"It will be so much easier to sneak around once we are at Hogwarts" Fred grumbled as the mismatched group managed to yet again only just avoid being seen by Fred's family or the Potter's.
"It won't be much longer before we can come out and tell the truth" Harry whispered looking guilty for making them hide themselves.
"Hey, none of that Hart. I understand" Fred whispered grabbing Harry's hand and rubbing it soothingly.
"Thanks Freddie" Harry whispered smiling softly.
"No need to thank me" Fred shrugged clearly uncomfortable with the absolute appreciation coming from Harry, he wasn't used to such things, sure he got it from time to time from George when he had a good idea, and he knew his eldest two brothers Bill and Charlie loved him, and his Father but not from anyone else. His Mother seemed happiest when she was screeching at him and George, Percy pretty much ignored everyone in favor of studies and proving himself, Ron was always a difficult child but he got worse when he befriended Henry Potter, the two of them were extremely arrogant and loved to get the twins in trouble as much as possible. And sweet little Ginny, she used to worship him and George, she loved pranking and causing havoc, until their Mother started to fill her head with bullshit fairy tales of her marrying Henry Potter and becoming the new Lady Potter. It turned his stomach that his baby sister was being used just to up their families standing in The Wizarding World.
"So did you enjoy the Muggle comics I sent you?" Harry questioned when he felt that the topic needed to be changed.
"Yeah, me and George read all of them, they were great! How in Merlin's name did you find them?" Fred asked as he cheered up.
"When I was younger, Father took us out in the Muggle World and we found them in this little shop by complete luck, I ending up loving them and ever since I go exploring in Muggle shops for more whenever I get a chance" Harry grinned.
"Soo.." Harry laughed playfully.
"Who was your favorite character in the ones I sent?" Fred laughed as he thought back on the numerous comics he had read over the summer holidays.
"The Joker and The Riddler" he grinned nodding, happy with his end choices, Harry fell into laughter.
"Really? Not the heroes?" he joked nudging playfully.
"Nah! They were cool and all, don't me wrong, but the tactics The Joker and Riddler used were so good" Fred explained gaining a nod of agreement from a grinning Harry.
"I just enjoy the chaos they create" Harry laughed.
"Maybe we can use some of those on our classmates this year" Fred smirked.
"Freddie!" Harry mock gasped.
"I didn't know you had it in you" he smirked back.
"Don't presume you know me fully just yet little one" Fred smirked as he wrapped his arms around Harry's shoulders, linking over each other behind his neck, pulling him in tight with no way to escape.
"Oi! You two! Come see this!" The two were brought out of their moment by Hermione yet again, turning they followed Hermione to where Draco and George were standing with a newly arrived Lee Jordan.
"What's going on?" Fred asked dubiously when he noticed the mass swarm of Witches and Wizards outside Flourish and Botts.
"What in Salazar's bloodline is going on?" Harry muttered as two squealing Witches bumped into him.
"Move!" one snapped, before forcing her way through the crowd. The group shared bewildered looks before shrugging at each other and pushing through the excited crowd to see what was making so many people so excited. The reason became clear when they got close enough to see a large banner stretched across the upper windows.
Gilderoy Lockhart:
Will be signing copies of his autobiography; Magical Me, today from 12:30pm to 4:30pm.
"We can actually meet him!" an elderly Witch exclaimed delightedly.
"Who would want to?" Harry scoffed at Hermione, although apparently not as quietly as he had thought judging by the death stares the Witch and her friend shot him. Snickering Hermione led the way into the jam-packed store, elbowing people out of her way, which was an impressive feat in itself, the store was so full that everyone was in everyone else's personal space. There was barely enough room to breathe let alone move, finally though Hermione managed to get them to the other side of the shop and up the stairs.
Flourish and Blotts was a beautiful gold stoned building, there was the main floor which was level with Diagon Alley's walking path, it was a spacious room which had walls lined with the best selling books of the year, all shelves and walls made of the gold stones from the outside. Then towards the back, just shy of being the centre of the room was the counter which was slightly curved at the ends and made of solid obsidian and designed to look worn, old and slightly melted. The base floor normally had anywhere between six to ten massive crates, also made of obsidian. Every crate came up to an average man's waist and each would contain different books, varying from specials that were happening, extra or old stock, and second hand books. On the left side of the store, were slanted obsidian stairs that lead to the smaller sized second floor, which was a permanent mezzanine floor. It was basically an indoor balcony which overlooked the lower floor, and the walls followed the downstairs design of being covered end to end in books.
