"One loyal friend is worth more than a thousand fake ones."
- Unknown
"The old hag made another suggestion?" Enya Miller was sat on a counter in Epeolatry and ignored the glare that Athene sent her as she dusted the countertop, "I would have thought that she would have stopped that after you rejected her the tenth time."
Athene couldn't help but snicker at the thought. If there was one thing that was true, it was that Margarete did not give up, even when she had lost too many times. "Don't patronize my customers," Athene flicked the dust rag at the girl, "They're doing a better job as my wingwoman than you are."
"Do you not remember that time in sixth year, where I tried to set you up on a date with Charlie Weasley?" Enya hopped down from the counter so that Athene could wipe the surface clean.
"You mean the time after you destroyed Gryffindor's quidditch team, and you wanted to rub it in his face?" Athene smiled as her first customer of the day walked through the door before turning back to her Slytherin friend, "And then, once you had said your share, you threw me under the bus?"
"I was just trying to get you a date with a hot guy," Enya shrugged as though she could hardly remember running from Charlie Weasley while he tried to hex her.
"You tried to get us killed," Athene snorted quite unattractively. She couldn't remember a time where it wasn't just the two of them causing a ruckus. They had met during their second year when Athene's friends kicked her out of their carriage. Her friends hadn't believed her when she told them of the horse-like creatures that pulled the carriages, and they had immediately deemed her a delusional freak. Enya had been able to see them too, and so, the girls joined together for the carriage ride and also the rest of their magical careers.
"I hear he's back in town," Enya tried to look nonchalant, but she was very clearly staring at Athene out of the corner of her eye.
"Really?" Athene's heart fluttered and she smiled. But she was quick to cover it up when she saw the victorious smirk on Enya's face. "And that has any importance because?"
"I don't know. I just think that you should be prepared for him to finally take you up on that offer." Enya smiled innocently as Bathsheba slowly approached the counter with several of Epeolatry's older selections. The older woman had to be nearing 107, and she showed it. Her hair fell in soft grey curls, and her face was covered in wrinkles. Back in the day, she was considered to be one of the most talented witches that the Wizarding World had ever seen. Now, she just had trouble hearing things and had an unusual obsession with old books.
"Good morning," Athene chirped and took the load of books from Bathsheba's arms, "Did you find everything that you were looking for?"
"Yes, quite," Bathsheba trembled and clutched at the counter before she could topple over, "I have noticed that your selection on dragonlore is a bit lacking."
Athene smiled; there was always something that Bathsheba was looking for that wasn't in her little shop. "Are there any specific books you'd like on the subject?"
The older woman's shaking hands carefully picked up the plastic bag containing her books, "No, I trust your judgment."
"You gonna order some books about dragons?" Enya jumped back up on the counter once Bathsheba was out of sight.
"You know that I can't upset one of my customers," Athene dug around one of her own shelves until she found the Magical Wilds Books catalog. "I've gotten all sorts of business thanks to Bathsheba's advice, and it would be silly of me to stop listening now."
"So poetic," Enya stiffened when the bell rung, "Don't look now, but the Wicked Witch is heading our way."
"You can't keep calling my aunt that," Athene shot her a devilish look, replacing it with a sweet smile as soon as she turned to greet her only family, "Rita, it's so good to see you!"
"Darling," Rita waved a gloved hand in the air, "It's such a pleasure to grace you with my presence!"
Athene could hardly stomach the putrid green, satin suit that her aunt had on. The purple accents couldn't have made it any better, even if they were willing to pay you. It was an awful ensemble, but it was one of her better ones.
"Nice to see you too, Skeeter," Enya sneered, the disgust rolling off her in waves, "Such a shame you couldn't have found your way off of a cliff."
"Ditto," Rita's voice was sickly sweet, "But I'm not here to speak with you. Why don't you run along to the dogs that you belong with?"
"Guys," Athene silenced both of them with her wand, "Knock it off." The two had been at the other's throat ever since the day Athene brought Enya home for the holidays. Rita had written a particularly nasty article about Enya's parents' involvement with You-Know-Who back when he had come to power. It had only gotten worse as rumors began to fly of his return.
"Enya,wait for me upstairs." Once Enya had made it up the stairs, Athene uncharmed her aunt, "You can't just come in here blasting my friend, Rita."
"You know that I can't help myself when it comes to that girl," Rita flicked a perfectly curled piece of hair over her shoulder, "I don't understand why you would want to become friends with a sympathizer."
"Why are you here?" Athene would never understand her aunt. She would pretend to be nice while she needed someone, but as soon as they served their purpose, they were on the naughty list along with the article that she wrote about them.
"I need a favor," Athene's caretaker smiled down on her as she stood a solid four inches taller than her niece, "You've heard about the Tri-Wizard Tournament, haven't you?" Athene hadn't. She liked to live in her own little world, and whatever was on the outside wasn't important. She liked it that way.
"You know how I am about the news," Athene picked up the dust rag once again and returned to her shelves, "I only just read your article on the Quidditch World Cup yesterday."
"How are you even remotely related to me?" Rita dramatically fell into one of the armchairs that littered the shop, "Must be your father's genes; he was never up to date on current events."
"Back on track, Rita," Athene's heart ached at the mention of her father, but she knew that Rita would open up about him in her own time, "What kind of favor do you need? I will not let you use the shop for another book signing; that was horrifying."
Both Rita and Athene grimaced at the memory of Rita's insane fans. "You don't have to worry about that, dear. That is a mistake that even I will recognize."
"Get on with it, then," Athene huffed and tossed the rag into a bin behind the counter.
"Anyways, the Tournament. Hogwarts, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and Durmstrang Institute have one champion that will compete for eternal glory. They haven't had the tournament for several years, and now they're starting it up again," Rita's hands flew into the air in clear excitement, "I have been tasked with interviewing the champions, and I want you to come with me."
"What could you possibly need me for?" It was strange for her aunt to ask her to help with something involving her work, "You've never needed my help before."
"I didn't say that I needed your help," Rita scoffed, and her crude disrespect rubbed Athene the wrong way, "But I thought that if there were a younger, friendlier face during the interview, then maybe they would open up a bit more."
Athene sighed and contemplated her options: if she said no, then she would be subject to the wrath of her aunt, and that was not a pleasant experience. But if she said yes, she would have to close the shop and face the wrath of her regular patrons. It was a game that she didn't want to play. Weighing her option, she decided to go with the option that most likely wouldn't get her killed.
"Alright, when do we leave?"
Author's Note:
Hey guys! Here's another chapter. I'm really enjoying where this one is going, let me know if you are too!
Please vote/comment!
Question of the Chapter
Which Deathly Hallow would you choose?
I think that I would pick the invisibility cloak