Chapter Seventeen: The Joys of Fame

Harold and Lummy had finally arrived back home to Delaware, eager to see the house that they had left behind three months ago. It seemed much longer than that, especially after they had studied for five hours each day. After Harold and Lummy had gotten their trunks unpacked, Lummy decided to go for a stroll around the park to enjoy the brilliant weather that Delaware was having. The main point was that there wasn't any snow on the ground.

A pretty brunette walked up to Luhrmalleen, and engulfed her in a hug. It was one of her friends from high school.

"Hello Melinda, it's been ages," began Lummy, gratified to see her.

"Oh, 'Cissa, we were so worried about you originally, when you and your sister just disappeared one day, and Gerald too. But then, we saw you on television, and we knew. You could have told me you were going to audition!" said Melinda, her face lit up.

Lummy hadn't noticed very much other than she had just been referred to as "Cissa", which, try as she might, didn't seem to be any iteration of her real name.

"Excuse me, Melinda, but what did you call me?"

"Cissa, of course. Short for Narcissa. Why didn't you tell me that was your real name?"

Lummy was completely lost at this point. Wasn't Narcissa that mean Slytherin girl who was supposedly related to Sirius? Why would her name be Narcissa? However, just as she began to ask Melinda about it, one boy she vaguely remembered from high school appeared at Melinda's side.

"M'name's Philip. You remember me, right?"

She really didn't, but it seemed churlish to disagree, and Lummy merely nodded.

"Could we take a picture together? You know, since we're old friends from high school?"

Lummy thought that barely remembering his face hardly qualified as being "old friends", but she wanted to please Melinda, so she posed amicably. The flashbulbs went off in the park, and the boy called Philip jumped up and shrieked,

"I HAVE A PICTURE WITH NARCISSA AVERY! I CAN DIE HAPPY!"

Lummy looked at Melinda quizzically – who on earth was Narcissa Avery? Perhaps Narcissa had married that idiotic blonde boy who was friends with Sirius's kid brother. How could Narcissa have married anyone? She was only seventeen! Now that Lummy thought about it, Avery was probably only fourteen, and probably couldn't….

But her thoughts were rudely interrupted by Melinda who was shaking her shoulders vigorously.

"The teachers at school know that I know you," (Melinda blushed proudly), "And they asked me if I were to see you again, if you could please come and give a speech at school. I mean, you're Narcissa Avery."

At this point, Lummy had had enough. She didn't come back to Delaware to be fawned upon. Her beautiful green eyes glittered angrily, and she stared straight at Melinda, and spoke,

"Tell them that I shall give no such speech, and that my name is not Narcissa Avery." Lummy turned around and ran straight back home.

In the meantime, Harold and Gerald decided to go grocery shopping. After all, Harold did have some money, and they were woefully out of vegetables and soup. Harold had brushed her long blonde hair in a style similar to her sister's, and her pretty hazel eyes were happy at the thought of going out with Gerald.

"Now, first on the list is cucumbers," announced Gerald importantly.

Harold giggled, and looked up at the signs to figure out where they were. Soon, they had filled the cart with tomatoes, pickles, and cucumbers, among other things. Everything was going fine until Harold tripped over a can in the soup aisle. She fell with a clatter, and would have broken her nose if Gerald had not caught her just in time.

A round of flashbulbs went off behind them. Harold turned around immediately to find a group of photographers grinning merrily and snapping away. An important looking woman strode up to them with a microphone, and asked,

"So, Narcissa, how does it feel to be going on the tour of the United States?"

Harold blinked. Why was this Muggle calling her Narcissa? Did she look especially Slytherin-like?

"Excuse me, ma'm, but I think you are quite mistaken," replied Gerald politely.

The woman gave a sharp laugh, and cried,

"My dear, those colored contacts aren't going to disguise you! I could recognize that face anywhere. It's posted all over the United States!"

Harold gaped. She must look quite stupid now, but who was wearing colored contacts? She looked at Gerald pleadingly, and he spoke up,

"My friend Harold and I both live here in Delaware."

"As if I'm likely to believe that this beautiful girl has a name like Harold! She's Narcissa Avery, through and through. Now, Narcissa, who is this handsome gentleman here? Has he stolen your heart? Have you thought about what Rufus would say about this?"

Harold looked at the woman as if she were mad. Why would the ugly Hufflepuff say anything to her? And why was she supposed to be called Narcissa Avery? The two of them ran out of the grocery store, leaving the vegetables forgotten in the canned soup aisle.

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Fame is a fickle friend, mein liebling. But a review makes the star shine and the clouds float away.