Chapter 6: Angus the cat

When Lucy woke up she looked immediately at the clock on her wall, 'seven o'clock' it read. Snape was probably up and moving by now. Lucy quickly got changed into a skirt, knee high socks and a simple v-neck jumper also she grabbed her fake converse. Lucy headed downstairs to find Snape in the kitchen with about five presents on the table.

"Happy birthday." Snape said, he still didn't look too pleased but forced a smile.

"Seriously you didn't have to..."

"You're right I didn't, but I still haven't got you enough presents, I shall buy you more at Diagon alley."

"No! You can't — !"

"Yes I can," Snape paused then looked at the gifts. "Now, hurry up and open your presents before I change my mind and take them all back."

Lucy gingerly sat down at the kitchen table with Snape and began unraveling presents, they were all like a mystery to her. A good mystery. She had never had the privilege of opening presents before and whatever she found she was happy with.

But there still was one present left.

Snape pushed the small package towards her with his index finger and she stared at it curiously. She studied it before laying a finger on it but as she began taking off the paper from it (carefully like all the others, for some reason she found the wrapping paper precious.) And when she had got rid of the packaging she found a bracelet.

She stared at Snape for a moment then picked up the bracelet and held it up to the light, trying to figure out what material it was made from but she gave up and turned back to Snape.

"Made by goblins, one of a kind," he said simply taking her wrist and the bracelet, he fastened it round her wrist and she smiled.

"It's very pretty, I hate to think how much it cost you."

"Lets not worry about the price," Snape patted her hand with a look that said he was almost pained and Lucy nodded, almost guilty.

Snape waved his wand and breakfast appeared on the table, the both of them quickly ate then when the plates were clean they both stood up and he beckoned her to enter the living room where Snape gestured to the old fireplace.

"I promised you a trip to Diagon alley. So, in order to get there we'll have to use floo powder." He began but Lucy gave him a look. "Floo powder, take a handful of it, stand in the fireplace, tell it your destination and you'll be taken there."

"That sounds easy."

"It is, along as you say wherever you're going clearly. Don't mumble, child."

Lucy nodded as Snape took a pot from the side that must be 'floo powder' he held it out to her and she took a handful of it weakly. She then walked over to the fireplace and stepped in it awkwardly, she glanced at Snape to see if she was doing OK then stared ahead.

"Diagonalley!" She said weakly and threw the floo powder in the fire place and was licked up by flames. She was whisked off blindly and when she arrived, she tripped on something and fell.

"Ugh!" She grunted and picked herself up and looked at her surroundings. She was in some kind of abandoned shop and she most certainly didn't like it here.

She looked around, hoping for Snape to be there somewhere but he wasn't. And Lucy knew for a fact that this definitely wasn't Diagon alley. She walked over to the door, disturbing all the dust around her and pressed down on the handle.

To her surprise, it wouldn't budge. She used all her strength to push it down to see if it was faulty, but it definitely wasn't; it was locked. Lucy looked around in frustration then saw a cellar door that was open.

'That's my only way out...' Lucy thought to herself and stepped over to it, she jumped and landed on the ground not so gracefully. But she was out of the shop and all she had to do was follow this tunnel so she could go and get her books.

She trekked along the cave and tried not to be too disgusted about the rats that ran by her feet, as well as the water dripping from the leaky pipes above her head, when at last she saw the exit. The sunlight was pouring in and she could just about make out a few shops.

Lucy ran to the exit, then climbed up the ladder to her freedom, and there she saw Snape looking around desperately.

"Dad!" Lucy squealed and ran over to him as soon as she had got to the top of the ladder. Snape whipped around and saw Lucy, she ran into his arms and didn't want to let go. "I hate floo powder! I really do!"

"I should of apparared us here, never mind, we'll apparate back to Spinners end," he replied, although annoyed with himself.

"What's apparating?"

"You'll find out on the way back — "

"Lucy!"

Snape was interrupted by Hermione running over to them, he mumbled something to himself as Lucy began walking off with Hermione and unfortunately he had to follow to see her muggle parents.

"I can't believe you're here! I thought I was going to have to wait until school started to see you again!" Hermione rushed as Snape looked Hermione's parents up and down. "And did you know that Gilderoy Lockhart is singing copies of his books here today?"

"Gilderoy Lockhart? Who's that?" Lucy wondered aloud.

"Oh you must of heard of Mr Lockhart! He writes — " and Lucy zoned off after that, if she really wanted to know about books she'd just go and ask Snape. " — and happy birthday, Lucy! I had almost forgot! Here..." she opened up her bag and placed a bag of Bertie Botts every flavour beans in her hand.

"Thanks, Hermione," Lucy smiled and put them in her bag, although she didn't think she'd be able to devour them all on her own...she'd save some for Shona.

"Don't mention it. We better get all your books! Musn't we? How ever are you going to study without them?" She grabbed Lucy's arm and dragged her into the shop, then began piling all the required books into her arms while Snape began counting how much money he'd need to spend out...lucky he's just been given a pay rise.

Just as Lucy and Snape were paying for their books, all the Weasley's and Harry walked into the shop, all holding their books and waiting for Gilderoy Lockhart to show himself so he could get singing copies of his book 'magical me.'

"Harry! Ron!" Hermione smiled and ran over to her friends, while Lucy shrugged and Snape glared at her to stay here. He really didn't want to socialise with anyone else today considering he'd had to talk to Hermione's muggle parents who he believed shouldn't even be here.

"I'll see them later," Lucy whispered to Snape and he nodded, slightly disappointed.

