Next stop is a magic trunk, to hold all her other shopping.  The really fancy ones are out of her price range, at least not counting her pilfered sapphire, but she does get one with more pull-out compartments on the sides than should fit - two to a side and each about half the depth of the entire trunk.  She makes a show of girlish glee testing out the drawers - if she gropes around inside them while they're half closed she can make it feel like her hands are passing through each other, and aside from keeping up appearances it is actually an interesting sensation.

They depart, and she discovers with some gratification that the trunk will also hover about a half-inch above the ground when pulled, as though on many smooth swiveling wheels.

Assorted schoolbooks and supplies are sought out, paid for, and sorted into side drawers of her new trunk without a hitch.  She declines McGonagall's offer to take her pet shopping.  Then it's Madam Malkin's, for robes.

"First set of Hogwarts robes?" Madam Malkin says.  "Up here on the stepstool, come on, need to take your measurements."  She draws her wand, jabs it toward a pile of tape measures and then flicks it in Clover's direction.  The tape measures spring to life and slither through the air toward her.  "Arms out, to your sides, like this - "

Madam Malkin hums under her breath, bobbing her wand gently left and right, as she directs the tape measures around Clover and jots down notes with her off hand.

Clover tolerates this with dignity.

"If you don't mind my asking, Madam Malkin," she says politely, "what does sorting-compatible mean?"

"Hogwarts robes have little charms on them to turn the trim and the coat clasp different colors depending on what House you're sorted into," Madam Malkin says.  "Red and gold for Gryffindor, green and silver for Slytherin, and so on."

"Which House were you in?"

'I was a Hufflepuff," Madam Malkin says.  "Fine old house, Hufflepuff, though of course they all have plenty to recommend them."

"I'm sure they do," says Clover, with evident but entirely false sincerity.  McGonagall's description of Hufflepuff had made its members sound utterly exhausting to live with.  Slytherin sounds like the Hat's obvious choice for her (McGonagall explained about the Hat on the plane ride), and it's probably not feasible to get sorted into some other House as a deliberate strategy even if she could bear to live with Hufflepuffs for seven years, so it's probably just as well to see what reaction this gets -

"I'm hoping for Slytherin, myself."

"Nothing wrong with Slytherin," Madam Malkin says.  "I've known plenty of fine Slytherins.  In my day it was the head of Slytherin house taught Defense, old Professor Riddle.  One of my favorite teachers."

Her heart skips a beat, at the name Riddle.  It's not easy keeping her childsface on.

"What was Professor Riddle like?"

"She was very strict," Madam Malkin says thoughtfully.  "No tolerance for playing silly beggars.  And she didn't always think highly of traditional educational methods, but she took her job seriously.  I learned a lot from her."

Is that what she'd be like, if she were a teacher?  Or is it a mask she could wear?  Childsface, childsface.  "I think I would've liked her.  I was homeschooled, before I found out about Hogwarts."

Madam Malkin chortles.  "You remind me a little bit of her.  You even look a little like she did, isn't that funny."  The tape measures coil up on the counter.  "That's your measurements done.  I'll be back in a few minutes with some robes we can charm into a perfect fit."  She departs.

The door creaks and the bell jingles as a new figure enters the shop.

"Professor McGonagall," he says, with understated joviality.

"Lord Malfoy," she says politely.

"And who is this?" he says brightly, turning his attention to Clover.

"One of our incoming first-years," McGonagall says.  "I'm supervising her school shopping."

"Clover Evans-Potter," she says brightly, sticking out a hand to shake.

He drops to one knee and bows his head.

What???

She figures an eleven-year old would probably be a little alarmed by this, so she tries to evince alarm!  Also, what???

"Oh please stand up, Lord Malfoy, Clover's new to all this."

"Of course, I apologize - " he gets to his feet and clasps Cover's hand in both of his, instead, shaking vigorously.  "My family owes yours a tremendous debt of gratitude - it is an honor to meet you, young scion.  Lucius Malfoy."

Okay face back on.  "Pleased to meet you too, Mr. Malfoy.  Ah - Lord Malfoy, did Professor McGonagall say?  I do apologize, I was raised among Muggles and only recently introduced to the magical world."

He desists shaking her hand.  "No, you needn't apologize.  I am in your family's debt, as I say.  I'm only pleased at the opportunity to shake your hand."

"Well, thank you kindly for your patience with me."