บท 67: Diagon Alley II

//A/N: There will be foreign dialogue in this chapter. I added [Language] before the sentences in that language, please just pretend that they are in that language. I also added some few words in that language to give it an immersive feel. Tell me what you think! ~(0 3<)~ //

Draco P.O.V.

After buying my books at Flourish and Blotts, I went to Madame Malkin's to have my robes fitted. I wanted my last stop to be Olivander's, and I already had every (and more) potion's equipment and material needed by a first year. Hence, I just needed to get my robes fitted. Truthfully, Malkin's was my first stop, but I decided to shop for my books instead when I saw Nott being fitted for his robes.

However, I already have all my books yet he is still being fitted for more robes. In fact, he may actually be fitting for an entire wardrobe.

I took a deep breath and braved myself to face the inevitable. Hence, I asked my Dad if he could buy us some cakes for tea later while I'm being fitted.

I smoothed down my Bicorn leather robes to rid of any unwanted wrinkles and folds, and walked in with confident strides.

"Hello dear, how may we help you?"

A squat woman dressed all in mauve asked in a friendly manner. I remember her face to be Malkin herself- well, a younger version of the face I remember- and greeted her in return.

"Hello Madame Malkin. I wish to be fitted for five sets of Hogwart's uniform."

"Sure thing, right this way dear."

I followed her and stood on the furthest platform (of which there were only three) from Nott before turning around to face the front. She took a quick measure of my arms and shoulder width before disappearing into the back of the shop.

"Hello, Hogwarts too?" I turned my head to the right to see Nott grinning at me with a gauging look in his eye, the assistant smoothly continued her work on his robes despite his sudden movements. Probably used to pure-bloods doing whatever they wanted while being fitted.

"Indeed."

"I don't believe I've seen you before, and I've met all the purebloods of noble houses in Britain. Are you a half? or do you come from new blood?"

Hah. Look at this little git trying to sound me out. He was as subtle as a beached whale. Madam Malkins' assistant seemed to finish her work, and I waited for her to leave and disappear behind the curtains of the shop. Stepping off the small platform, I walked closer to Nott and stepped on the platform right next to his before leaning in and talking in a whisper.

"You speak of familiarity with other purebloods, leading me to assume you are one as well. And yet your demonstration of discourtesy says otherwise. Without even the proper decorum to introduce oneself before attempting discourse with another- just what would I have made of your identity if I had not the propriety to familiarize myself with the prominent houses of Britain? Why, I could have mistaken you for a lesser Mr. Nott."

I watched him jolt in surprise before squirming in distress. I hide a growing smirk, knowing that I disturbed his confidence and have created the opportune moment to assert my authority by feigning civility. Leaning back, I resumed to talking in a normal volume.

"But I supposed this is an unofficial encounter, and I have heard about your brilliance. I would be devastated to miss the opportunity of possibly acquainting myself with you Mr. Nott, just because of a small mistake that really anyone could make. Shall we forget about this past minute and start over?"

Nott was shaken out of his stupor and brightened up after being praised then given a chance to redeem himself and represent British purebloods to me, a "foreigner" whose conduct relays at least some importance.

"Yes, that would be most pleasant. I apologize for my previous showcase of discourtesy. I was excited to meet a new schoolmate. I am Theodore Nott, sole heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Nott. If your forgiveness would allow, could I make your acquaintance?"

I nodded to him with a well-practiced business smile. "Tom Stark. I last arrived from America. I've learned quite a few things from them and wish to make acquaintances through abi-."

A glint flashed through his eyes, and I could plainly see a plan brewing in his mind.

"Stark? [German] Might your legacy be von deutschen Zauberern? (of german wizards?)?"

I glared at the fool who stumbled within his attempt at sounding me out. He couldn't even get his name-country association right. If I were truly a pureblood named Stark, I could have been very offended.

"[German] How ignorant of you to associate Starks mit Deutschen (with Germans) when it is jüdischer Nachname ist (a Jewish last name).

Nott froze in place, his eyes widening in shock after realizing his mistake. Nott placed his right palm atop his left chest and bowed with a troubled frown on his face.

"[German] Ja, natürlich (of course), my deepest apologies."

"[German] Wenn Sie müssen (If you must), I would rather be associated with les français, Mr. Nott."

"[French] Je vois (I see). Then may I ask why you have learned l'allemand (German)?"

"[French] To prepare for Durmstrang bien sûr (of course). Though now, it is more of a skill to be used for other pursuits. I would assume you have learned l'allemand for similar reasons?"

