A. Malfoy (wiltshireprince) wrote in thegarden,
@ 2009-07-21 14:33:00

WHO Minerva McGonagall and Abraxas Malfoy
WHAT A meet up in London
WHEN 3:00 PM
WHERE Diagon Alley
STATUS Incomplete

After the initial protests of his mother had been eased with gentle assurances and reassurances that yes he was going to be alright, and no there weren’t likely to be any bombings, and he was going to Diagon Alley anyway, which is probably one of the safest places you could be in all of England, let alone London. Abraxas wasn’t sure how true that was, but no good telling his mother that.

“And since you’re going into London,” his father had said, not looking up from his paper, “Do you remember that little puzzle box your uncle gave me?”

His son sighed. “I don’t know. If you’re talking about that one that drives you mad trying to open it and makes you bleed every time you get it wrong, then yes.”

“Yes, that’s right. I had Burke make sure it was all in working order a few months ago and haven’t had time to pick it up. Kept slipping my mind. Go get it. If he hasn’t already sold it.”

“We’ve had that thing for ages. Are you going to give it to someone, father?”

The elder Malfoy gave his son one of those exquisitely piercing, scalpel-sharp ‘mind your own business’ glares that he was so good at. If Abraxas wasn’t used to them by now, it probably would have drawn blood. The next few minutes consisted of the expected drilling from his father. He wouldn’t forget? He would be careful? He wouldn’t touch it with his bare hands? He’d make sure Burke double-wrapped it, and put the necessary protective spells on it just in case? And he wouldn’t forget?

Which is why he was in a hurry to leave, reaching London a full three hours before the agreed upon time. And he’d been overgenerous with the floo powder, snatching a handful and nearly-shouting with all too much enthusiasm “Knockturn Alley”. It made the ride through the fireplace quick, but disorienting. After being spat out into the one dingy pub in the place (the other patrons looked on with mild interest as he staggered out, shaking the ash from his robes, and leaned against a wall until the room stopped spinning), he had time enough to pick up the trinket and browse, and make sure everything was still whole and untouched by the bombs. Not that one would be able to tell very much, in that place. There were parts of Knockturn Alley that were half in ruins as it was.

And then, with business attended to and enough time to order a butterbeer and get himself settled, he made his way out into the light into Diagon Alley proper, and then to the Leaky Cauldron to wait for McGonagall.

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mcgoogles
2009-07-21 11:13 pm UTC (link)

Minnie hadn't been overzealous at all. In fact, if anything, she was the tiniest bit late. (Which was very odd, because Minnie was a very punctual girl and generally hated being late.) She had slept late and been slow to rise, stumbling through her room for the right outfit to wear. What did one wear when going on...an outing with a Malfoy? She didn't know. She threw on her robes and sighed, not even realizing the time. It wasn't until she made it out into the kitchen, ("Minnie dear," her mother's lazy voice again. "It's almost three.") and realized the time that she began to freak out. How on earth had she slept so late? She blamed Alfred, really.

Minnie ran to the fireplace and tossed the powder in, saying, "Diagon Alley." before being whirled away. Her mother looked up from her paper and into the fireplace. "Just, be safe, dear."

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wiltshireprince
2009-07-21 11:29 pm UTC (link)

It wasn’t usually Abraxas’s policy to end up meeting up with nearly-complete strangers. Well, not really strangers, he supposed. He’d been vaguely aware of her existence for at least all the time they’d been going to school together. And he knew what she looked like, although he couldn’t for the life of him remember her given name. If he’d ever even heard it at all. But that was fine. He hardly expected any better a recollection from her. Bit odd to be going out to meet up with someone he barely knew, he realized, but it wouldn’t be the first time. And even though he would never, ever admit it, Abraxas Malfoy was the sort who preferred unlikely, strange, bad, or completely unfamiliar company to no company at all.

He was also vaguely aware that his going out with McGonagall would annoy Potter to no end, which seemed as good a reason for doing something. It was petty. It was immature. But he couldn’t resist. Just for the fun of it indeed.

Abraxas had got a table that wasn’t far from the fireplace, so when he noticed the flash of emerald flames at about three, he turned around in his seat to look.

