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Northern Diagon Alley, London
"For the robes, you go to the Second-Hand Robes, and get them sorted… meanwhile, I will handle the rest before meeting you at the Second-Hand Robes," Andromeda said, scanning the list of supplies they needed.
Nymphadora asked, "Mum, haven't you or Dad still got your old Hogwarts books?"
In her opinion, if they did, there wouldn't be a need to buy so many new (Second-hand) ones. Sure, some books change every year when the professor changes, but most stay the same. Even if there were some changes in those books, the changes wouldn't be too major, thus, the books from twenty years ago would still be useful, in her opinion.
Andromeda sighed. "Your Dad used to swap his old books for the next term's set, except for his seventh year, which he kept; all other books were swapped. So there aren't any left from his third year. As for mine…" She paused and shook her head. "I left them back at Mey Castle."
When she ran away from the Black family, she took nothing with her except her wand and the Slytherin robes she was wearing that day. She never thought she'd need anything from the Blacks again, nor did she want to use anything of theirs, so she didn't bring any books either.
Nymphadora sighed. "I see…" She paused, trying to think of something else, before her eyes lit up with an idea. "In that case, I'll ask a senior at Hogwarts. I'm sure most of them still have their old books lying about. Everyone in Hufflepuff is lovely and helpful, so they wouldn't mind lending me their previous year's books for a term, well, except for the Defence Against the Dark Arts book. That one changes every year with the professor, so we'd need to buy that. Hopefully, we can get a second-hand copy."
She went on, "And I could ask about the Brass Cauldron too… though I'd have to ask the fifth years. Fourth years will probably still be using theirs this term, but the fifth years start with Copper Cauldrons, so they could likely lend me their Brass one. As for robes… hmm, I reckon I can just morph to fit into my older ones. They're only a bit smaller, so it shouldn't be much of a problem."
Nodding to herself, she concluded, "So, apart from the Defence Against the Dark Arts book, parchment, ink, and potion supplies, there's nothing else we really need to buy…"
Hearing Nymphadora say all this, Andromeda was takenaback… and her heart ached, as she shook her head, "Wh… why are you saying all that? You don't have to ask anyone for anything… nor do you need to morph your body to fit into your older robes… we'd buy new ones (second hand)… same goes with the cauldron and other stuff…"
Nymphadora rolled her eyes. "Mum, be realistic, there's no way the amount of sickles we have can cover everything. We're nowhere near enough. Even if we spent every last coin on my supplies, it still wouldn't be enough. Brass Cauldron takes 20 Galleons… even the Second-Hand would take at least 5 Galleons… and we don't have that. Besides, what about the ticket for the Hogwarts Express? Not to mention, we've still got three weeks before term starts, right? How're we supposed to sort the expenses for those three weeks? And don't forget about you… I'd still be fine at Hogwarts, what about you? What'll you do once all the money's gone?"
"I… uh…" Andromeda was left speechless, then muttered, "I… I'll think of something…"
"Like what?" Nymphadora asked, staring at her mum before adding, "Like that offer thing cousin mentioned earlier and the answer you are supposed to give him?"
Andromeda's eyes widened when Nymphadora suddenly brought up the offer thing Rigel had mentioned outside Gringotts. She'd nearly forgotten her daughter had been there when Rigel spoke of it. Naturally, she was reluctant to discuss that offer with Nymphadora, after all, it meant selling her dignity and besmirching her late husband's name. Though her mind had grown clouded after all they'd witnessed at Gringotts, she still felt hesitant to make such a sacrifice, and didn't want to talk about it.
Nymphadora pressed on, "Mum… you're hiding something, aren't you? What was this offer thing that cousin made to you?"
It wasn't the sort of thing she wanted to talk about — especially not here, and certainly not with her daughter. She took a deep breath and said, "It's nothing. Nothing to talk abo–!"
But Nymphadora interrupted her, locking eyes as she said, "The offer… It's for you to return to the House of Black, isn't it?"
Andromeda's mouth fell open as she stared silently at her daughter, then gave a helpless nod. "Yes…" she said after a pause, "They've extended an olive branch for me to return to the House of Black…"
With that confirmed, Nymphadora looked down and asked, "And… you're thinking about accepting the offer…?"
