A Sensational Story

Author's Notes: Here it is – the long-awaited fourth chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

As always, massive thanks to White Squirrel for beta-reading this chapter.

Disclaimer: Recognisable portions in this chapter have been taken from the Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling. I neither own nor intend to make any profit from the use of Harry Potter and the associated characters of the series, in my story.

Chapter 4: Slughorn

At Flourish and Blotts

'Ch-chapter 4,' began Slughorn, and for some reason, he stuttered as he spoke. Harry looked confusedly at Ron and Hermione; he had told them about his visit to the village of Budleigh Babberton along with Dumbledore, when he had first met Slughorn. The Potions Master had not seemed this averse to attention – on the contrary, he took a lot of pleasure in talking about all the famous people he knew or he had taught.

'I wonder why he's so nervous,' mused Hermione as they looked up at him. Slughorn had paused to take a sip of water, and even from their place at the Gryffindor table, they could see his hands shaking.

'Life at The Burrow was as different as possible from life in Privet Drive.' read out Slughorn.

'True that,' agreed Harry with a nod, but it was with a wide grin on his face. Apart from Hogwarts, there was no other place he would rather stay at.

'The Dursleys liked everything neat and ordered; the Weasleys' house burst with the strange and unexpected.'

The mention of the Dursleys' preference about their way of living stirred something in Harry's memory: Tonks' remark on the night the Advance Guard had landed up in Privet Drive to get him out last summer.

'Very clean, aren't they, these Muggles?'

Harry looked up just in time to meet Tonks' eyes. Clearly, she had been thinking of the same remark as he had, for she smirked and winked at him.

Slughorn's voice got a little steadier as he continued with the narration, which covered a few examples of how utterly different The Burrow was from Privet Drive. A few of the girls in Hogwarts sighed – quite dramatically, in Harry's opinion – when Slughorn read out Harry's confusion at how everybody at The Burrow seemed to like him. He shook his head, and ducked it with embarrassment.

'"Ingenious, really, how many ways Muggles have found of getting along without magic."'

'Its things like these that's a problem in the wizarding world,' said Hermione, her lips pursed in disapproval.

'What's that now?' asked Ron, diverting his attention from the narration, which was now describing Harry and the Weasleys hearing from Hogwarts.

'The view that Muggles are, well, backward. And are at a disadvantage,' said Hermione. 'Muggles have progressed a lot in a really short space of time, while the magical society doesn't seem to have moved forward at all.'

'I agree,' came a small voice from a few seats down the row. Heads turned to focus on the small figure of a second-year girl: Natalie McDonald. She seemed to shrink even further at the attention she had garnered, but managed to continue anyway. 'Muggles aren't backward, they've just…found different solutions to their problems.'

'Exactly!' said Hermione enthusiastically. 'It's not exactly their fault that they can't fix everything with a tap of their wand. Besides, talking over a telephone is so much quicker than owl post.'

'My dad always says that it's only a matter of time before every person has a mobile phone,' said Natalie. 'The wizarding world could definitely use something like that.'

Hermione was on the verge of exclaiming once again, no doubt in her happiness at having found a fellow Muggle-born who shared her views about Muggle society, but was interrupted by Harry.

'Maybe you can discuss this later today, Hermione,' he said. 'We'd best pay attention to the chapter.'

Slightly pink in the face, she snapped her mouth shut, nodded, and focused on Slughorn, who was currently reading out the booklist mentioned in the letters from Hogwarts.

'"You've been told to get all Lockhart's books too!" he said. "The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan – bet it's a witch."'

'Even a crazy fan would have been a better teacher than Lockhart,' said George.

'I won't be so sure, George. She'd probably be going on about how she loves Lockhart, rather than the books themselves,' said Lee.

'Wouldn't have made much of a difference, to be honest,' said Katie Bell. 'Those books were rubbish, anyway.'