"[French] Oui, you are correct."

"[French] And how have you come about to speaking français?"

This was truly a surprise for me as I had never known Nott knew French in my past life.

"[French] Mon père lives en France. Ma mère et moi would visit him every summer et yule."

!!! Red Alert! Red Alert! He's been to France!!!... Ah…hold on a minute. I'm still safe. Though there are not many Jewish purebloods, all of their records in Germany have been erased ever since they lost their faith in the German wizarding government back in 1945. Almost all of them have stayed in hiding ever since. And though much of their power was lost, many held onto their wealth while they migrated overseas and even gained power on foreign land…wow… how just lucky am I?... No wonder he didn't question my claim of associating myself with France.

Though… Lord Nott living in France is strange to begin with. I recall in my past life, that he never left British soil. Why did it change this time? [1]

"Then… are we acquaintances now?" Not asked with a questioning gaze.

Hmm…. I'm not quite sure. For quite some time now, Nott has only been an ignorant yet disciplined squeamish brat. Where has my previous companion and future adversary gone? I'd cherish having Nott as my loyal underling, but that was my most abhorred companion Theodore. If this Nott was too different, how would I be able to ensure product quality?

… But then again. If this Theodore wasn't as much of a daddy's boy as last time, I'd easily be able to… No. A pig teammate is worse than a dragon enemy. I've had enough of those in my last life… If you can even call those things "teammates".

"[French] Monsieur Nott. The acquaintances I am looking for are frères (brothers) whose bond may only grow stronger with the passage of time. Chevaliers (Knights) who think and act, not repeat what they hear like brainless elfes. Something that will shake the world is coming. I'm looking for serpents (snakes) monsieur Nott, not lézards sans pattes (legless lizards). Lâches et serviles (servile cowards) who pretend or think they are prédateurs don't need to wait for doomsday, for I will slaughter them moi-même."

I raise my hand and slowly reach out for his neck, before diverting my reach to a loose thread on his shoulder and plucking it out. Guiding my magic through my fingers, I let my wild magic gently caress the exposed skin as it encircles around his neck.

"Es-tu un serpent ? (Are you a snake)?"

Nott visibly trembles in place as his face quickly became a fiery red. His hands clutch into fists by his side, shaking with tremors of anger. The trepidation in his magic was crystal clear, I needn't even use magic sensing to feel it.

Nott clenched his teeth and bit down on every word which was saturated with anger.

"Are you challenging me Stark? [German] Ich möchte Sie warnen (Let me warn you.) The tiniest bite of a certain kind of snake can kill the largest mammal before they even realize that death was imminent. I've been civil to you out of humility for my previous discourtesy. But even that has it's limits."

Amateurish, but it will do~ I held out my hand for Theodore to take.

"Them I'm glad I met you monsieur Nott. A snake, a true prédateur – rare amongst even the noblest of purebloods across the world. How may I address you, frère?"

I was certain that I was beaming as I couldn't hide the joy in my face. 'Theodore' was still there in this child. Underdeveloped, but present. Though from his frightened gaze and preening smile, my own smile might have probably displayed more of my intentions than I intended - malice and pride. I simply couldn't help it, exhilaration is a difficult emotion to mask.

Theodore discretely wiped his hand in the pockets of his robe before taking my hand in an eager clasp.

"Theodore! S'il vous plaît. If you would so kindly do me the honors of calling me by my given name. And how might you prefer I refer to you as?"

"You may call me Tom."

The old worn door of Madam Malkin's shop creaked open as Theodore shook my hand. [3]

"Ravi de faire votre connaissance Tom!" (Delighted to make your acquaintance Tom!)

"Et moi à vous" (And I to you)

[1] Easter Egg. Not very relevant. But there is a reason why Nott's father is in France.

[2] As you may have noticed. I did not put the complete translation of French/German sentences. In the draft I did make full French/German sentences, but they were only deepL translations. So instead I wrote [French] or [German] in front of sentences spoken in that language, and added in a few common words in that language (plus their translation in parentheses) to give an immersive feel. I like reading like that. If I know some words in a language, I say them in those words in my mind, so I wanted to translate this feeling into a reading experience for y'all.

Please tell me if you guys like it this way, of if I should write the whole sentences next time (in another language with terrible machine translated grammar) and then add their translation afterwards, or if this is nice.

[3] Can you guess who entered the shop, Madam Malkin's?