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mcgoogles
2009-07-21 11:45 pm UTC (link)

Minnie stepped out of the fireplace, slightly dizzy, as per usual. She sighed, and began brushing the ash off of herself and out of her hair. Horrible thing, really, floo powder was. She kind of hated it. A lot. She turned around, looking for Malfoy and spotted him almost instantly. She knew his name, since they'd had Potions together since first year, but she doubt he knew hers. He didn't seem like the type to. She approached him slowly, "Malfoy," she nodded, feeling slightly awkward. She hadn't needed to make friends since first year, and even then, her friends just sort of..attached themselves to her.

"How are you? I see the Leaky Cauldron hasn't been blown to bits."

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wiltshireprince
2009-07-21 11:57 pm UTC (link)

He got to his feet and pulled out a chair for her. Subconscious act, really. When you’ve had Good Manners drilled into your head since you were old enough to understand words, by the time you’re old enough, it’s not a voluntary action any more.

“I’m alright, thanks. Yeah, I was talking to Tom a little while ago. They don’t have anything to be afraid of, he says. But whenever the muggles have to turn out all the lights and be quiet, he makes sure to do it in here, too. Just to show solidarity, you know? Had the blackout curtains and everything. It wouldn’t do to go furthering the divide between wizards and muggles, and have wizards thinking they’re above troubles. Something like that,” he shrugged, “Nice notion, isn't it, even if it is a bit silly. But excuse me, how've you been?"

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mcgoogles
2009-07-22 12:05 am UTC (link)

Minnie thanked him and sat down in the offered chair, waiting for him to take a seat as well. It was a very polite thing to do, really, and she'd be sure to tell Alfred. She knew it would make him angry.

She nodded, thinking it was a rather nice notion. Witches and Wizards may have been magic, but they were still human and they could still be killed by guns and bombs, even with the enchantments. It was all really frightening if you thought about it, so she made a point not to think about it. "For a moment I thought you meant Tom Riddle, and I thought 'what on Earth does he know about muggle and wizard relations and why would he care?' But anyway, I am well, all things considered, and I'm glad the world isn't completely in shambles.

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wiltshireprince
2009-07-22 12:19 am UTC (link)

Abraxas laughed. “No, Tom who serves the drinks here. I think Tom Riddle knows plenty. Just nothing that leads him to any good conclusion about the state of muggle-wizard relations. He’s alright, really.” Abraxas sat down himself, not at all interested in pursuing this line of conversation. It wasn’t that he was fond of Riddle all that much, but there was something about being in Slytherin, the one house that everyone tended to hate merely on principle that made you to come running to the defense of a housemate. It was true that among themselves they were a right pack of scheming backstabbers, but the ranks closed when it came to facing the rest of the world.

“Anyway, and, since it looks like at least this little corner of the world is nice and intact, do you feel like stopping by at the ice cream parlour later? It’s too hot outside, and if this does happen to be the one day of the whole year when the bombings start again, I’d jolly well like to have gotten something worthwhile out of the risk.” He grinned. “I’ll buy?”

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mcgoogles
2009-07-22 12:36 am UTC (link)

"He's my potions partner," She said airily, like he didn't freak her out. She wasn't going to insult him when he wasn't here to defend himself, Minnie just wasn't that type of girl. "He's very good at them," is all she said. She didn't mention the fact that he creepily complimented her hair constantly.

"Well, if you're buying how could I say no?" She replied, smiling prettily and batting her eyelashes jokingly. "Of course. I love ice cream. What's your favorite flavor?" THis had to be safe conversation, right?

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	wiltshireprince 2009-07-22 12:46 am UTC (link)
	“Ah, I really don’t know. First thing I see, when the weather’s like this. Chocolate, maybe. I’m boring.” Not the sort of question he’d been asked since he was ten, but alright. In terms of inoffensive discussion topics, favorite ice creams had to be up there. “Yours?” He asked, after a moment. It was only polite, after all. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	mcgoogles 2009-07-22 12:52 am UTC (link)
	"I think it depends on what the specialty is for the day. Mostly I like raspberry and chocolate, you know. It's very nice." She smiled and tapped her finger on the table. "Sorry I'm not a better conversationalist." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	wiltshireprince 2009-07-22 01:10 am UTC (link)
	"No trouble." He dragged a finger around the rim of his empty glass. "It's odd, isn't it? I heard that all the muggles have to get their food through coupons since the war started, and are barely drinking milk, let alone eating ice cream and here we are eating whatever we like. Pity they don't have multiplying spells like we do. Must be awful." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	mcgoogles 2009-07-22 01:18 am UTC (link)
	Minnie nodded in agreement. "I don't think I'd be able to survive as a Muggle. It'd be too difficult, I think. Through coupons? I think I've heard of those. They're like, ration stamps or something." She shrugged. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

wiltshireprince
2009-07-22 03:34 am UTC (link)

"Yes. Well, whatever they're called, I know that their ministry only allows them certain portions of whatever. Milk. Eggs. Flower. But since they don't know that there's any easier way things can be done, maybe they don't mind all that much? So long as it's all for the war effort." As lovely as all this was, he didn't come to London to sit in a pub all day. There were plenty of places in Wiltshire where that could have been done easily enough.