'I wonder why Dumbledore hired him in the first place,' whispered Angelina, as Slughorn continued with the infamous 'elbow in the butter dish' incident. Fortunately for Ginny, no one at the Gryffindor table paid much attention to his words – just like it had happened three years ago – as Ron responded to Angelina.

'Hagrid said he was the only one who applied for the job,' he said. 'Jinxed position, see? No one's lasted for more than a year.'

'That sounds about right,' nodded Fred, after everyone had taken a moment to contemplate this. 'We'd had different Defence teachers for our first two years as well.'

'Oh yes,' said Alicia, as Lee hummed in agreement.

'I suppose Lockhart thought he would be the one to break the curse,' said Lavender, and the rest of them sniggered at the thought.

'Five minutes later they were marching up the hill, broomsticks over their shoulders. They had asked Percy if he wanted to join them, but he had said he was busy…

'"Wish I knew what he was up to," said Fred, frowning. "He's not himself. His exam results came the day before you did; twelve O.W.L.s and he hardly gloated at all."'

'The git,' said Fred in an undertone, as they stared up at the third Weasley brother. Percy was now looking around the Hall with a smug expression on his face: clearly, getting twelve O.W.L.s was something he still prided himself on.

'What was he doing, anyway?' asked Dean interestedly.

'Writing to his girlfriend,' smirked George. 'I know,' he added, as Dean's eyes widened in surprise. 'We were shocked too.'

As Slughorn continued with the narration, it struck Harry just then that none of the teachers or Ministry staff had voiced their opinion or comments to the chapter so far. He supposed that there was nothing important or necessary for them to say – most of it seemed to be about his stay at the Burrow that summer.

'"He's never travelled by Floo power," said Ron suddenly. "Sorry, Harry, I forgot."'

'Hang on,' said Harry suddenly. 'This was my first travel by Floo powder…'

'Yeah…' said Ron. 'So?'

'That would mean…Knockturn Alley.'

'Okay…'

'Borgin and Burkes…'

'I don't see your point.'

'And Flourish and Blotts…'

'Harry, are you sure you're okay?'

Harry ignored him. Hermione, however, seemed to have cottoned on to what Harry was saying.

'This is the key chapter, Harry, isn't it?' she said in an excited whisper.

'Yes,' he replied. 'You should take your notes, just like last time. Whatever logic you used to unearth the conspiracy for the first book, use that this time as well – we could use it to help the Ministry.'

Hermione hadn't waited for him to finish – as soon as he'd asked her to take notes, she had, without further comment, pulled out a piece of parchment and a finely tipped quill.

'He was quite alone, but where he was, he had no idea. All he could tell was that he was standing in the stone fireplace of what looked like a large, dimly lit wizard's shop – but nothing in here was ever likely to be on a Hogwarts school list.'

Up till that point, the occupants of the Great Hall had been listening rather half-heartedly to Slughorn's admittedly monotonous narration of the chapter. A few students – who did not seem to be interested in hearing about Harry's life – had begun to either read other books, or play silent games with their friends at the tables.

But as Slughorn began describing the items in the shop, the students began paying attention just a bit more. How on earth had Harry Potter ended up in such a shady shop? Most of them seemed to agree with the fact that he needed to get out of the shop as soon as possible.

As fate would have it – and as it usually does for Harry – Draco Malfoy entered the shop; as though on cue, all eyes turned to look at Draco Malfoy seated at the Slytherin table – just for a moment, however, for Slughorn had not paused his narration of the events.

'The man who followed could only be his father. He had the same pale, pointed face and identical cold grey eyes."'

'Lucius Malfoy,' breathed Ron. 'That's what this is all about.'

The Ministry entourage was just as intrigued at the mention of Malfoy Senior. Some of the Aurors were already taking down notes, although no one seemed to understand why. Hermione, for her part, was waiting patiently, her eyes fixed on the piece of parchment below her, quill poised over it, and her ears listening intently to Slughorn.

