I have been uncomfortable all day and it's really bugging me. Like I don't even know. I think I'm going insane. Anyway, this is the last chapter of summer before Chamber of Secrets begins.

Enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen: Summer One

Floo Powder and Phonies

As summer drew to a close, a sudden spurt of excitement filled the Burrow. Everyone was anxious for the new school year and what it would bring. Harry, Seamus, and I had been there a week and a half when our Hagwarts letters came. Dumbledore must have kept a close on him because his letter came straight to The Burrow. We opened them and looked at the book list.

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 and Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart

Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart

Fred whistled as he looked over my shoulder. "You've been told to get all Lockhart's books, too!" he said. "The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must be fan- bet it's a witch."

"This lot won't come cheap," George said, giving his parents a look. "Lockhart's books are really expensive..."

"Well, we'll manage," said Mrs. Weasley, but she looked concerned. "I expect we'll be able to pick up a lot of Ginny's things secondhand."

Harry, who was sitting next to me, looked at Ginny. "Oh, you're starting at Hogwarts this year?"

Ginny blushed and nodded. I smiled at her as Errol, the Weasley's owl, flew in through the window. But stopped mid-flight and dropped into an empty chair.

"Finally!" Ron cried. "It's Hermione's answer. I wrote her saying we were going to try and rescue you from the Dursleys." He went over to the owl and read it aloud.

"'Dear Ron and Harry if you're there,

I hope everything went alright and that Harry is okay and that you didn't do anything illegal to get him out, Ron, because that would get Harry into trouble, too. I've been really worried and if Harry is all right, will you please let me know at once, because I think another delivery might finish your one off.

I'm very busy with school work, of course- How can she be?" Ron asked, "We're on vacation! - and we're going to London next Wednesday to buy my new books. Why don't we meet in Diagon Alley?

Let me know what's happening as soon as you can. Love from Hermione.' "

"Well, that fits nicely, we can go and get all your things then, too," said Mrs. Weasley, starting to clear the table from the breakfast we had eaten. "What're you all up to today?"

We were all planning to go to the paddock and practice Quidditch there since the trees surrounding it, hid it from Muggle's eyes. The day after Harry arrived we had played and took turns on Harry's Nimbus Two-Thousand which had been a gift from Professor McGonagall. It was wickedly fast and could take a good beating, according to Fred, who's only aim was to throw apples at it.

Five minutes later, we were heading up the hill with our brooms thrown over our shoulders. Seamus had finally dared to play with the Weasleys. He had been weary at first due to my accident last year, but he relented when I told him that it was loads of fun. When I had asked Percy if he was joining us, he said no in a snappy voice and slammed his bedroom door shut. Git.

"Don't worry about him." George reassured me. "He's been acting strange all summer."

"I wish I knew what was up with him." Fred said. "He got his exam results the day before you lot arrived and he hardly bragged at all, twelve O.W.L.s!"

"Ordinary Wizarding Levels" George explained, seeing our confusion. "Bill got twelve too! If we're not careful, we could have another Head Boy in the family! I don't think I could stand the shame."

I laughed and said, "Isn't it an honor to be a Head Boy?"

"It is when you actually have a chance at being Head Boy. Freddie and I are going to be lucky if one of us becomes prefect."

Seamus sighed, "I don't get the job of a prefect. What do they do?"

"Well, Seamy, they sit around and boss the other students in their house around." George said.

"Plus they get a huge badge and permanent bragging rights wherever they go." Fred finished.

"It's ridiculous!" They said together.

Mrs. Weasley woke us early the following Wednesday. She fed us with delicious bacon sandwiches and soon were wearing our coats and preparing to leave for Diagon Alley. Mrs. Weasley took a flowerpot and glanced inside.

"We're running low, Arthur," she sighed. "We'll have to buy some more today... Ah well, guests first! After you Harry, dear!" Harry stared at the flowerpot and then at all of us.

"Uh, what am I supposed to do?" he stammered.

"He's never traveled by Floo-powder, Mum!" said Ron suddenly.

"Oh, right. Goodness me, Ron, why don't you show Harry how its done." We all watched as Ron took a pinch of glittering powder out of the flowerpot, stepped into the fire, and threw the powder into the flames. With a loud roar, the fire turned emerald-green and Ron shouted, "Diagon Alley!" Then he vanished.

"You must speak clearly, dear. You wouldn't want to end up in the wrong fireplace." Mrs. Weasley said. "Come on, Harry."

Harry pinched up his powder and stepped into the fireplace. He was obviously shaking from nerves.

"Throw it in..." Mrs. Weasley guided. He did so and the emerald flames grew tall. "Now say where you want to go."

"Diagonally!" Harry shouted. Then he was gone.

"What did he say dear?" Mrs. Weasley turning to her husband.

"Diagonally."

"I thought he did. We better go in pairs. This powder isn't going to last." She sent Percy along with Ginny, Fred with Seamus and George with myself. Percy hurried along with Ginny and did the same that Ron did.

Seamus looked a little green in the face as Fred dragging him into the fireplace. "Tuck in, Seamus." Fred said with a smile on his face. Seamus got closer to Fred and looked at me for a moment.

"Good luck!" I said to reassure him.

