The Dreaded Chore ((Open))

[Mackenzie Holden]

If that man went any closer to her chest she was going to slap him silly. Mack watched, angrily, as the security guard searched her. She hated this new tight security thing. She hated the Death Eaters who did this. Why couldn't they think sensibly enough? Didn't they own brains? Nope. They just followed their Lord like good puppets. They need to be put away in the toy bin. This whole search and destroy thing was getting old. Very old. She was finished being searched and asked her name. Mack winced. She should give him Holden, or Bradshaw? Either name was bad. She decided both. Double the appeal; "Mackenzie Holden-Bradshaw." The security wizard raised an eyebrow as a quill wrote down what she had just said, but he didn't ask her. She was then permitted into Diagon Alley.

If you hadn't known the place had been destroyed, you would have no clue that it was brand new and rebuilt. You would just see a couple of security stations here and there and assume it's because of all the attacks going on at Hogwarts. That was what was wrong with the world today. People assumed to much of the wrong thing. Mack sighed, annoyed, and made her way to the next security station. One more and then she could walk through Diagon Alley. Really this was idiotic. The same damn procedure again, and then she was permitted to shop. Mack rolled her eyes and stepped into the sunlight. She headed toward Gringotts and stepped inside that as well. Withdrawing money was something she always despised. She hated goblins. They weren't the nicest of creatures.

Money in her change purse, Mack stepped back out into Diagon Alley and made her way to Flourish and Blotts. It was packed, but she didn't expect anything less. Of course it was going to be packed. It was packed before the attacks, so the attacks just made it packed ten times more. She squeezed in nonetheless and found the book she was looking for in the back of an aisle of bookshelves. She pulled the book out, and made her way to the front desk where she paid for it. Dixie was done. Next was Jack. She made her way toward Knockturn Alley. The darkest place. She was known there, but only because of her name. There was this ring that had an emerald in it, placed in some sort of nice metal, with any choice of engraving on it. Mack thought it made a wonderful gift. Even if it was a ring.

She entered the shop the ring was displayed at, and looked around a bit. It wasn't welcoming in any way, shape, or form and it was rather danky. Mack didn't mind. After all the Slytherin Common Room was in the dungeons of Hogwarts. She got enough cold and danky over the years. She picked up the ring and marched up to the salesman. Placing it on the counter she said simply; "I want this." Never appear to be frightened, no matter how much you are, when you are buying something in Knockturn Alley. The salesman looked her over once before nodding and licking his lips. He picked up a box and placed it inside, "Whatever you want engraved on it, you must do. The spell is on a slip of paper inside. That will be 10 galleons."

Mack pulled out the required money and handed it to the wizard. He counted it up then shooed her away, which Mack did gratefully - the bag hanging on her left wrist. She made her way back into Diagon Alley. Back to the familiarity of the place. All the shops and the lively chatter. She had many memories here, many she wouldn't want to lose. Mack needed to shop for everyone else as well. But she didn't know...Kris. Kris, she needed to get something for Kris. But what? What could she get him? Mack felt tears sting her eyes. She would think of something. She had to. Mary as well. Had to think of something for Mary. Oh, this wasn't going too well. Mack sighed and closed her eyes - which she shouldn't have done, because someone ran straight into her. Sending her reeling forward and lying flat on the pavement.

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona bit back the frustration that was inside her as she stopped at the security checkpoint. She wasn't in the mood to be checked. She was a harmless 15 year old, okay so maybe not harmless, but she wasn't a Death Eater, not yet at least. Fiona held out her arms as she was frisked like a criminal. She scowled at the guard. He seemed to be sorry, but he continued on with his job. She was finally allowed through as soon as she gave him her name. She laughed to herself. She would be lucky to get in if she gave them her name. Her father had been a known Death Eater before he died. Fiona wasn't sad by this thought. His death was something secret to her. There was something there she wasn't supposed to tell anyone about, but sooner or later she was going to tell her close friends. The ones she could trust would know what happened to her father. "Fiona O'Reilly," Fiona said with pride. The guard was taken back for a second, but wrote down her name quickly. He seemed to not really care, after all she was only a child. The guard let her pass.