The fact that Malfoy had complained about Harry at least a dozen times that summer drew more than a few titters and snickers from the crowd. Some of the more immature ones – Zacharias Smith included – proceeded to theorise on Malfoy's hidden feelings for Harry, which caused even more laughs and giggles from the crowd around him.

But it was just then that the listening crowd got their first – insight, if one could call it – of why Harry had considered this chapter to be important.

'"I'm not buying today, Mr. Borgin, but selling," said Mr. Malfoy.

'"Selling?" The smile faded slightly from Mr. Borgin's face.

'"You have heard, of course, that the Ministry is conducting more raids," said Mr. Malfoy, taking a roll of parchment from his inside pocket and unravelling it for Mr. Borgin to read. "I have a few – ah – items at home that might embarrass me, if the Ministry were to call…"'

Harry watched as the Auror contingent furiously took down notes on their parchment as Slughorn read out the conversation between Lucius Malfoy and Mr Borgin. A few of them looked up in surprise when 'poisons' was mentioned; those that did had been a part of the raiding party three years ago, but they had not located any poisons in Malfoy Manor in either of the raids they'd conducted.

Most of the school looked just as pleased as Harry when Lucius Malfoy reprimanded his son for being beaten by Hermione in every exam in their first year. Of course, this was not news to the fifth years and above – Hermione topping the class was considered the norm – but hearing about Draco Malfoy being put down was always good fun.

'"It's the same all over," said Mr. Borgin, in his oily voice. "Wizard blood is counting for less everywhere –"

'"Not with me," said Mr. Malfoy.

'And not with You-Know-Who, either,' commented McGonagall at last. Harry wondered how the entire staff had not had any comments regarding the chapter till then.

'That year had a lot of focus on blood purity, if my memory serves me right,' said Flitwick.

'Yes, it did,' said Vector. 'Weren't all of the attacks on Muggle-born students?'

'Except for the last one, of course,' corrected Sinistra.

'Ah, yes,' nodded Vector, 'how could I forget?'

Slughorn, who had paused for the teacher's conversation, continued his narration.

'"In that case, perhaps we can return to my list," said Mr. Malfoy shortly. "I am in something of a hurry, Borgin, I have important business elsewhere today –"'

Just as Slughorn finished reading what Lucius Malfoy had said, Hermione immediately began to scribble on her parchment. Harry leaned over to read what she'd written.

Lucius Malfoy – went to sell items at Borgin and Burkes, and had important business elsewhere. Was it at Quality Quidditch Supplies? Or at Flourish and Blotts?

Most of the student populace found the description of Knockturn Alley quite fascinating – even if it was too brief, and from the perspective of a twelve-year old boy. The Weasley twins, in particular, along with Lee Jordan, were looking at Harry with a mixture of envy and awe: clearly, they, too, wanted to visit Knockturn Alley themselves.

There was nothing spectacular to note or comment about the ensuing paragraphs that described his rescue by Hagrid, his reunion with the Weasleys, and their visit to Gringotts and the Diagon Alley shops. A few titters sounded from the students at Mr Weasley's fascination with Muggle money.

'"'Course, he's very ambitious, Percy, he's got it all planned out… He wants to be Minister of Magic…" Ron told Harry and Hermione in an undertone as they left Percy to it.'

'That went downhill the moment he sided with Fudge,' said Ginny angrily.

All four Weasleys present at the Gryffindor table looked up to glare at their older brother, who was trying – and failing – not to be too conspicuous as his name was read out. Percy spotted his siblings' glower, and he ducked his head in embarrassment. He'd realised the error of his ways ever since Fudge and Umbridge had been arrested, but he still felt a bit proud about apologising to his family. Now, going by the way his brothers and sister were looking at him, he doubted if they would even accept his apology.

Slughorn continued with the narration of their visit to Flourish and Blotts, where they found out they could meet Gilderoy Lockhart himself. Chuckles sounded around the Great Hall when the narration observed: 'The crowd seemed to be made up mostly of witches around Mrs. Weasley's age.'

