Hogwarts Castle. Dungeons. Snape counting his little witch comes back to him.. now is time.
School breaks ended as fast as he thought. He can't wait to see Hermione running around the castle. Bumped into him and he mocking her. How Snape missed doing that to Hermione.
Smirking.
Speaking of which.. Dumbledore enters. "My boy, Severus. Are you smiling?" He asked. "I've never seen your smile since .. I don't know. Maybe I'd never see your smile".
Dumbledore circled around his room, "Miss Granger is coming. So .. I know that smile". Snape looked up at Dumbledore.
"More exciting. She never tries to like me".
"I know.. because she's too young to be in love". Dumbledore smiles. "She will.. as she is ready".
Diagon alley. Day. Hermione is now in her second year of school in Hogwarts. She buys her book and other stuff she needs.
Happy to go back to school but not happy to see Snape's around her. Why does that bloody Professor always follow her foot?
"Hermione is that .." Mrs Granger points at the group of red-haired families entering Flourish and Blotts. "Is .. The Weasley's you mention".
"Yes. There are .. but .. where's Harry?" Her eyes wandered. Mr. Weasley approached the Granger's. "Hello, Mr. Weasley".
Arthur Weasley looked down at Hermione.
"Hello, you must be Hermione Granger. Ronald told me about you.. how lovely to see you here with your parents". Arthur looked up. "And you two must be Mr. and Mrs. Granger".
"Ron.. where's Harry?" ask Hermione. "He should be with you.. doesn't it".
"I thought Harry was already here.. I get to the floo first. He wasn't there". Ron watches Hermione walk to the door. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Looking for Harry.. he must be wandering around somewhere".
Has just Hermione out from the store, a few steps.. she sees Harry with Hagrid beside him. She smiled. "Harry! Hagrid!"
"Hello, Hermione!" Greet Hagrid.
"Oh, it's so good to see you!"
"Well, it's great to see you, too!" Harry smiled.
She stops then, cocks her head curiously at Harry. "What did you do to your glasses?" Hermione then takes out her wand and points it directly between his eyes. "Oculus reparo". Instantly, Harry's glasses are mended.
"I definitely need to remember that one".
Hermione blushing. Hagrid nods. "You'll be all right now then, Harry? Right. I'll leave you to it, then".
"Ok! Bye!"
"Thank you. Bye".
Hermione takes Harry's hand. "Come on! Everyone's been so worried".
A copy of Gilderoy Lockhart's autobiography "Magical Me" is on display as Harry and Hermione enter the store.
Hermione leads them to Gringotts, where Hermione's rather nervous-looking Muggle parents stand with the Weasley's.
"So you're dentists! Fascinating! I understand other Muggles quote fear you? Why is that?" ask Arthur Weasley to Hermione's parents.
Mrs Granger laughs. "Because they are afraid to tend their teeth with stitches".
"Owh. I wonder why. Well, my childrens never had to tend their teeth. All they know is eating".
Harry stands beside Mrs Weasley. "Oh, Harry! Thank goodness! We'd hoped you'd only gone one grate too far... look at you. Dust your robes dear. Today we had a celebrity. You're not going to be dusting like this".
"Isn't it thrilling! Gilderoy Lockhart's going to be there! We can actually meet him! I mean, he's written almost the whole book list!"
As Mrs. Weasley and Hermione dash off, Harry frowns. "Who?"
"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Gilderoy Lockhart".
"Ah! Here he is!"
Gilderoy Lockhart. A handsome, golden-haired wizard with stunning pearl-white teeth.
He smiles, winks at the camera. "Mum fancies him". For this, Mrs. Weasley gives Ron a jab in the shoulder.
Harry and the others thread their way through a chattering throng of middle-ages ladies, all craning their necks for a view of Lockhart, who is standing signing books at the rear of the shop.
At the sight of him, pats her hair. "Mum.. stop. He doesn't even look at you".