Andromeda replied with a conflicted expression, "Given our desperate situation, I'm tempted… but I'm also hesitant…"
"Why the hesitation?" Nymphadora asked, lifting her head with doubt.
Andromeda sighed, "It's not simple, Dora… It's not just about them offering me to return and me accepting the offer to get us out of this mess… Returning to the House of Black carries a lot of implications… There would be… sigh… let's not talk about it now…"
"Mum… don't do that," Nymphadora urged.
But Andromeda cut her off, and changed the topic, "Let's just finish the shopping and head home. It's getting late, and I need to prepare dinner." She continued after the pause, instructing her, "You go to the Second-Hand Robes, give them your measurements, and have them find robes that fit. By the time they'll handle the adjustments, I'll buy the other things, then meet you there to pay, and then we will head home."
"Mum…" Nymphadora said again.
"Dora, let's just not talk about it here, yeah? Let's at least wait until we're back home, we'll figure things out then," Andromeda replied softly.
"Even if you say that… how are we supposed to pay for everything? Thirty-six sickles won't cover it," Nymphadora protested.
"Don't you worry about that… I've got a plan. All the expenses will be sorted," Andromeda replied confidently.
"What plan?" Nymphadora asked, curious.
"You don't need to know the details… just know that we won't be leaving until you've got everything you need," Andromeda said firmly.
"Fine, don't tell me…! Humph!" snorted Nymphadora, turning and making her way to the Second-Hand Robes.
Andromeda sighed as she watched her daughter walk off, and gently stroked the diamond-studded silver ring on the ring finger of her left hand.
'I hope I won't have to sell it…' she thought, trying to reassure herself, though deep down, she knew she'd have no choice.
In fact, that's exactly why she'd refused to tell Nymphadora the truth… she didn't want her daughter to know she might have to part with her own wedding ring just to buy her school supplies. Knowing her daughter as she did, Andromeda was certain Nymphadora would never agree to such an arrangement.
'Sigh… let's hope I can get everything without having to part with it,' she mused, then headed towards Amanuensis Quills.
No sooner had the pair of mother and daughter parted ways to get everything done swiftly and head back home, a hooded figure, who'd been lurking in a nearby alley, watching them from afar, slipped out and started tailing Nymphadora… quietly following her every step…
…
'There's gotta be a few catches,' Nymphadora thought, recalling the chat with her mum earlier that she had cut short.
Even though her mum didn't want to talk about it, Nymphadora couldn't stop mulling it over. The only thought running through her mind was that the House of Black must want something in return… otherwise, why would they want to take back someone they'd clearly disowned fifteen years ago as a blood traitor?
She didn't know much about the House of Black… nor did she know any Blacks.
Or maybe she did, given that her mum's cousin, Sirius Black, used to visit them now and then and had even played with her.
But apart from Sirius Black, up until a month ago, she hadn't met another Black.
And given how Sirius turned out, a staunch secret follower of You-Know-Who, a traitor who betrayed the Potters, leading to their deaths at the hands of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, a mass murderer who killed more than twelve muggles along with a fellow friend in an attempt to kill a two year old child, she was certain no Black, no matter how decent they seemed, could ever truly be good.
Of course, her mum was different—probably the only Black who wasn't a bad sort. As for the rest… well, they were all much like Sirius Black: staunch supporters of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, bigoted, and pure-blood supremacists.
And although her second cousin, Rigel Black, didn't seem like that at first glance, she wouldn't be surprised if he turned out the same way as Sirius.
With a family so rigid—willing to disown or even kill rather than let someone marry a Muggle-born—why would they want Andromeda back? What could they possibly be after?
No matter how much she pondered, she just couldn't work it out…
She couldn't for the life of her figure out what the Blacks actually wanted from her mum…
As an innocent young girl, Nymphadora's mind was still too simple and pure to grasp the twisted plans of creep like Rigel Black, an adult masquerading in the skin of a child less than half her age, scheming for her and her mum's downfall into servitude and debauchery.
Unable to come up with any answers, she sighed and shook her head. 'Forget it… I won't overthink it here. I'll just pester Mum to tell me everything once we get back home.'
She still had plenty of faith in herself, convinced that her mum would eventually relent and spill the lot if she pesters her long enough.
With that decided, she turned her attention away from her worries and looked around at the nearby shops, trying to distract herself. Sure, she couldn't buy everything she fancied, being skint made that impossible, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy the sights.