"Ladies and Gentlemen; Gilderoy Lockhart!" The shop assistant beamed as Gilderoy Lockhart walked out, wearing gold robes and a pearly white smile which made Molly Weasley flush a little.

"Mum fancies him," Ron whispered to Harry but all he got was a clip around the ear.

"Such a charmer this one," Lucy shook her head in disgust, Snape seemed to agree with her sarcastic comment and was thinking of all the insults he could make to Lockhart until Lucy got all her books signed.

"Severus Snape!" Lockhart winked at him but in return, all he got was a sneer. "Good to see you! And I think I'll be seeing you a lot more often now."

"Good to know..." Snape mumbled and now pictured Lockhart dying in terrible ways, some so gory they could of belonged in the tale of the knights.

The two of them began to exit the shop when they saw there was a big commotion going on at the front of the shop; Ron, Percy, Fred, George and their younger sister Ginny were all having an argument with Draco Malfoy and his father; Lucius Malfoy.

" — Draco's told me all about you," Lucius said slyly as all the Weasley's cowered and wished they weren't there.

"Hey, Fred," Lucy waved innocently, Fred seemed to jump back in surprise and nervously waved back as George kept prodding and teasing him.

"Well, well, well, who's this?" Lucius asked, stepping forward to the girl. "I've never seen you around before, have I?"

"Don't think so," Lucy shook her head. "But I'll bet my new books you're Draco's father."

"Such a smart girl...but enough about me, what about you?"

"She's my daughter," Snape stepped in front of Lucy protectively and Lucius frowned at him.

"Surely not, Severus! She doesn't look a thing like you!"

"Maybe because I'm adopted," Lucy nudged Snape out the way to reveal herself again.

"Adopted?" Lucius laughed. "And what are you then?"

"Muggle-born and proud," she hissed. "Or like your son said a mud-blood."

"Draco would never say a thing like that, would you?" Lucius smiled at his son who shook his head vigrously. "No, didn't think so. Looks like Severus adopted a liar."

"I think someone forgot to look in the mirror this morning, Lucius," Snape snarled but Lucius didn't reply, he simply walked off.

"Come along, Draco," he said to his son and surprisingly he obeyed his command instantly but not before he gave one last glare to everyone else.

* * *

"Should we leave now? I mean, we've bought all my things." Lucy asked Snape as they walked along the path that lead to all different shops in Diagon alley.

"I promised you a birthday present, so we're not quite finished," he replied as he stared into the distance, not making any eye contact with Lucy.

"But where are you going to take me?"

Snape placed a hand on her shoulder and steered her towards a little shop tucked away in the corner that she wouldn't have noticed unless Snape had shown her. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of coins.

"Buy what you wish, but I expect change," Snape said sternly.

"But this is a pet shop, are you sure about this?" Lucy asked as she took the money gratefully and placed it in her purse.

"I wouldn't have taken you here if I wasn't sure."

Lucy nodded and made her way into the shop while Snape waited outside; for his sake he hoped she got an owl.

Lucy looked around at all the different cages, holding all the different animals and as she was peering at the cats she didn't notice someone sneak up behind her...

"Good morning," he said and Lucy spun around defensively.

"Good morning, sir," she replied weakly and he gave her a grin.

"And how may I help you on a fine day like this?"

"I'm looking to buy a pet, but I'm not sure which to choose."

"Well — " he grabbed his ladder. "What are you most interested in?"

She stared around the shop as the man gestured around the place; there were owls, there were toads, there were rats and there were cats. But Lucy knew what she wanted so she pointed to all the cats that were in their cages, waiting miserably for someone to come along and adopt them.

"The cats?" The shop assistant murmured and began climbing the ladder. "What sort though? We have plenty to choose from; long haired, short haired, striped, thin, fat...the list goes on."

"How about a long haired cat?" Lucy called to him and he nodded as he moved along to the long haired cats.

"Good choice, good choice, I already think I've found the perfect cat for you..." he opened up a cage and pulled out a ginger long haired cat that seemed to have the most miserable face that you could possibly have (well, excluding Snape's) but Lucy instantly fell in love with him.

The man climbed down the ladder, holding the cat carefully and then approached her and placed it in her arms. The cat purred and looked up at Lucy with eyes that pleaded her to take him home, and she couldn't resist.

"I'll take him," Lucy smiled and placed most of the galleons that Snape had given her on the front desk. He handed her a cage and she walked out happily with her new cat, that seemed to have brightened up a bit now that he finally had an owner.

"A cat?" Snape asked as Lucy walked out of the shop. "Why?"

"I thought he was adorable so I got him," and at that moment the cat leapt out of her arms and hissed at Snape. "Angus! No!"

"Angus?" This time Snape's look was even more disapproving as Angus clawed at his shoes.

"Do you have a problem with that?" Lucy asked as she bent down and scooped Angus up.

"No, not at all," Snape lied. "Should we head home?"

"Of course."

"Take my arm, we're going to apparate."

Lucy gingerly took his arm and a second later they were being whisked off to Spinners end, and when they arrived, Angus hopped out of Lucy's arms and hopped up on Snape's chair, making himself comfy.

"I can't believe you got that cat...surely there were others?" Snape groaned

"Of course there were, but I wanted that one."

"Well, take him upstairs with you. I don't want that thing around here."

"Fine...come on, Angus," Lucy called and as soon as he heard her voice he hopped down from the chair and followed her all the way up the stairs and into her room.

She got dressed into her nightwear quickly before getting into bed and letting Angus sleep next to her.

And both fell asleep with peaceful thoughts.