Standing at the edge leaning on the obsidian rail, Harry, Hermione, Draco, Fred, George and Lee watched as everyone below spoke excitedly.
"Oh shit" Fred muttered, he and George scrambled back from the railing suddenly.
"What are you doing?" an amused Harry questioned.
"Mum and Dad are down there" Fred whispered.
"Oh relax, Hermione cast a 'notice me not' charm when we walked in" Harry laughed.
"Without us noticing?" George asked impressed.
"It's a talent" Hermione grinned wickedly.
"Wait, what about the trace?" Fred asked looking worried, ever since he had gotten to know Harry's family he had to come to care them, they were unique and so different from his own family. They had no expectations except to be happy.
"You mean your parents didn't tell you?" Harry asked looking highly confused and slightly offended at the same time.
"Told us what?" Fred, George and Lee all spoke in unison.
"The trace doesn't work like that, it traces the magic not the user. If we used magic at home or even here, all they would know was magic was being used, not that an underage Witch or Wizard was doing magic. The trace is only used as a threat so underage users can't use magic in front of Muggles and risk exposure of our world.*" Harry explained, all three fourth year boys looked stunned beyond belief, their mouths opening and closing with no sound escaping them.
"So you guys get to do magic in the holidays?" Fred finally managed to ask.
"Yep, all the time" Harry nodded.
"Why didn't we know this?" George asked aghast.
"No idea, most purebloods do know it, majority of workers at The Ministry know it too, then they pass it on to their children." Hermione mused.
"So your Father should've known" Harry said curiously with his head tilted to the side.
"He would of just not told them" Draco murmured as his sharp grey eyes looked over the undignified display from the Wizards and Witches below them.
"Mum" Fred and George spoke together, their tones laced with disgust.
"She would've told dad" Fred started.
"To not tell us kids" George finished for his brother shaking his head sadly.
"She doesn't like us doing us anything"
"She likes us being under her control"
Sensing the bad mood Hermione turned to Lee.
"What about you?" she asked.
"Me and my brothers are known as half-bloods, but that's only because there isn't really another way to explain it, both my Mother and Father are Muggleborns." Lee started, tensing a bit when he said his parents were Muggleborns, he hadn't been able to spend much time with his best friends soul mate and friends the year before and wasn't sure how the Slytherins would take it.
"Don't worry about us" Hermione laughed when she saw it.
"We are half-bloods" Harry continued.
"Don't say anything though? We aren't ashamed of it but we just don't need it spread around" Hermione shrugged.
"I won't say anything" Lee promised before continuing to explain why he didn't know about the magic outside of school loopholes.
"My mum is a Healer and Father is a Herbologist, they wouldn't know any different" he explained shrugging, the dark skinned, dreadlocked boy seemed happy that it wasn't because his parents wanted to hide it from him.
"Wait brothers? Plural?" Harry questioned.
"Yeah, Kit is the eldest at 22, Tye is 20, Max graduated last year at 18, and I'm the youngest" Lee shrugged.
"All Gryffs?" Harry joked.
"Nah, only me and Max, just like dad, Kit and Tye were Ravenclaws like our mum"
"The Potter's have just joined them downstairs" Draco said softly, they all leaned on the rail slightly to get a better view. James Potter stood tall, it was easy to see why he had been voted second for best looking Wizard in his years at Hogwarts; his dark brown messy hair was sticking up everywhere, but it seemed natural and suited the man. His brown eyes, normally sharp and narrowed were slightly glazed as he if he had been working all hours of the night, until a soft hand landed on his shoulder. His eyes focused when he locked eyes on his wife, Lily Potter was as beautiful as ever standing at his side, her long red hair cascaded down her back, her green eyes sparkling. She tightened her hand on her husband's shoulder before turning back to Molly Weasley and laughing at something the other redheaded woman said. Henry and Ron seemed to appear suddenly from the crowd.
"Oh good, there you are" Molly somehow managed to be heard even by the group of teens upstairs over the racket of all the excited customers.
"She has a talent" Harry mused smiling as Fred nodded before wrapping an arm around his shoulder.
"You should hear her when she is really mad" Fred shuddered.
"Which is basically the only time she talks to us" George muttered.
"I swear a Banshee has a nicer voice" Fred smirked.
"We will be able to see him any minute!" she gushed, her hands raising up to pat down and comb through her curls. Harry, Hermione and Draco turned incredulous stares at Fred and George who were both shaking their heads in disgust and horror.