And that's exactly what she planned to do on her way to the Second-Hand Robes.
As she passed by the shop owned by the Nimbus Racing Broom Company, she noticed the latest edition of their broom, Nimbus 1700, on the display glass, the fastest broom on the market and the top choice for professional Quidditch players across Europe.
She secretly wished she'd one day ride such a magnificent broom.
Then, Herbert Sherbet's Multicoloured Sherbets caught her eye—she longed to taste every flavour in a single day once she got her first pay cheque.
Nearby, Mr. Milvus Grizedale, the kitemaker, displayed his wondrous kites. She dreamed of flying one of those giant dragon kites on her eighteenth birthday.
Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour was next, with a dazzling array of colourful ice creams that made her mouth water every time she passed.
Opposite the parlour was the Magic Menagerie, a magical creature shop bursting at the seams. Cages lined every inch of the walls, filled with Streelers, Fire Crabs, sleek black rats famed for their intelligence, owls, ravens, cats in every colour imaginable, Puffskeins, transforming rabbits, Kneazles, and more.
Though the place looked cramped, noisy, and a bit smelly, Nymphadora couldn't help but linger outside, peering through the display glass and watching the children inside picking their new pets with envious eyes.
She was lost in the sight of all the animals, wondering if she'd ever get the chance to have a pet of her own, when suddenly a voice came from behind.
"If you had to choose… which one would it be?"
"If it were me? Mmmm…" she began to think, before murmuring out softly, "I'd definitely pick a Kneazle."
Then she paused, "Huh… wait a minute…" She realised the voice was far too familiar. At the same moment, she caught a faint reflection of the person approaching through the glass pane. Noticing the familiar pair of eyes she could never forget, along with blonde hair tucked beneath a black, muddy hood, her eyes widened, "You…!" she gasped.
"Are you here for…?" she questioned while spinning around as her hand reached for her wand.
"Coincidences and surprises don't always work, you'd do better to learn of that… bitch!" Drek snarled, already pressing the tip of his wand hidden under the sleeve of his robe to her neck and casting before she could react: "Imperio!"
Instantly, Nymphadora's eyes dulled, her will erased.
Unlike the Killing Curse, the Imperius Curse, when cast, emits no visible light or effect, making it nearly impossible to detect even up close, just like when Harry Potter had used it on the goblin Bogrod and the Death Eater Travers. No one nearby noticed what had just happened. Even if they might have been suspicious, they couldn't have been absolutely certain.
The same had happened here. The Wizards and witches in the immediate vicinity only saw the hooded figure slowly reaching out for the mouse-haired girl, and then nothing… he just patted her head as though a loving father would do so for his daughter, making the girl smile in glee and embarrassment.
Slipping his wand back into his robe pocket, Drek whispered at her vacant gaze. "Not much you can do now, huh… bitch."
No response came from the teenager. She just smiled in embarrassment because she was commanded to do so.
Shaking his head, Drek pulled a paper butterfly from his pocket and released it into the air. "Go. Find her. Tell her I've got this bitch with me, and tell her to come to me if she wants her beloved daughter back…"
The delicate paper wings fluttered upward at Drek's command and, at a butterfly's speed, began to fly away.
Turning back to Nymphadora, Drek sneered, "Don't worry, girl, Daddy's goona buy you a Kneazle — after he's done with your mum," then with an arm around her shoulder spoke, "Come now… let's go home… to your home which would also become my home…"
The girl nodded with a smile as the two strode away from the Magic Menagerie.
Some passersby and shopkeepers did catch sight of her with the hooded man, but no one paid much attention and simply carried on with their own business…
After walking a bit further away, the two slipped into a side alley where no one was present.
Making sure that no one was around, Drek used Apparition and had Nymphadora use the Side-Along Apparition to vanish from Diagon Alley.
Their destination? The Tonks family home.
After all, what better place to ravage the woman who humiliated you than in her own love nest, and make her beg for more on the very same bed she once shared with her husband, right?
…
Just after Drek and Nymphadora vanished, Kreacher, who had been watching the whole thing unfold from hiding, disappeared as well to inform Rigel that the girl had been kidnapped, just as he'd planned.
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That's it for this chapter. Hope you enjoyed reading this one!
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