I
pulled out my wand and tapped the bricks Lupin instructed me to. The wall
started disinigrating and pulling away, bringing out all of the colors and
wonders of Diagon Alley. As we walked down the long path, I couldn't help but
laugh. "This place just gets better every time I visit." Lupin made me go to
the bank first so we could get some more money. On our way out, a bobbing head
of thick brown curls made me gasp. Hermione had her back to me and I found
opportunity to see her. I ran up behind her and squealed. She turned around and
a smiled broke across her face. We hugged each other and she laughed, "Oh it's
so good to see you! Who brought you?" Just at that moment Lupin came up and put
his hands on my shoulder and at the same time, Hermione's parents came behind
her and held tightly. "Professor Lupin came and got me, have you seen anyone?"
"The Weasley's. They were supposed to have Harry but he got off on the wrong
fireplace. Hello Professor." "Hello-" "Fireplace? What fireplace?" "Flu
Network," she piped up. We had interrupted Lupin, and later I felt bad but he
started talking to Hermione's parents as we scampered off to find Harry. "There
are probably one or two fireplaces in each store. How are we going to find him,"
Hermione asked. I turned my head and just as I started to tell her I had no
clue, I spotted an abnormally tall and large man making his way from a darker
alley, a messy haired, green eyed boy in front of him. "Harry!" I ran to him
and slammed into him, hugging him tightly. Hermione came up behind me and
hugged him after me. "Hello girls," Hagrid said happily, looking at us, "How
has ye summer been?" "Great," I said happily. "Fine," Hermione chimed. She
looked at Harry and frowned, "What happened to your glasses?" They were busted
on the left lens and I wondered how he saw through them. He shook his head and
she pulled her wand out, "Occulous
Repairo." The glasses cracked together and seemed to clean themselves off.
Now getting a look at Harry, he was filthy, covered in soot. "Should we go find
Ron," I asked. They nodded and we ran off to the book store where not only 85%
of the Weasley's were but also Hermione's parents and Professor Lupin. We
wiggled through the crowd and when we came up, I put my hand on Ron's shoulder.
He turned to me, smiled and then looked back forward. There in front was a man
smiling and a reporter taking pictures of him. The man had thick and wavy blond
hair and dashing blue eyes. He also had a perfect smile with perfect teeth. Everything
about the man was sharp and charming, right down to the laces on his shoes
except for his attitude. "Who's that," I whispered to Ron. "Gilderoy Lockhart.
Mum fancies him." Mrs. Weasley turned around slightly and waved at Ron.
Lockhart was doing another pose when suddenly his smile melted and he looked
directly next to me. "By God, Harry Potter?" I looked at Harry next to me and
the photographer grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up next to Lockhart.
"This will be one for the papers," he was mumbling. "Smile Harry," Lockhart
said, "this is front cover." After two or three pictures, Lockhart seemed to
have a speech. "When Harry Potter came into Flourish and Bolts this morning, he
wasn't excepting to meet someone almost as famous as he nor did he expect to
leave with my entire collected works," Lockhart put a large pile of books in
Harry's arms and smiled back at the crowd, "Free of charge." Almost everyone
cheered and I was slightly irritated. This bloke wasn't giving the books to
Harry out of charity nor was he giving them to be nice to the most famous boy
in the world. He was doing it for publicity. Harry came down and looked
helplessly at Mrs. Weasley, his small body straining from all the books. "I'll
take those darling, you just wait outside." He nodded and the four of us, along
with Ron's little sister Ginny (I introduced myself while Harry was occupied)
went to the front of the store. Harry, Ron and Hermione were just starting to
border question me about summer when we were rudely interrupted. "Geez, Potter.
Can't even go into a book store without getting front page." I spun and glared
at the blond headed pale boy. "What do you want Malfoy," I snapped. I made my
eyes go red as a warning and he gritted his teeth, "I don't need any lip from you,
Curtis. Filthy trash." "Depends on how you look at it," I growled. I made my
hair go red and teeth fang up, "Trash as in way of living or trash as in family
values." His face got bright red but before he could say anything, a large
metal snake head came across his chest. "Now, now, play nice, Draco." I looked
at the owner to the staff and saw that he looked just like an older version of
Draco but with longer hair. It was Mr. Lucius Malfoy. "Hello children. My isn't
there quite a bit of you. Let's see now." He looked at Ron first, "Red hair,
freckles, vacant expression and tattered hand me down books," he picked up
Ginny's book and then looked back at us, "You must be the Weasley's. And you,"
he looked at Hermione, "Miss…Granger. Yes I've heard all about you…and your
parents." Hermione's face went a little pink and Malfoy turned his attention to
Harry. "And you are the infamous Harry Potter. If I may-" He put his staff on
Harry's hair and lifted it, revealing the lightening shaped scar, "This scar is
legendary. Almost as famous as the person who gave it to you." "Voldemort
killed my parents," Harry said harshly. "Very brave of you to speak his name,"
Malfoy said, a slight undertone of shock. "Fear of the name merely increases
fear of the thing itself," I said roughly, "Voldemort was a murderer and hardly
deserves the title of fame." Malfoy looked at me and gave me a small smile,
"And who might you be?" "Kimber
Curtis. You're Lucius Malfoy." "Ah, yes. The new girl. I am, I am. You know
your authorities." "I'm sorry, you have yourself mistaken. I know where to lie
my hatred," I smiled, "Not who my authorities
are." His face went red and he gritted his teeth. He was about to say
something but there was a hand on my shoulder and another on Ron's, "Come on
children, let's go outside. Hello Lucius." "Arthur. I think you may want to
show some of these children respect." He glared at me, "Some seem to be lacking
a great majority of it." "I believe I can decide for myself which of my
children learn respect. Frankly, I think you need to take a look at your
children as well." Malfoy's face went red and the man behind us pushed us out.
"Sorry about that kids." "He isn't very pleasant," I said turning to the tall
man that looked exactly like Ron and Ginny, "In fact, I wouldn't be very sad if
he fell off a cliff." Mr. Weasley smiled at me and chuckled, "You must be
Kimber. I've heard quite a bit about you my dear. I am Ginny, Ron, Fred,
George, Percy, Bill, and Charlie's father Arthur Weasley. It's pleased to meet
you." I shook his hand and nodded, "Kimber and its pleased to meet you as well
Mr. Weasley." He smiled and nodded, "I see you've warmed up to me. Your hair
and eyes are no longer red and your teeth are normal again." I was slightly
embarrassed but got over it quickly. After we got supplies and our robes
fitted, I went on a nice dinner with Lupin. We talked to Miss Maudie and she
agreed to let me stay at the Leaky Cauldron if it was alright with the
Weasley's. It was and I stayed with them the rest of the summer. I warmed up
strongly to Mrs. Weasley and even made a strong alliance with Fred and George.
My summer was fantastic and the only thing could make it better was if we were
at Hogwarts.