Fred tossed the powder into the fireplace and said "Diagon Alley in a loud, clear voice."

"GEorge, you and Darcy next." George took the rest of the powder and stepped into the fireplace with me. He glanced at me and smiled.

"You ready, Darcy?" I nodded, unsure. What if it hurt?

He threw the powder and we were enveloped in the emerald flames. "Diagon Alley!"

I felt like I was being squeezed into a small tube. I was swirling around and around. The green flames were circling us and I could barely hear over the roar the was in my ears.

I tripped but was caught by George who was laughing, "That was fun. You okay?" I nodded and pretended not to feel too dizzy. We were now on the cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley. Seamus, Fred, Ginny, Percy, and Ron were all waiting patiently by Flourish and Blotts.

"Hey guys, where's Harry?" I asked.

"He must have gotten taken to another fireplace." Ron said. "I hope he's not too far away."

We all nodded in agreement as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley apparated onto he cobblestones next to us. "Alright, let's go in. Harry shouldn't have gotten too far away. He'll join us soon."

She rushed us into the book store and we were greeted by a long line of witches holding books and talking excitedly. We looked around and Mrs. Weasley gasped when she saw a sigh that said, 'Gilderoy Lockhart, book signing today!'

She let out a squeal and told us to hurry and find our books so she could get them signed for us.

I let out a groan and George chuckled for beside me. "What's wrong with you?"

"I hate Gilderoy Lockhart. He's such a liar. I mean, one wizard couldn't have possibly done all that! It's impossible."

"So you see it like we do!" Fred cried.

"Fred and I think he's a bit full of himself, and we also think he's a bit of a liar."

"A liar!" I said, "Please, he's a phony. He has no idea what he's talking about."

Fred let out a laugh, "I like the way you think." Then he wandered off to find his mum.

"You know," George said, picking up a book. "A lot of witches would feel very differently the way you feel about Lockhart."

I shrugged and added a book to my pile. "Doesn't matter. Still hate the guy. I'm not like other witches i guess."

I turned to walk away, but I swear I heard him say, "No, you're not." I shook it off and grinned when I found that Harry had found his way to us and he had found Hermione. I hugged Hermione and she returned it happily.

"Good to see you again, Darcy." She said. I nodded and we went to listen to the opening of Gilderoy Lockhart's speech. Hermione and Ginny were practically swooning but I was glowering in disgust, how could one man be so conceited?

A wizard snapped his picture but then Lockhart saw Harry standing behind me. "It can't be Harry Potter?"

The crowd parted, whispering excitedly; Lockhart dived forward, pushed me aside, and grabbed Harry's collar. He dragged Harry next to him. The crowd burst into applause, Harry's face was bright red which made me laugh, and the photographer was snapping pictures of the pair wildly.

"Nice big smile, Harry," Lockhart said, trying not to be too loud but was heard by everyone. "Together, you and I are worth the front page."

I had to step away from the scene from hating too much of it all. I made my way to the front of the store where a greasy haired, blonde boy was waiting.

"Hello, Finnigan. I heard you've been staying with the Weasleys this summer. What would possess you to stay with blood traitors?"

I sneered at him, "What's it to you, Malfoy? I'm not your friend and you're not mine."

He grinned a sickly and horrible grin, "Because, Finnigan. Half-bloods like you and your brother aren't as horrible as blood traitors and Mudbloods. You should learn the right sort of people to hang out with."

"Just leave me alone, you don't know what you're talking about." I said.

"Darcy, is this weasel bothering you?" Ron said, stepping up behind me.

I shook my head, "Malfoy is too ignorant to say anything truly offensive to me."

Malfoy growled at me but stopped when he saw Harry. "Bet you loved that didn't you, Potter? Famous Harry Potter." Malfoy said. "Can't even go into a bookstore without making the front page."

"Leave him alone." Ginny said, glaring at Malfoy.

"Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!" drawled Malfoy. Ginny went scarlet and Fred pushed his way to the front of us all.

"Oh, it's you. Bet you're surprised to see Harry here, huh?" Fred said.

"Not as surprised as I am to see you here, Weasley," retorted Malfoy. "I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for all those."

Fred's face went red, as did Ron's. He dropped his books into Ginny's cauldron and started toward Malfoy but George and I grabbed the back of his jacket.

"Fred!" Mrs. Weasley shouted over the crowd. Percy was following behind her. "It's much too crowded in here, let's go outside." She ushered Fred, Seamus, George, Percy, and me out of the bookstore. "We're meeting at the Leaky Cauldron, so let's go on." She said.

We walked along in silence until we saw the familiar beat down building. We piled in and placed ourselves at the large table in the center of the room. I talked to Seamus aimlessly about what had just gone down until Mr. Weasley appeared with Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Harry, and the Granger family. We were all planning to travel back to the Burrow using Floo Powder again and the Grangers were leaving through the Muggle streets outside. We bid them all farewell and I promised Hermione that I would keep her posted on our stay at the Burrow. Her family left and soon we were all safely back in the home of the Weasleys.

I will be posting two more chapters tonight which will begin Darcy's second year at Hogwarts. I'm pretty excited!

As usual, please review and make me smile. (I was sick again today... :( )

xxx

rosslynchandbeyond