friends. Wait here!"
Before Harry could reply, Hagrid cheerfully lumbered off to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.
Moments later, he returned carrying two more towering sundaes.
"Harry, who are your friends? Will you introduce us?"
Amanda spoke first. "I'm Amanda Merlin. Thank you for looking after Harry these past few days."
"Amanda! So you're the girl Harry keeps mentioning. Not bad, not bad at all."
He turned to Draco, who wore his usual proud expression. "And you, lad? What's your name?"
Perhaps encouraged by the huge ice cream in his hand, Draco put on a false smile and replied formally, "Draco Malfoy. Thank you for your kindness."
At the name, Hagrid's brow creased slightly, though he still offered a courteous smile. "Hello, Draco. I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. Just call me Hagrid."
"Well now, you all look about the right age. First-years at Hogwarts, aren't you?"
Amanda nodded. "Yes. Like Harry, we're here to buy our school supplies."
Harry looked at Hagrid hopefully. "By the way, can I go around Diagon Alley with Amanda and Draco?"
Hagrid gave Amanda a thoughtful glance, apparently finding her trustworthy. Wiping ice cream from his hands onto his coat, he pointed toward the pub entrance.
"All right then. I won't spoil your fun. We'll meet at the Leaky Cauldron later, Harry?"
Harry waved happily.
Just beside Madam Malkin's was Flourish and Blotts.
The shop was crammed from floor to ceiling with hardbound books of every shape and size, many oddly wrapped or covered in strange symbols.
When the clerk learned they needed first-year textbooks, he pulled out a list and began hunting through the towering shelves for each required volume.
Waiting grew dull quickly. Harry's eyes wandered until he stopped at a shelf and pulled down a copy of Curses and Counter-Curses.
Amanda suspected he was imagining how to use it against Dudley.
Draco found a copy of Quidditch Through the Ages, sat down, and began reading with great focus.
Amanda, meanwhile, stared blankly at a wordless book, lost in thought.
"So, what House do you think you'll be sorted into?"
Draco spoke suddenly, his grey eyes still fixed on Quidditch Through the Ages.
"Slytherin."
Amanda answered without hesitation.
Harry followed, his voice uncertain. "I'm Slytherin too, just like Amanda."
"Really?" Their reply clearly surprised Draco. "If nothing unexpected happens, I'll be in Slytherin as well. After all, my whole family has been there."
The corners of Amanda's mouth curved slightly.
"No one truly knows where they'll be sorted until the moment comes. But... I hope we'll all meet in Slytherin."
"Good!"
Draco and Harry spoke in unison.
After buying all their textbooks, they moved on to quills, parchment, a large cauldron, potion scales, telescopes, and various potion ingredients, before finally arriving at Ollivanders.
Merlin's beard, wand testing was exhausting, and dangerous.
Harry and Draco tried wand after wand, each one rebelling against them with bursts of sparks or violent jolts, nearly blowing up the shop.
Harry's struggle was especially intense, rivaling Amanda's own experience.
By the time the three finally left Ollivanders, it was late afternoon, and they were thoroughly drained.
Amanda pulled out the parchment list and ticked off the items.
"...a telescope, scales... ah, wait, I don't think I've bought a pet yet."
"Me neither," Harry admitted, looking a little lost. "Do we need to?"
"Hmm... I'm not sure. But I think we should. Most wizards keep owls for letters and deliveries."
"And you, Draco?" Amanda asked.
"My father bought me one long ago, a Eurasian eagle-owl," Draco said proudly. "The most powerful and majestic kind, if you ask me."
Eeylops Owl Emporium was dim inside, filled with so many owls it was impossible to count them all. Amanda alone spotted at least twenty or thirty species, undoubtedly, there were more.
While Harry reached into a cage to stroke a snowy owl, Amanda suddenly remembered how he had grown up under the Dursleys' cruelty and had never once received a proper gift.
She said softly, "By the way, yesterday was your birthday... I never gave you a present. How about I buy you this snowy owl?"
Harry froze, panicked. "W-what? No, you don't have to…"
Amanda winked. "It's fine. Just remember to return the favor on my birthday."
"Uh... all right..." Harry stammered, flustered.
Draco, who had been unusually quiet, pulled a book from inside his robes and handed it to Harry.
"Here. A birthday gift."
Harry clutched the brand-new Quidditch Through the Ages to his chest, his eyes shining.
"Draco... thank you, too..."
His voice trembled with emotion. Tears welled in his eyes as he looked between Amanda and Draco, unsure what to do with himself.
"You're welcome," Draco said curtly.
It was obvious he had dropped both the fake smile and his usual arrogance. Situations like this were not his strength.
"Maybe we'll play Quidditch together in Slytherin. Though it's ridiculous first-years aren't allowed their own brooms."
While they talked, Amanda picked her own pet, a small, fluffy tawny owl. Its round head reminded her of a Ragdoll cat.
Once all the supplies were purchased, Amanda said her goodbyes to Draco and Harry outside Eeylops Owl Emporium.
Harry lingered, reluctant to leave. When Amanda comforted him by promising they'd meet again in their "old place," Draco couldn't help but cut in.
"The old place? Where do you two usually meet?"
Amanda raised her brows, a little surprised. "Do you want to come too?"
"...Well, I suppose I could, begrudgingly, discuss our upcoming classes with you."
Draco kept his face indifferent, but his eyes betrayed a quiet eagerness as they flicked toward Amanda.
She sighed helplessly.
"All right then."
When Amanda reached Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, the sun was sinking and Diagon Alley had grown quieter. She spotted Professor McGonagall waiting at the door.
They had spent far too long shopping.
Amanda hurried. "Professor McGonagall, I made friends with two new first-years. We shopped together, so…"
"Yes, yes, Hagrid already told me," McGonagall interrupted. "Did you buy everything?"
"Yes, everything."
"Then I'll take you back now, Miss Merlin."
Amanda clutched the professor's arm again, bracing herself.
This time, the dizzying sensation of Apparition wasn't nearly as unpleasant. Moments later, they stood outside Orphanage.
"Miss Merlin, I hope you enjoy your seven years at Hogwarts."
For once, McGonagall's stern jawline softened. She gave Amanda the faintest smile before turning and vanishing into thin air, exactly as she had arrived that morning.
…
There was still a month until September 1st.
Back home, Amanda wrote two short notes, inviting Draco and Harry to meet her three days later at her on Privet Drive. She tied them to her newly bought Scops owl, Bertha.
Bertha soon returned with their replies.
Harry's letter filled two whole pages:
"Wonderful! I've been reading ever since I got back. My favorite so far is A History of Magic. I've decided to call my owl Hedwig, I found the name in that book, and I can't stop rereading it at night. I can't wait to see you both and talk about everything! Oh, and the Dursleys haven't bothered me since I got back... they just pretend I don't exist."
Draco's response, however, was shockingly brief:
"Good."
Amanda turned the pale green letter over several times, convinced there had to be at least one more word.
"The young Master Malfoy truly is a man of few words."
She sighed.
What Amanta didn't know was that at Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire, England.
The platinum-haired boy stood before an ornate vanity mirror in his bedroom, changing his robes and swapping brooches again and again, frowning at his reflection.
Then he turned to Dobby, the house-elf standing by.
"Would this be appropriate to wear the day after tomorrow?"
—————————
Author's Note:
If you're enjoying the story and wish to support me, you can visit my P-@-t-r-3-0-n, where you can read 20+ extra chapters ahead!
Thank you so much for your support. It means the world! 💙😊
P-@-T -r-3-0-n [.] com / DylanBriak