"We have no" Fred started.
"Idea why she" George continued.
"Is obsessed with him" they finished together.
"You know listening to you two talk is like watch a match of… oh Merlin, Harry what is that Muggle game you have at home?" Draco asked.
"Table tennis?" Harry asked dryly.
"Yeah that one!" Draco said happily, ignoring his cousins amused expression.
"We've been told" they grinned maniacally.
"Look!" Lee whispered pointing downstairs, everyone's heads turned at the same time. Gilderoy Lockhart had appeared from the door that led to the back storage room. He stood looking around before breaking into a wide smile and walked… very slowly to the counter, stopping to pose a few times for the camera man at the front of the crowd. Harry, Hermione, Draco, Fred, George and Lee couldn't help but release a few sniggers as the blonde man showed off perfect white teeth with another wide smile. The crowd was eating it up squealing out to him madly. At first glance yes Harry could say the man was attractive, soft wavy blonde hair, baby blue eyes paired with perfect teeth and a fair complexion. But when he focused he could see the ugly below. The smile was way too big to be genuine, the eyes sparkled but more with greed than happiness, it all added up to the simple fact; Gilderoy Lockhart was not a man to be trusted.
Suddenly the man froze mid pose and his grin became all teeth.
"It can't be! Henry Potter!" the man cried, the photographer gave an excited squeak as Lockhart dived into the crowd and dragged Potter to stand next to him at the counter, both males placed fake smiles on and waved at the crowd. Several women swooned at the sight, Lily was standing there smiling proudly at her son only to harshly hush her daughter when she whispered something to Ginny. James was watching the scene impassively, the normally expressive man was stoic as he watched his son get praised and worshipped, until Lily leant over and kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear. His brown up lit back up and he smiled warmly at her before turning his wide grin at his son.
"Nice big smile, Henry," said Lockhart, through his own gleaming teeth.
"Together, you and I are worth the front page." Lockhart threw an arm around his shoulders and clasped him tightly to his side, not that teen savior seemed to mind, Harry snorted in amusement when none of the 'adoring' fans seemed to notice the false modesty on his face.
"This is disgusting to watch" Hermione muttered receiving nods of agreement from all the males.
"They are peacocks displaying themselves shamelessly" Harry sniggered.
"Hey!" Draco said offended.
"My family breeds peacocks"
"We know" Harry and Hermione said blandly with straight faces before collapsing helplessly into giggles.
"Ladies and Gentlemen" Lockhart called for silence, which was granted from the fans below quickly as they all hung on to his every word.
"With young Henry here today, it is the perfect moment to announce something I've been sitting on for sometime!" he said dramatically.
"Oh no" Hermione whispered.
"Please tell me I'm wrong" Harry pleaded desperately as he watched with apprehension.
"Henry Potter and his classmates stepped in today to buy a copy of my Autobiography Magical Me. But they will also be in fact getting the real Magical Me! I have great pleasure and pride in announcing that I will be taking the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" cheers resounded from downstairs of the book shop. Whereas the six students upstairs groaned loudly; Hermione proceeded to smack her head on the rail… repeatedly, Draco looked like someone had killed his prized Abraxan horse. (Trixie, he had gotten her when his Mother's Abraxan, Stars, gave birth when Draco was only 5) Fred and George were pretending to cry on each others shoulders, Lee was just staring stupidly at nothing as if trying to comprehend what had just happened, and Harry was glaring at the man, calculating ways to make his life miserable.
"Oh this year is going to suck" Draco whined.
"I don't know, I think we can turn this around to be good for us" Harry smirked, his eyes glinting.
"We have a target?" Fred asked grinning.
"We have a target" Harry confirmed as his eyes didn't leave the smiling, waving, idiot below.
For an idea of what I mean by mezzanine floor; . /search?q=mezzanine+floor&client=tablet-android-samsung&biw=601&bih=962&prmd=imvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiVjOf5zYfQAhWDrJQKHca2BBkQ_AUIBygB#tbm=isch&q=mezzanine+floor+in+a+library&imgdii=7LyBBKM10FMf3M%3A%3B8GtVCW7j6UAjwM%3A%3B8GtVCW7j6UAjwM%3A&imgrc=8GtVCW7j6UAjwM%3A
*I've explained it like this because of when dobby used magic, they picked it up so I believe it's the magic not the user.
Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, I apologize for any mistakes me or my best friend have missed. This chapter was remarkably easy to write thank Merlin. Hopefully the next chapter is as easy.