The boy flinched a bit, already feeling like a burden on those he had never met but it was either ignored or went unnoticed. Even worse, in his own opinion, was that he wouldn't have money to pay for anything this time around. There was no vault in his name, no disposable wealth that would cover his expenses, forcing him to rely on them even more.
Regardless, the family of four took him around Diagon Alley, popping in and out of various supply stores for the normal items, quills, paper, and things of that nature, and then to the buy him some clothing. It was here that the group mostly dispersed, the females going to their own section while James took him to those outfits that were designed for males.
Without the others present Harry felt a tad more comfortable voicing his concerns, especially when the older man had added the fourth outfit for him to try on to the pile. "Uhm, James?"
"Hm?"
"I uh, don't exactly have money for any of this and… well it's kind of… expensive…" he trailed off as the older Wizard shifted his attention onto him, puzzlement in his expression at first before it morphed into something warm.
"Harry, we are buying everything for you, it is what parents do after all. You don't need to worry about money or any such nonsense. Did… did we, they…" he seemed to struggle for the correct way of addressing his dead alternative self. "Did the other James and Lily not… make sure you were taken care of?"
The boy looked away, feeling a stinging at his eyes, "Money in a vault isn't the same as love." He muttered and blinked away the tears.
"No… no it isn't." The man sighed heavily, rubbing at his face in such a way that made it seem as though he hadn't slept well in several days. "I need to talk to Lily about updating our wills, not that we plan on going anywhere but… you should have been placed with people who cared for you."
After that awkward moment, and a few more outfits pulled from a rack, Harry was sent to try them on and while doing so became aware of a conversation outside of the small room.
"Mrs. Malfoy, what a pleasant surprise."
The Malfoys were shopping here? Harry cringed at the thought of dealing with that family, especially so soon, and debated whether he should just stay inside the changing room until they left. Certainly no one would blame him for such an act.
Then again, the opportunity to critique Draco Malfoy was something he would be hard pressed to pass up.
So, he walked out adjusting his robes slightly as he did so to act as if he wasn't trying to interrupt. His guess was correct, sort of, his new 'family' were all there and across from them stood the Lucius Malfoy that he remembered oh so well, his wife that he had never met, and…
A blonde girl, perfectly straightened hair, and a look of superiority on her face.
Harry blinked, then blinked again in confusion as those in attendance took notice of him. "Ah, so this must be your… son." The Malfoy matron noted, a sort of disdain in her voice as she did so. "I can understand why you got rid him, though not why you would ever seek to reclaim him back into your family. I haven't heard of any families with an open marriage contract after all."
Lily scowled and took a step forward into the other woman's personal space. "There is no ulterior motive, we were mistaken all those years ago and were recently reunited, that is all. Unlike some families we don't sell our children off as objects."
"For the best I'm sure, I can't imagine you getting much for… that . I know I certainly wouldn't allow Cleopatra to so much as touch someone like him."
It was an insult, a slap to the face in probably a dozen different ways, hence the near growling from the two older Potters and death glares from his 'sisters'. But Harry didn't hear any of that, all he heard was one word.
"Wait… Cleopatra?"
The younger blonde looked towards him with a frown, "Yes, though you are not worthy of using my full name."
"Do you happen to have a brother, about your height, huge arsehole?"
Her frown shifted into a scowl, "A brother, certainly not. Our bloodline would not be tainted by such things."
Ignoring the fact that her father was literally standing right behind her Harry remained silent for another second, before he snorted and broke down into giggles, earning confused stares by everyone.
"O-oh man this is… this is just priceless. What I would give to see his face…" Harry continued trying to hold in his laughter for a few more moments before finally getting control of himself and answering the unspoken question in the Malfoys' eyes. "Don't worry about it, it's an inside Muggle joke. You wouldn't understand."
It had a desired effect, and the youngest blonde took a step forward, almost baring her teeth when another voice entered the area. "Cleo what did mother tell you about acting in such a way, it is unbecoming of…"
A new blonde walked out of a nearby dressing room and promptly froze, eyes glued onto him. She was obviously a student, judging by the robes and her features, but was at least a few years older. Her features had the same 'regal' feel to them as the rest of the Malfoy family, blonde hair straight and ending just past her shoulders, a shining band keeping it back from her face.
It was her eyes though, that filled him with the most uncertainty. They were piercing, with a gleam of almost obsession in them. She was still staring even moments later. It was different than his previous life though. She wasn't staring at a scar but rather at him.
"Uh… can I help yo…"
"Pandora Malfoy, charmed." She practically breathed out, earning wide-eyed almost jaw dropping expressions from both sets of parents and the other children.
The girl had moved towards him, to what purpose he wasn't sure, but was intercepted by an arm from her mother before she came within reach. "We are leaving," Narcissa declared with no small amount of disapproval in her voice.
Even after the command it took a hand firmly placed on the elder girl's arm to pull her away from Harry's family. As they left the complaining of 'Cleo' was audible, but the boy-who-lived was far more concerned with the glances back from her apparent sister.
"Well…" Lily sighed as they were left in relative peace once more, "that certainly was a nice first encounter."
"Was that… does she… there's an older Malfoy daughter!?"
The redhead nodded, "Of course, did she not have a sister where you are from?"
Harry shook his head, still a bit dazed, "No, he did not."
James spoke next, hesitation hidden in his voice, "Harry, I don't know what experiences you have with that family but try and keep in mind that they aren't the same ones you knew. You shouldn't judge them because of it."
"Yeah…" Amy muttered, "you should 'judge them' because they are arseholes."
Her mother shot her a 'behave' look, but otherwise chose not to comment.
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