The event that Draco mentioned is actually a book-signing, hosted by none other than the infamous egotistical author himself. Harry gagged at the sight. All the author had to do was flip his hair a certain way, and the women in the bookshop would sigh and croon to his every whim. Looking around, Harry could see that his friends felt the same way about the famous visitor. All except Selene and Melanie, sadly. They gazed at him with nothing but adoration in their eyes, and Phoebus glared at Melanie. Harry would have snickered if not for the loud annoying voice ringing in his werewolf hearing.

"Yes, yes, thank you all for coming, my adoring fans," Lockhart began, making Harry want to puke. "I would love to sign all of your books for you, books containing..." There was a pregnant pause in which Lockhart dazingly smiled at the crowd in front of him, "...my adventures." There was a loud swoon from all of the girls in the bookshop, and Harry rolled his eyes. If this guy isn't some sort of reincarnation of Narcissus, the egotistical idiot, than Harry would honestly be very surprised.

As Lockhart continued rambling on about his endless love for his fans, Harry and the rest did their best to obtain their necessary books. As they did, they happened upon the books for Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was confusing to say the least. The list required five books...all about Lockhart! Is this some kind of joke?

"Lockhart is an international explorer and adventurer, you know," Melanie quietly explained, so that she doesn't talk over her idol, "He's so brave."

"Yeah, about as brave as a gopher," Phoebus joked a little too loudly. Nevertheless, Harry and the other boys couldn't help but laugh, drawing the attention of none other than...

"Bless my soul." The group looked to see Lockhart looking at them. Not just them, though. Lockhart was looking straight at Harry. Oh no, he couldn't possibly...

"It's Harry Potter!" Before anyone could say a word, Harry was dragged to the front where Lockhart waited. "Ladies and gentlemen, what a momentous occasion!" Lockhart proclaimed happily. "Two celebrities in the same shop, ha! Who would have guessed? And young Harry's timing here couldn't have been more perfect, for I, Gilderoy Lockhart, have a momentous announcement to make. From this year on, I shall be taking the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" Harry paled. This idiot was going to teach them? Hogwarts' curriculum is doomed! What is Dumbledore thinking?!

"And," Lockhart continued, "I shall be giving Harry his own Lockhart series...free of charge." The audience gave a tremendous applause, but it stopped shortly when Harry slammed down the books onto the floor.

"You ignorant buffoon!" Harry called, turning on Lockhart angrily. "I'm not Harry Potter!" Lockhart began to laugh, but upon gazing at Harry's clear forehead, his laughter soon died down.

"Oh...well, don't worry son, the books are still free!" With that, the dreaded pieces of literature were forced into Harry's grasp once more and he was pushed back into the crowd. "And I'll see you at school!" Lockhart called, his charismatic nature winning, once again, over the public, the mistake clearly forgotten. Draco shook his head with pity.

"You'd think people would want real literature. Ha, the stupidity of mankind these days." Adam nodded in sympathy.

"Next thing you know, there'll be a series about... I don't know...sparkling vampires, or something like that." The group shuddered at the thought. Meanwhile, Melanie began browsing around the store on her own, abandoning the group as she went to look for the Lockhart series as well. Through the different shapes of wizards and witches alike, it was easy for the first year to find the glorious display of the rich and handsome author. However, it wasn't so easy getting the last set.

"Give me it! I saw it first!"

"Don't be ridiculous!"

"You're the one who's being ridiculous!" At the sound of Melanie's high-pitched voice, the small pack rushed over to find Melanie fighting a girl her age. This other girl left a lot to be desired in the beauty department: red tangled hair, freckles, muddy brown eyes...wait a minute. Harry internally groaned. Not another Weasley.

"Ginny, what's going on?" Speaking of beauty. Harry unknowingly smiled at the approach of Marielle Leclair. Her dark red hair is slightly longer, framing her porcelain face nicely, and her silver eyes are alight with curiosity. Harry's heart began beating just a little faster. Marielle's reaction, on the other hand, seemed a lot less loving. "Stidolph," she greeted coldly.

"Watch who you're talking to, blood traitor," Draco growled. Marielle snarled at Malfoy before turning to the (hopefully) youngest Weasley child.

"I grabbed the last set of the Gilderoy Lockhart series but this..." Ginny failed to find the right word. "This girl went to grab it from me."

