It was madness, Harry knew, the fact that every single one of his schoolmates, now forty year old parents had to line up in the middle of summer, holding their precious children's hands in order to keep them still while they were slowly roasted alive.
"Lily, sweetheart," he tried for the fifth time that day. "Are you really sure you want to spend your birthday standing in line the whole afternoon just to get a book?"
The little redhead turned to him, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open in obvious shock.
"Daddy!" she protested. "It's not just a book! It's DELIRIUM!! I'll finally be able to see the reunion of 'Drien and 'rrny!!"
Many teenage girls standing with them sighed and started to squeal in agreement. And Harry felt himself faint with embarrassement. Especially when his little goddaughter Rose tugged at his hand in outrage.
"Uncle Harry how can you be so thick!! This is the most important day EVER!" she shrieked.
Lilly nodded in agreement.
"To hell with my birthday, today I get my Delirium!" she swooned.
Harry cursed under his breath. He'd rather be cutting his daughter's pink and green birthday cake and hearing her delighted cries as she opened present after present. He had planed an enormous party and had everything ready when his little princess, his Lily stormed into his room brandishing the Daily Prophet with a hopeful look on her eyes.
The new Augustus Von Schwartz book was out that day and Lily just HAD to get it or she would probably DIE and there were rumors that Von Schwartz himself might be there and sign the book and she couldn't think of a more perfect occurrence and she just HAD TO KNOW whether 'rrny was going to finally be reunited with his love.
After half an hour in which Harry asked who the hell was this 'Rrny person thus making his daughter cry and lock herself in her room and drove him to his knees to beg for her forgiveness, Harry learnt that 'Rrny was in fact Henryson William Vandecourt, one of the main characters on Von Schwartz's novels.
And idly, he remembered Hermione bringing home one of those books the night before his daughter left for Hogwarts, so she wouldn't feel so homesick.
That had been three years ago.
Which lead him to stand in queue for almost four hours and counting to get the stupid third book of the saga, which, according to his daughter and Rose, consisted of SANCTUARIUM, DESCENT and now DELIRIOUM, all caps intentional.
And it wouldn't have been so bad if he would have had some moral support to stand the heat, the screams and squeals and the humiliation. But his designated safety net, his beloved twenty five year old godson, Teddy, was as much as a fan of Von Schwartz as his daughter and niece, and was currently discussing with them his theories for DELIRIUM while Rose and Lily gasped in awe and held their books close to their chests.
Harry took a deep breath, afraid to curse and make his daughter cry again.
Suddenly, a tall man with a black suit and top hat got onto the stage, a microphone in his hand and a black cane on the other.
The girls and some boys shrieked excitedly.
"Daddy!" Lily squealed. "That's 'Rrny!! IT'S 'RRNY!!!"
Rose started to jump up and down waving her hand at the man who was, quite obviously an actor.
Teddy rolled his eyes and Harry had the vague hope that he had recovered his brain capacity.
"Girls, please," he muttered. Harry's eyes lit up. "We all know 'Rrny's cane is white, not black. That one is a fake."
And, internally, Harry started to cry.
"Beloved gentlemen," the 'Rrny not 'Rnny said. "And beautiful ladies of the abyss! Mr. Von Schwartz wants to welcome you all to this little event and has sent me to ask about your welfare."
Many fangirls fainted, just thinking that the father of all their fantasies was worried about them, others rushed to assure the actor that they were quite well and could out wait their companions by months if necessary.
Harry, on the other hand, decided it would be impossible for him to be heard over the crowd's screams and complained, quite loudly, that today was his daughter's birthday and that she should be home with her family instead of standing under the sun with a bunch of strangers for a book.
Just as his luck would have it, he opened his mouth the moment the crowd had fallen into silence.
And suddenly he was the recipient of almost three hundred of pairs of eyes glaring at his back hatefully.
'Rrny stared at him, his eyes wide, and in seconds he was talking hurriedly into his cellphone, his eyes locked onto Harry's own and his family.
"Oh, kind sir, please do not resent us damned," he said finally, snapping his phone shut and jumping from the improvised stage to stalk towards them. "We meant no harm to your beloved daughter."
And without further prompt, the man took Lily's and Rose's hands in his own and kissed them gentlemanly. Both girls blushed furiously and Teddy coughed behind his hand only to get the same treatment from the flirtatious actor.
