As summer started to cool into fall and Snape headed back to school the children started counting down the days until school would start again. Hermione had been invited to spend the remainder of her summer with Harry and they had enjoyed exploring Severus's house, Spinners End. While Snape hadn't particularly wanted to stay there Maera's family home Grimmauld Place had immediately been shot down, and they had begun looking for a home that didn't hold rather terrible memories for either of them. An old barn owl swooped through the open window next to the breakfast table, dropping two letters on top of the plate of pancakes Maera had just set on the table. She picked them up, muttering about Hogwarts needing to retire some owl, and inspected them before handing one each to Harry and Hermione. "Hogwarts letters, looks like we'll be heading out to do some shopping later. I needed to the apothecary to pick up Sev's order today so I suppose we should go ahead and do our shopping. Good timing that."
"Maera, how did the school know I was staying here?" Hermione asked, frowning at the addressing in confusion.
"Hogwarts magically addresses the letters, since while wizarding families enroll their children, muggles wouldn't be able to. Muggleborns are enrolled the moment they do accidental magic." Maera answered, reaching out and plucking Harry's book list from his hand. She studied it, frowning. "What in merlins name… who would put such rubbish on the list?" Handing the list back to Harry, she began clearing the table, all the while muttering about books.
Harry read his list in confusion, unsure of what was bothering her. It read:
SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk
Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart
Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart
Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart
Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart
Year with the Yedi by Gilderoy Lockhart (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 43-44)
Harry guessed that Maera probably didn't like this Gilderoy Lockhart.
Maera had apparated them to Diagon Alley, after debating over whether or not to floo she had decided against it as neither Harry no Hermione had done it before. After heading to Gringotts and giving Harry a pouch of money from her own vault to buy his school things with (She had insisted that as her godmother SHE would be paying for the things he needed- he could use his money for something fun) they split up, Harry and Hermione to explore the alley and pick up school supplies and Maera to pick up some things Severus had asked her to. She left them with the strict instructions to stay away from a Knockturn Alley, have fun, and to meet her at Flourish and Blotts around 12:30.
Harry bought himself and Hermione ice creams, which they ate while exploring the alley and peeking into shop windows. When they finished they bought ink and parchment and after checking out a few of the other shops bought owl treats for Hedwig before heading to Flourish and Blotts. The book store was strangely busy with a large crowd that seemed to be pushing to get in. The large banner over the door had Harry frowning, a strange sinking feeling in his stomach.
GILDEROY LOCKHART
will be signing copies of his autobiography
MAGICAL ME
today 12:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 58)
Remembering Maera's obvious dislike of the man they decided to go ahead into the store and get all of their books so that they could leave sooner when she got there. They squeezed past a short rather ruffed-up looking wizard who was pleading with people not to push, the line that was spilling outside wound through the store to the back where Gilderoy Lockhart was signing his books. The each grabbed a copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 before spotting the Weasley family in the line. While Harry and Ron hadn't gotten along (and that was putting it mildly) since he was sorted into Slytherin and the boy seemed to hate Hermione, he rather liked the rest of the Weasley's who had attended Maera's wedding. The pair slipped up the line to where to Weasley's stood intent on saying hello to the twins and Molly.
"Harry, Hermione! How good to see you, is Maera with you? I can't imagine she'd let you come all the way to Diagon by yourselves," said Molly, giving the pair of them a kind smile. She seemed rather breathless and kept fussing with her hair.
"Mum rather fancies Lockhart," Fred said from his mother's side, giving her a winning smile when she turned to glare at him.
"We reckon the DADA teacher will be a witch. They can't seem to get enough of the guy." George said from his side, glancing around the store. Just as Harry was about to reply to that the man came into view. He was sitting at a table surrounded by large pictures of himself, all giving large white smiles and winking at the crowd.
A small man taking photos, stepped suddenly on Ron's foot. He turned snarling, "Out of the way boy, this is for the Daily Prophet."
Ron scowled, "Big deal." Lockhart heard and looked up, his eyes locking suddenly on Harry who was still talking with Fred and George.
"Harry Potter!" At the man's shout Harry turned, only to be seized by the arm and pulled onto the stage by the man who had suddenly appeared next to him. His face burned bright red and the man began instructing him on how to smile, going on about how they would be on the front page. Harry glanced back at the Weasley's only to see that Hermione had disappeared. He found out why when a stinging hex flew from the crowd, hitting the arm that the man had thrown around his shoulders as he spoke. Lockhart yelped, removing his arm quickly.
"I'd suggest you remove yourself from my godson before I hex every single one of those teeth out of your mouth Lockhart." The mans smile flickered slightly at that but remained.
"Ah Miss Black-"
"That's Lady to you," She corrected, her cold eyes meeting his. Harry found that even he was slightly intimidated. This was not the fun and carefree woman he had spent the last weeks with, this was the girl that had been raised to be the definition of a proper pureblood lady. And she really didn't like this man.
"Miss Black," he said as though he hadn't been interrupted. "Harry here was just taking some pointers from me on how to correctly pose for the front page." He gave her a dazzling smile and some witches in the crowd swooned.
Maera was not one of them, "I'll thank you to address myself and my godson with the proper respect Lockhart. Now, for the last time release my godson. We have better things to do than stand in here while you sign your… stories." There was a crash on the other side of the store and Harry was able to slip away from the man at the distraction. Maera took the book he had picked up and paid, before they all managed to slip outside.
"Don't I need to buy his books for class?" Harry asked frowning.
"Harry, that man is an idiot. His books are like works of fiction, there is just no way he could have done the things he claimed to. Besides I have a set I got for a gift and I've just been using them to keep shelves and tables even at Grimmauld Place. Better to use those than waste the money. Now let's get home and start packing."
The night before school began found them at the Grangers enjoying a wonderful back to school dinner, and a treacle tart that Maera had contributed. Maera talked quietly with Jane and Richard over tea while Harry and Hermione played a game of wizard's chess and speculated about classes. At a quarter to nine Maera said her goodbyes to the Grangers and when they had all retreated to the kitchen, Harry.
"I thought you were going to take me to the station," He said with a frown. She was the closest thing he had to a parent and he had hoped she would be taking him. "Are you sure you want me to stay here? Won't you be lonely?"
"Harry I would love to take you tomorrow but I can't." And he could see she meant it, "And yes, I will miss you but we'll see each other again soon. Stay here and enjoy your last evening of summer with your friend. If you feel like you really need me tomorrow, send me Hedwig and I'll be there okay?"
The next morning Harry and Hermione were awake bright and early, both attempting not to fall asleep in their pancakes. After breakfast everyone climbed in the car, all thankful that Maera had shrunk the two trunks. They made it to Kings Cross with no problems, until they tried to reach Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Hermione's parents waited with them until the Weasley's, who had gotten there before them, were done crossing through. Harry decided to go first and give Hermione time to tell her parents goodbye. Checking that his things were secure he started a brisk walk towards the platform. Having completely accepted that the wall would allow him through Harry was surprised when he hit the brick rather painfully, Hedwig screeching at the impact but staying on the trolley. Hermione rushed towards him, making a show of telling him to be more careful and asking if he was alright until people stopped staring. When everyone had gone back to their own business she reached out a hand to touch the wall, frowning when her hand met solid brick.
"What should we do?" She whispered, spinning to look at Harry.
"I dunno. If the platform won't let us through there's really nothing we can do. We should probably go home with your parents and owl the school." He answered, frowning.
"Of course, I'm sure that someone will notice we're gone and being looking for us."