"Oh please," Melanie argued, her dark brown hair falling out of its ponytail from the struggle. "Like I would want to steal anything from you. You have nothing I would want. My hands were on that set first, you little brat." Ginny gaped at Melanie's words and Harry decided now would be a good time to step in.

"Melanie, before we're kicked out of the one and only bookshop in Diagon Alley, may I remind you that one should pick their battles wisely." Melanie looked as if she was about to protest, but finally caved in to her leader and only growled at Ginny. Harry turned to the other girls and smiled honestly at Leclair. "Now then, shall we settle this diplomatically?"

At that exact moment, the bookseller came between the groups and levitated more sets of Lockhart books onto the display shelf. Harry blushed in the embarassment of the timing while Leclair smirked in victory.

"Come on, Ginny," Leclair put an arm around the younger girl and they began to walk away. "Let's not waste any more time with these miscreants." Harry scowled.

"Excuse me for trying to be a gentleman," he snapped. Leclair only looked back and stuck her tongue out at him. Childish, but it still provoked Harry quite a bit. He started to go after her, but was stopped by Phoebus.

"Hey, Harry, don't worry about it, okay?" Phoebus guided Harry away from the crowd while Melanie collected her own set of books. "Leclair's a harpy anyway." Harry's only response was a smirk and his own arm around Phoebus. They began to walk out, followed by the rest of the pack, when suddenly a man stepped in front of them.

"What did you just say?" The man is tall, and would be threatening if he was anything like Quirrell or Voldemort. Thankfully, he only looked furiously protective. "What did you just say about my daughter?" Harry's eyes opened wide. This must be Leclair's father. Harry sized him up. He is definitely getting on in his age: platinum blonde hair like the Malfoys dulling to a light grey, and his eyes that were once silver now flattened into gray palettes.

Mr. Leclair was followed by two other women: one clearly his wife, for she looked as old as he, with thinning red hair and light blue eyes that scruitinized everything she sees. The girl must be their daughter. Older than Harry by a few years, she pulled back her strawberry blonde hair into a bun like her mother's before giving the younger ones a small smile. Seems Marielle's older sister has a different idea than her parents.

"Young man, you ought to know better than to insult a girl," the older woman scolded, "It's not like a gentleman."

"Oh, don't bother, Demetra," warned a batty voice. Mrs. Weasley came into the conversation, tugging the same girl from before (Ginny or something like that) behind her like a little girl with her doll. "That's Harry Stidolph, that is," Mrs. Weasley explained, "Biggest sort of trouble you could find. Clearly his parents don't know how to raise children."

"My parents are actually doing a fine job, thank you very much," Harry sneered, "My parents don't let me act like a brat." Harry's eyes darted to Ron Weasley who was not too far away. The matron immediately caught on and gasped in fright.

"You see? What did I tell you!" The Leclairs (except for the girl) shook their heads in shame.

"Terrible," Mr. Leclair agreed.

"Mama, Papa!" All heads turned to see Marielle run to the group. "I finished my shopping and...oh." Both Harry and Marielle immediately initiated a glaring contest, with neither willing to give up. Phoebus groaned in exasperation. Clearly he wanted to get out.

"Look, it wasn't Harry who called your daughter a harpy, that was me," Leclair caught her breath at that, but her gaze was still on Harry. "Now if you'll excuse us, we'd like to be around decent people and not judgemental idiots who don't know the first things about decency." Everyone besides the young ones gasped, giving the group of children the chance to leave. Phoebus tried dragging Harry along, but it was no use. Demetra swooped over to her daughter and pulled her away.

"Marielle, I want you to stay as far away from those troublemakers as possible, do you understand?"

"Yes, Mama," Marielle obeyed obediently, and thus the glaring contest was finally broken. Mrs. Leclair nodded in approval and took both of her daughters away, Mr. Leclair following his family. Mrs. Weasley was about to follow them but was intercepted by Lord Malfoy. However, Harry couldn't give a darn about their conversation at the moment and left the bookshop, almost failing to notice Lucius picking up Ginny's hand-me-down books with disdain before giving them back to her as if they were diseased.

A/N:

A quick chapter, but fear not, more (and better) chapters to come! What did you guys think of Lockhart? As egotistical as ever, right? As usual, please R&R, and I own nothing except my OC's! Cheers!

~ Galatea Griffiths