"Who's the lucky girl, then?" 'Rrny asked, winking at Harry.
Lily's blush turned an even deeper shade of red as she raised her hand shyly. The man laughed, embracing her happily.
"Well, my little love!" he beamed. "I think I have a surprise for you and your family!" and without further ado he took the redhead into his arms and started skipping towards the store, only turning around lightly to prompt Harry and the others into following him.
Inside the store was cool and airy and Harry was grateful, especially when he felt the sweat of his back freezing into his shirt.
A long red carpet led directly towards a gothic throne-like chair where a man in a dark druid robe sat royally.
"My sweet aide tells me it's your birthday, little love," the man said with a deep voice. Lily was sitting in a red chair before him, her eyes wide and her cheeks flushed as red as her hair. "And instead of spending time with your loved ones you came here to see me? I must admit I feel honored, precious. You would share such a special day with me."
Rose was about to swoon in delight and envy, Harry knew, unfortunately, so was Teddy.
"Mr. Van Schwartz, sir," Lily said eagerly, almost like a house-elf. "Your books have been my little sanctuary, everytime I felt lonely and homesick at school I knew I could count on Adrien and Henry and now, to be able to meet you, sir!"
The man smiled, his pink mouth the only thing visible from under his dark hood.
"I'm glad I could fill out your lonely nights, little love, it is a invaluable gift that you have given me today," he said, gesturing lightly with his right hand. "And I hope you can accept a birthday present from me, as well."
'Rrny the actor was joined by another actor, this one with light blond hair and playful pale eyes.
Behind Harry, Rose and Teddy started hyperventilating and whispering to eachother that the blond must, obviously, be playing 'Drien, with his white suit and gloves.
Both actors stood before Lily, their hands latching into the other's sensuously as they knelt before the redhead and kissed her each in one cheek.
Rose fainted, Teddy squealed like a girl and Lily's face was redder than her hair, eyes wide and mouth open, stuttering.
Harry brought his hand to his forehead in frustration. How could two actors and three books reduce his Ravenclaw daughter to that catatonic state?
Von Schwartz laughed lightly, handing Lily a book. The poor girl stuttered some more, staring at the cover.
"D-De… deli… my d-de--- deli…" she tried.
"Delirium," Von Schwartz finished for her with an indulgent smile. "And two more for your family, I hope you don't mind."
Harry sighed as Teddy and Rose shook their heads furiously.
"And Mr. Father, I thank your patience from the bottom of my heart," the man said, a gentle smile curling his mouth.
Harry flushed, then shook his head.
"Sure, no problem," he muttered, wondering why the 'Rrny and 'Drien actors were still holding hands so tightly.
"Then I suggest you leave before the crowd finds you," the mysterious man said lightly. "Please follow 'Drien through the back door, he'll lead you to safety."
Harry nodded, taking his daughter's hand in his own.
"Thank you Mr. Von Schwartz," he said. "I think you melted my daughter's brain, but I've never seen her so happy."
"I'm glad, Mr. Father," the man said.
The blond actor led them to a row of corridors that snaked their way into the crowded streets of London conveniently out of sight.
"There you go, Mr. Potter!" chirped 'Drien.
Harry blinked.
"You know who I am?" he asked. "You are a wizard?"
"Obviously," the man replied. "Though 'Rrny and Mr. Von Schwartz are not, so I hope you can keep it a secret? I would really hate to lose my job."
Then Lily's special treatment had really being out of the goodness of the man's heart. Harry smiled lightly.
"No problem, my lips are sealed," he said lightly. "So, guys, let's go home so Lily and Rose can lock themselves somewhere to read?
Teddy frowned.
"You really think Auntie Gin won't mind, Uncle?" he asked.
Harry sighed.
"I'll deal with her."
Lily and Rose squealed in delight and hung to Harry's waist happily.
Harry took hold of Lily as Teddy took Rose and the four of them Apparated home. He already could imagine the fight with his ex-wife when she found out he had taken Lily to London without telling her and that her daughter wanted to read instead of celebrating with the rest of her family.
Still, Augustus Von Schwartz and his books had captured his attention and, he decided, he should borrow them from his daughter.
Just to make sure what kind of garbage had captured her so completely.
To Be Continued.