Abraxas smiled brightly. "I hate to rush you or anything, but do you feel like taking a walk out into the Alley? Might as well see for ourselves that the whole place hasn't been leveled."

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	mcgoogles 2009-07-22 03:44 am UTC (link)
	"Sure, sure," Minnie said, waving her hand. She hadn't meant to keep him too long or anything. She got up from the table and led the way through the bar, out into the back alley with the brick wall. "You ready?" she asked him, getting her wand out to tap the bricks. She wasn't sure what she'd see when it all cleared, and to tel the truth, she was a little scared. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

wiltshireprince
2009-07-22 04:09 am UTC (link)

Abraxas wasn’t all that worried himself. If something had happened to Diagon Alley, it would have been all over the Prophet. “Shall we head to Florean’s right away or did you want to stop somewhere?”

He glanced around, past the still-shivering bricks. Same as always. Well, alright, so he’d been through an hour ago, but he wasn’t looking through Diagon Alley itself. It just looked more crowded than normal, perhaps. Abraxas wondered if all the wizards still left in London had decided to head there, just to stay safe from all the falling bombs.

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	mcgoogles 2009-07-22 07:00 am UTC (link)
	"I've got all my school things already," she answered peering cautiously into Diagon Alley. Thankfully it seemed intact, for the moment. She sighed with relief as she stepped through, making sure not to run into anyone. "So, I suppose stopping at Florean's would be beneficial. I haven't had anything to eat all day." (Reply to this)(Parent)

wiltshireprince
2009-07-24 02:01 am UTC (link)

“Yes, I got all my things too, although I might need your help later on, if you don’t mind. I’ve got to pick something up, and it would do to have a second opinion on the matter.” The ice cream parlour was just up the street and, even if you didn’t know where it was, quite easy to find. Just follow the parade of bouncy children dragging adults behind them that were too tired to protest a huge scoop of double chocolate fudge, and could do with one themselves anyway.

“And if you haven’t eaten, perhaps you ought to get something really big? In a waffle cone. That’d be practically breakfast, right?”

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mcgoogles
2009-07-24 02:24 am UTC (link)

Minnie laughed, running a hand through her hair, making sure all of the ash was out of it. "I suppose that would be the smartest thing to do," she agrees, tapping her chin. They approach the shop and she considers her choices. What seems the most breakfasty? Hmm. She decides on her usual, chocolate and raspberry in a big waffle cone, just like Malfoy suggested. She tells the man behind the counter her request, and steps out of the way so Malfoy can order.

"I'd be happy to help you, by the way. What is it you need to pick up?"

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wiltshireprince
2009-07-24 02:45 am UTC (link)

Abraxas stuck to his usual selection method when it came to things like this. Idly running a finger along the glass that separated the ice cream from the customers and choosing. One scoop of toffee ice cream in a plain bowl, plus McGonagall’s chocolate and raspberry. He paid the man, fishing in his pockets for a handful of coins and then counting it out hastily to the last knut.

Ice cream now in hand, he turned back to her. “Um, I’m not actually sure, yet. Sweets. Chocolates, I was thinking. There’s this ridiculously posh place a bit further along that does things like that. Something decadent though, is the requirement.” He laughed, and smiled apologetically. “Then we can go… I don’t know. Well, wherever you like. I'd feel rotten if you regretted coming because I bored you to death with my shopping list.”

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	mcgoogles 2009-07-24 03:24 am UTC (link)
	"It's perfectly fine!" She insisted, though she had a nagging feeling this was something for Druella's garden party. Hmph. "I happen to be the master at chocolate as gifts, so don't even worry your blonde little head about it." She took a lick of her ice cream and smiled happily. "Thank you, for, you know, accompanying me today." (Reply to this)(Parent)

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