Fiona was glad when she got through the checkpoint, but was frustrated once more when she came upon the second one. "If we got past the first one don't you think we're safe!" Fiona exclaimed. The people in front of her turned and stared. She shrugged her shoulders. She didn't care what people thought of her. Most of them weren't that interesting anyway. Fiona wasn't sure how long she stood in that line trying to get into Diagon Alley, but she did get in. She turned back to the guard that had let her pass and shook her head at him while cursing. She hated Diagon Alley. She turned and looked around the place. It was obvious that it was new, but then again it wasn't that different. The stores were still all in the same spots. She passed the place she had nearly died at. The place where a Death Eater had saved her. Her mind flashed back to that day and she wished she could unveil that Death Eater. She didn't know who it was, but they had saved her.

Fiona shook her head of the thoughts as she hurried into Gringotts to get some money to go shopping with. When she got to her vault she looked at it with suspicion. It looked like there was a bit more money in here since the last time she was here, but that was impossible, but on the other hand it wasn't. Fiona smiled to herself. A secret that only recently had been revealed. Fiona grabbed a handful of galleons and headed out of the bank. Outside she sighed. Things were starting to look up, she thought to herself. She turned and looked at the stores, but decided to head to Knockturn Alley. She would have to be careful if she didn't want to get in trouble. Knockturn Alley in itself was more cut off than any were and it was being watched. She would only run into the Alchemist and get some potion supplies. It was the best in Diagon Alley, though she wouldn't tell the mudbloods that.

Fiona headed to Knockturn Alley. She watched the streets around her for any ministry workers. She spotted a few who seemed to be dressed up in darked cloaks, but she could tell by their faces that they weren't dark wizards. Fiona smiled to herself. Did they really think they were going to find any dark wizards like that? There was no way any dark wizard would show their real face in Knockturn Alley right now, not until the Dark Lord took over the world. As Fiona continued to think about the Dark Lord taking over the world she passed a familiar face. She turned quickly. It was Mackenzie Holden. A fellow Slytherin 4th year. One that she didn't know that well, but knew that she wasn't for the Dark Lord. But what was she doing here?

Fiona stopped in her tracks and turned around to follow her. Fiona wanted to talk to her, to see if her mind had changed out the Dark Lord. However, Fiona could see that she was moving fast out of Knockturn Alley. Fiona followed quickly, she passed a store that looked almost interesting to go inside as she left Knockturn Alley and headed into Diagon Alley. Her attention was almost completely on the store when she ran into someone in front of her. She fell backward and quickly brushed herself off and looked at who she had run into. It was Mack, the one she was trying to follow. She had ran clear into her. "Sorry," Fiona said as she gather up Mack's packages and stacked them together. She held out a hand for Mack to help her to her feet. She wanted to talk to her, not to hurt her, that's why she was helping her up. Fiona waited for Mack to say something.

[sammy]

((I was in Cathy mood, so I just decided to join. I hope that's okay, and anyway, a Gryffie and two Slyths should make for some fun. ))

Cathy shifted anxiously as she was searched. She knew it was necessary, but my god, did he have to check this tight? Honestly, how much damage could a fifth year do? Not a lot. People these days... Cathy sighed with exasperation and relief as she was finally admitted into Diagon Alley. They had asked her name... blah, blah, blah. A lot of rubbish, this was. Cathy glared angrily as the surrounding. This was stupidly stupid. Giselle would throw a fit if someone had to search her like Cathy had just been fit. Maybe she should take a leaf out of Giselle's book? If she did though, the bloody security guards would probably stun her or something like that. They would probably jump at any random scream (delight or fear) since everyone was nearly terrified of what was going on. A lot of nerve these people had... Cathy thought when she had to be searched again. Bloody hell! She thought they only did this while searching for guns in an airport! This took longer then the first, as the people there were oddly suspicious of the 'queer look she gave people.' Honestly, can't people see when another was annoyed, angry, and tired all rolled into one? Cathy smiled as the guy finally let her through. Finally!