"Shh-shh".
A short man with camera bumps past.
"Make way there, please. Let me by, Madam. Thank you. Excuse me, little girl. this is for the Daily Prophet".
Instantly, Lockhart looks up and flashes a smile when. "It can't be. Harry Potter!"
The crowd whispers excitedly as Lockhart dives forward, seizes Harry's hand and turns him toward the photographer.
"Harry Potter! Excuse me, Madam".
Under his breath. "Nice big smile, Harry. Together, you and I rate the front page".
As the camera flashes. "Ladies and gentlemen, what an extraordinary moment this is.. when young Harry stepped into Flourish and Blotts this morning to purchase my autobiography Magical Me. Which, incidentally is currently celebrating its 27th week atop the Daily Prophet bestseller list he had no idea that he would. In fact, I will be leaving with my entire collected works free of charge. Now, ladies".
As the crowd claps include Hermione who completely adores him much. Lockhart catches the eye of a flunky and, before Harry knows it, a towering stack of books is shoved into his arms. mortified Harry mumbles quietly.
"Thank you".
He said slipping free. "Harry, now you give me those, and I'll get them signed. All of you wait outside. That's it, Ron".
Harry drifts back into the crowd, red with embarrassment.
Hogwarts. Night. Snape's office. After the incident of the flying car. It's all reported by the Daily Prophet.
The evening prophet enters frame the headline reads: FLYING FORD ANGLIA MYSTIFIES MUGGLES.
Below the fold a photo shows Harry and Lockhart at Flourish and Blotts.
Snape sat up to see that blondie creature, newspaper in hand as Harry and Ron started with dread. Filch lurks in the doorway eyeing them with pleasure.
"You were seen by no less than seven Muggles. Do you have any idea how serious this is? You have risked the exposure of our world. Not to mention the damage you inflicted on a Whomping Willow that's been on these grounds since before you were born".
Ron speaks. "Honestly, Professor Snape, I think it did more damage to us".
"Silence! I assure you, that you were in Slytherin, and you're interested with me, the both of you would be on the train home- tonight. As it is.."
"They are not." Harry and Ron turn. Albus Dumbledore stands in the doorway. Alongside him is a distinctly annoyed Professor McGonagall.
"Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall. Headmaster, these boys have flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry. As such-"
"I am well aware of our laws, Severus, having written quite a few of them myself. However, as head of Gryffindor house, it is for Professor McGonagall to determine the appropriate action".
Suggest the headmaster while the two boys rise gloomily but sad. "We'll go and get our stuff, then.."
"What are you talking about, Mr. Weasley?"
Ron looks sad. "You're going to expel us, aren't you?"
"Not today, Mr. Weasley. But, I must impress on both of you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be writing to your families tonight, and you will both receive detention".
Snape casts a look of pure venom at Harry and Ron. Inside his heart he's lucky Hermione wasn't there with them inside that old git enchanted flying car.
Dumbledore claps. Splendid. "Now, I suggest we turn to the feast. There's a delicious-looking custard tart I want to sample".
Dumbledore's out from Snape's office followed by McGonagall behind.
"I'm guessing you two were lucky. If you ever involved someone or one of the students in here with you two dumbness situations. I will never ever forgive it".
Snape glare. "I intend to kill you two if I have a chance.. now - GET OUT!"
The boy storms out. He leaned on his chair before, in a minute, Snape trail behind to the great hall.
On a high table. His eyes searched for Hermione. She was there with the others Gryffindors house.
"Is it true what I heard as Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley being spotted by the muggle".
"It's all over the Daily Prophet." Snape drink. "Nothing can change".
The professor nodded. "Was that.. Miss Granger with them too, Severus?" Snape turned in anger.
"She did not!" Snape grit his teeth. "She's not so stupid riding with them and bumped into the Whomping Willow".
The professor nodded again. "I guess Miss Granger is lucky then".
"Indeed".