27 Poor Boy

After walking around for a while, Casimir decided to buy a bottle of cool lemongrass tea in a nearby stall for Draco who still looked quite sick since, unlike Draco, he didn't like watching his friends suffer as long as he's concerned.

Thanks to the tea, Draco began to look a bit better but still looked somewhat pale. Nevertheless, the tea worked.

"Thanks..." Draco said hesitantly as if unused to saying the word. "It's fine. Don't mention it." Casimir smiled at him.

Narcissa secretly smiled to herself when she saw the interaction of the two, then, led them towards a small shop. Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions..?

"Alright, boys! You go and get fitted in your robes. I'll be checking the wands for a bit." Narcissa told them. "Draco, your father is just in the neighboring shop buying your books. If you need something, go find him. I'll come and pick you up after." She then left after giving those series of instructions.

The two entered the shop and saw a short, smiling witch beam at them. "Hogwarts, I presume?"

"Yes, ma'am." Casimir answered for the both of them since Draco always managed to say the wrong things when he first meets someone. "We'll be troubling you."

"Not at all, dears. Just doing my job." She led Casimir and Draco further into the store and had them stand on footstools.

She called for another witch to come and measure Draco's robes while she herself handled Casimir's. "Ah... Time surely does fly fast. It was like it was only yesterday that the previous year one students came here to have their robes made. Unknowingly, already a whole year has passed and here we are again." Madam Malkin said to herself as she worked.

"All done! You can wait over here while your friend gets fitted, dear." Madam Malkin said and pointed to a chair at the side. "Thank you, ma'am" Casimir smiled politely.

Suddenly, they heard something akin to a bell chime. "Ooh! Another one? We're awfully busy today!" Madam Malkin headed towards the front to welcome the new guest.

Soon enough, a small, thin boy wearing glasses was led to the back and stood on the stool beside Draco, being measured by Madam Malkin.

Perhaps due to boredom, Draco decided to talk to the boy. Or maybe he was just curious.

"Hello." Draco said "Hogwarts, too?"

"Yes." The boy replied

"My father's next door buying mine and my friend's books." Draco motioned to where Casimir was sitting with his chin. "And mother's up the street looking at wands." Draco had a bored, drawling voice but, Casimir knew that Draco's voice was just weak from feeling sick until some moments ago.

"Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow." Draco chatted with the boy. Casimir was feeling a bit surprised. How come Draco is so talkative suddenly?

"Have you got your own broom?" Draco went on.

"No." said the boy.

"Play Quidditch at all?"

"No." The boy said again, looking very confused.

"I do. Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?"

"No." The boy said again.

"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been. Imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

"Mmm."The boy just said, looking uncomfortable, making Casimir snicker. He truly had to admire Draco's innate ability to make people uncomfortable.

"I say, look at that man!" Draco said suddenly, nodding toward the front window, making Casimir look to wear he pointed and saw a giant bearded man standing there, grinning at the boy and holding two large ice creams.

To be honest, he really did look quite unnaturally big. Perhaps he was part giant.

But that's not the point. Casimir noticed that Draco was getting quite close to crossing the line. He'd better stop him quick before he manages to say anything worse and cause irreplaceable damage.

"That's Hagrid." The boy said. "He works at Hogwarts."

"Oh." Draco said."I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't he?"

"He's the gatekeeper." The boy muttered, clearly disliking how Draco referred to the giant man.

Crap! Need to shut Draco up quick! But this is much too entertaining to stop! What do I do?!

"Yes, exactly. I heard he's a sort of savage; lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic, and ends up setting fire to his bed. "

Alright! This needs to stop!

"Draco, shut up for a bit, will you? You're scaring the poor boy." Casimir stood up and approached the two just in time for the two witches to finish measuring the two.

"I apologize for my friend's behavior. He's like this to everyone but he doesn't mean any harm... Most of the time" Casimir said with an apologetic smile.

"I was just talking to him, Marie! There was no need for you to step up!" Draco scowled as he stepped off the footstool.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Draco? Think before you speak! Don't go offending people here and there!" Casimir flicked Draco's forehead.

"Y-you!" Draco gaped at Casimir in horror. "You actually dared!"

"What? You want a punch instead?" Casimir smirked.

"... If you only weren't my friend, I swear I would have..." Draco mumbled under his breath.

"What was that? I didn't hear you quite clearly." Casimir teased Draco, causing the boy to turn silent and just glared at him.

"Sorry about that." Casimir said and glanced at the boy who was feeling left out. "It seems like that man is waiting for you outside so, let's meet again at school, alright?"

Casimir bid the boy farewell and continued to wait for Narcissa with Draco who was still glaring at him.

"... Are you gonna stop?"

"No."

"... Can you please stop?"

"No."

"Even if I buy you that broom you wanted?"

"Nimbus 2000?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

Ah... Children are so easy to deal with...