Gringotts was her first stop. Goody. She got to see goblin's look down their crooked nose at her. Ooh, what fun! Cathy quickly approached it and just as quickly got money out of her vault. It wasn't any fun going on the 'wagon ride.' In fact, it made Cathy's stomach turn terribly. The fresh air never seemed to comfort her more then it did then. She smiled happily and looked around. Catherine Dumas was the type of girl who enjoyed shopping and, as she had begun to get into the whole rich girl thing, never looked at prices. She carefully filed past shops, eagerly entering this one and that to get whatever appealed to her careful eye. Giselle was easy to shop for; clothes of course. She picked out a silk dress that would fit any figure and shone in the light, glimmering like small stars on her body. For her hair, Cathy picked up a butterfly clip that was made of pure emerald. Wonderful! Shopping for Giselle was always fun. She then got shoes. Giselle loved shoes. The red high-heels were appealing as well as the silver ones that were even higher. Cathy shrugged and got both, just so she wouldn't have to decide.

"We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!" Cathy whistled and she strolled down the street. Diagon Alley looked so good rebuilt and established like this. Minus the tight security, which was a pain to just think about. Cathy decided no head-aches would bother her today. She would enjoy all money had to offer, just like Giselle often did. I mean, why let it go all to waste? Especially since it was Christmas time! Cathy's mood was smothered however when she thought of what to get for Daphne. Probably the same as Giselle would suffice, but Cathy wanted something more. Something unique to give. Daphne was so cruel to her, she obviously deserved less, but since Cathy wasn't like that, she would get something to have for Christmas. Cathy entered a random joke shop and got a small ringlet that could go around Daphne's hair but would make it fuzzy right away. Cathy smirked with satisfaction, bought the small toy, and left the shop. Now to get something suitable. If she didn't, there was sure to be a punishment. Cathy went into the clothes store again and bought a silky dress that was long and modest and also got a new perfume that Daphne would adore.

Daddy was harder. He had been working so hard this year at work. He deserved a break, something soothing on his over-worked mind. Cathy decided to get a potion that would help someone get to sleep easier, and sleep would be long and restful. She also got him new shoes that would always fit the foot, no matter how much it grows over time. Cathy then had to stop and think. She really wanted to get something for a very special someone. Marcus.... Cathy smiled dreamily and stood and walked around the whole Diagon Alley, stopping here and there to gaze through a window. What to get him? She knew that Marcus liked jokes... She went back into the previous joke shop and gazed around listlessly. She then saw something that made her eyes light up considerably. It was a small device that would make a wicked truth or dare game. As Cathy had fallen in love with that game long ago, she quickly bought it for Marcus, but for herself too. Maybe that was selfish, but she was doing it for Marcus so he could get to know her better. See? Everyone won.

The bags swung around her wrists like the knocking balls that muggles use to knock down buildings. They began to sting so Cathy decided to sit down on a nearby bench and take a small rest. A ring around her wrist was evidence of what she had to endure, carrying all her presents around. Honestly, Giselle hadn't even gotten her a present yet! Cathy felt it gingerly, looking from the redness to the bags. Couldn't wizards and witches do something to it so not to hurt the carrier? She smiled and shook her head, stopping in mid-shake as a package came flying over to her, skidding to a stop near her high-heels. Cathy looked down at it with surprise and then looked for the cause. A girl was laying flat on the pavement and another was standing above her. Apparently the standing up red-head was the knocker-over. Cathy raised a keen eyebrow, but bent down to pick up the girls' package. She walked over to the pair, which wasn't too far from where she was sitting, and handed the thing to the girl who was now being helped up by the other. Cathy knew neither but she sometimes liked hanging with people she didn't know more then those she did know. They both looked about the same age as Cathy, maybe a little younger. She gave them a small smile. "Here's this." She said, giving it to the girl who had fallen. It was slightly hard to distinguish the first from the other, as they both had the red hair. "Are you okay?" She asked after placing the package among the others. She cast a glance at the other girl but mainly her eyes were on the first.