Snide grins, mixed with sympathetic smiles, were sent Harry's way as they proceeded to hear about Lockhart's reaction to his presence, and his reaction to Lockhart pulling him up to the front of the overcrowded bookstore. The most hilarious moment came, however, when Slughorn read out Lockhart's announcement of his appointment as the Defence Professor at Hogwarts: there was a collective theatrical groan of despair from every student, despite the fact that Lockhart was currently in St. Mungo's Hospital for permanent memory loss. Some of the teachers who had been on the staff at that time either smiled or chuckled at the student's reaction, while the others – including the Ministry contingent, just looked around in confusion.

'"Famous Harry Potter," said Malfoy. "Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."'

'He seems to be extremely jealous of Harry,' remarked Michael Corner, while the rest of the Ravenclaws – and the Hufflepuffs who'd heard him – nodded in agreement.

Hermione, meanwhile, was taking down notes once again.

Ginny Weasley's cauldron – Lockhart's books from Harry. She followed it up with 'and Ron', when Slughorn read out Ron's reaction to Malfoy's nasty comment about his parents. Fred and George, who hadn't heard the remark in the shop all those years ago, glared furiously at Malfoy across the Hall.

'"Well, well, well – Arthur Weasley."'

Harry and his friends did not need Slughorn to tell them who it was, despite it being the very next line in the chapter.

'"Obviously not," Mr. Malfoy said. "Dear me, what's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?"

'Mr. Weasley flushed darker than either Ron or Ginny.

'"We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy," he said.

'"Clearly," said Mr. Malfoy, his pale eyes straying to Mr. and Mrs. Granger, who were watching apprehensively. "The company you keep, Weasley…and I thought your family could sink no lower –"'

Hermione had scribbled her next line so fast, her hand had been a mere blur as it flew across the parchment. While Harry knew what she had spotted, Ron, Fred, George, and everyone else in the immediate area tried to get a glimpse of the bushy-haired witch's notes.

Lucius Malfoy took out Ginny's old book from her cauldron. Why the old one, specifically? Was it only to prove a point?

A short gasp went up from the crowd as Slughorn read out Mr Weasley launching himself onto Lucius Malfoy in anger. Those who had hoped for a big fight were left slightly disappointed, however, when Hagrid appeared on the scene and pulled them apart.

Hermione scribbled a fresh set of notes once more as Slughorn narrated Lucius Malfoy returning Ginny's book to her. Once again, people leaned over to see what she'd written.

Lucius Malfoy returned the dirty old book. Surprising that he was still holding it after the fight. Also surprising that he chose to return it, rather than cast it off and cause more misery for the Weasleys. Why did he do so?

The chapter wrapped up fairly quickly after that. Harry and the others noticed Draco Malfoy bristling as Hagrid spoke about his family: '"Rotten ter the core, the whole family, everyone knows that – no Malfoy's worth listenin' ter – bad blood, that's what it is…"', but they weren't the only ones who agreed with Hagrid. A fair few students, and even a few Aurors, were nodding at the statement.

'Harry took off his glasses and put them safely in his pocket before helping himself to Floo powder. It definitely wasn't his favourite way to travel.'

'Still isn't, mind you,' said Harry, as Slughorn shut the book. The rotund Potions Professor looked oddly relieved to have finished reading that chapter.

As the book was passed along to tiny Professor Flitwick, Hermione turned to Harry. 'Should we go to Madam Bones after today's reading?' she asked him.

Harry frowned. 'I suppose we could – but it would be a far stretch to point any fingers right now, Hermione.'

Hermione nodded slowly, thinking, as she alternated her gaze between Harry and her notes. The ink from her last entry was still drying.

Harry looked up at Madam Bones, who was deep in discussion with Kingsley and another senior Auror from her team. He knew this chapter was crucial in their effort to pin some charges on Lucius Malfoy for the whole Chamber of Secrets debacle.

The question was – would the evidence be enough?

Author's Note: Edited and re-uploaded on June 11, 2020