Poppy was thrilled. She got a chance to spend as much time as she wanted with her real father. In fact, they were furnishing a bedroom for her at his new house, and another for her at the big mansion where he worked. She'd never been to a mansion, but she imagined it must be like a castle of sorts. She didn't know why her mother had given her unlimited freedom with her father, but she felt over the moon.
And so she and her father had come to Diagon Alley for what he called "the better things" for her new rooms. She saw they were being watched. Heads were turning their way, and she heard some of the people in the street murmuring her father's name. Marcus Belby...Oh, yeah...works for the Lupins, he does...but isn't that Pavel Levski's daughter? Robbing the cradle! Now that is a bit too far!
"No," Poppy found her voice, and she had surprised herself with the sharp, angry tone she had. She still felt towards the man she had once thought was her real father. She was not Pavel's child, thank Merlin! "He's not my father. He's a...." she began.
"Bloody big prick," Marcus finished for her. He was accustomed to having the press and onlookers around him and wasn't uncomfortable. He glanced down at Poppy with a warm smile, and Poppy nodded, more than proud that her dad--her real dad--wasn't the least bit afraid to be cheeky.
"What he said," she affirmed. She tugged on Marcus's hand, eager to get out of the street. She pulled him into the Sweet Shoppe, leaving the gawkers in the street. The heady aroma of warm sugar hit her senses and made her smile. It felt comforting and safe in here. She let go of his hand, totally caught up in the endless array of jars of candies in front of her. It looked to her like it went on forever. There were some people in here, filling little bags for themselves and each other and having a grand time of it. Poppy didn't have any friends. She had her brother Anton, her mother, and her real dad. There was no one else.
Marcus laughed as she started to hurry through the store.
"Don't get lost now," he laughed. "And don't buy everything in the store, will you?"
"Daddy," she said reprimandingly. She knew he was only teasing. She picked up a basket to carry her wares and started filling little white paper bags with small scoopfuls of various candies. She glanced back at her father who had picked up a red licorice whip and and had started eating it, simply watching her. She frowned slightly. That was all he wanted? How could he come in here and only want one piece of licorice? Well, since she didn't have any friends to fill bags for, she made up her mind to fill some bags for her dad too. She picked up a white paper bag and reached for a great handful of ice mice for him.
by 
