'There are about ten different excuses I can think of right now, and none of them are going to save me. So I'm just going to go with I'm sorry.'
Y/N was sitting alongside Hermione with McGonagall sat directly across from him, her face was blank and had been the entire time Y/N had been explaining himself.
'I was just really worried about Harry and then Ron told me he had an idea. Thought it'd be a bit more sensible than it was. I was originally expecting them to floo powder here, and then they turned up in the car. By that point it was just kind of… go time?'
'And you didn't think to speak to the one witch you knew who not only is allowed to perform magic outside of the school but also has the authority to force them to allow Harry to go to school?'
Y/N sat there in silence for a few moments.
'Okay, in my defence. 'Mione is the smart one, I never pretend to be,' he said.
'You do when the time suits,' said Minerva, getting to her feet. 'There's not really much I can shout at you about it, not much of it was your fault, and you certainly seemed to have prepared for every outcome, but just think next time, Y/N. We had this same issue last year. I am not here to hinder you, all you need do is tell me and I can assist.' He could hear the disappointment in her voice, she was upset he hadn't gone to her.
'Sorry mum,' he said dejectedly, staring down at the table. 'It was all so sudden, and I didn't want to worry you.'
'So you let me find out you're missing this morning and make it so that I have to force the why out of Hermione?' Y/N felt his face getting hotter. 'It was foolish Y/N, foolish and reckless, but I'm glad to hear Mr Potter is safe,' and Minerva swept from the room.
Y/N let his head fall onto the table. He heard a soft hooting from next to him as Ves began rubbing her head against his and he felt Hermione's arm wrap around his shoulder.
'She's right,' he said into the wooden surface. 'All of last year we told her things and she sorted it, and then for this we just didn't.'
'I didn't exactly think of doing it either,' said Hermione. 'You cant blame yourself Y/N, and besides you heard her, it's done now. And at least Harry is safe.'
''Suppose' said Y/N still not lifting his head from the table. It sucked to see his mum look at him like that. He knew that he should have known better, and yet here he was.
'Did you say you drove the car?' said Hermione.
'Yeah, thought it'd be best to have someone in the driver seat if we needed to make a quick getaway, turns out it worked in our favour cause of Harry's uncle.'
'That's really impressive, Y/N! I know adults who can't do that.'
'Really?' said Y/N, lifting his head to look at her. 'But it seemed so simple, the pedals were fairly obvious and once I learnt what that weird stick was, it was smooth sailing.'
Hermione spent a while explaining to Y/N about muggle road safety and laws. By the end, Y/N was thoroughly confused.
'So they have hundreds of those on the same stretch of road, none can fly and they all just have to wait until someone can get past? And then they have those signs and Tarffic lights?'
'Traffic lights.'
'Right, those things. It seems like a lot of hassle. Are they worth it?'
Hermione shrugged. 'They're faster than walking everywhere, but they are dangerous. But no, none of ours can fly.'
'Suppose that works out for you, you don't like heights do you?' and Hermione shook her head. 'I might be able to help with that next year actually,' said Y/N, suddenly remembering something.
'Oh?'
'Yeah, Fred said I flew the car really well, he thinks I'd make a good chaser. Not saying I'm going to try out for the team, but if I can get on a broom we can always take a flight together?'
Hermione didn't seem to know whether she wanted to look excited or frightened at this prospect and he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
'We won't do anything you aren't comfortable with yeah? If we kick off and you're really not into it, straight back down to the ground.' and Hermione smiled appreciatively.
A few days before they were due to head over to Diagon Alley, Y/N and Hermione were relaxing by the fire when it turned green and out stepped Minerva, dusting herself off.
'All done for today?' asked Y/N looking up. Minerva heaved a sigh then nodded darkly. 'What's going on?'
She did not answer, instead she pulled two letters out of the inside of her robes and handed one to each of them. Y/N unfolded his and read. It was his reminder to catch the train from Platform 9 ¾ on the morning of September 1st, but adjoining this letter was a list of their required schoolbooks.
'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 with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart
Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart'
'Good lord,' said Y/N as he finished reading and looked up. His mum had made her way over to the table and made herself a drink, she looked ready to sleep.
'Seven books that man has published, and he has put all seven on the requirement list. And I guarantee that he will do nothing with them bar talk about himself,' she said as she rubbed the bridge of her nose.
'He really is a bit much isn't he?' said Hermione, who had just finished her own list.
'Glad to hear you're joining the 'we hate Lockhart squad',' said Y/N, earning himself a chuckle from both Hermione and Minerva. 'What happened to him being good looking though?'
'You're better looking,' Hermione said shrugging. She'd said it so casually, but Y/N felt it twist his stomach, his face immediately went red and he quickly buried his face in his book list, but not before he saw the smirk on his mum's face.
Hermione sent another letter to Ron and Harry, confirming that Harry was okay and reaffirming what day they'd be heading to Diagon Alley. On the 16th of August, Y/N, Hermione and Minerva were gathered in front of the fireplace, preparing to leave.
'We'll need to drop by Gringotts,' said Y/N, gingerly weighing his money pouch by hand. 'I doubt I've got enough for all of his books in here.'
'I need to stop by anyway,' said Hermione brightly. 'If we give them both our keys, they can just take us both.'
One by one, the three of them stepped through into Diagon Alley.
'Hey Tom!' called Y/N as he stepped through, 'have Harry Potter or any of the Weasleys come through yet?'
'Not that I've seen,' said Tom.
'If you see them send them our way would you? We're heading over to Gringotts.' Tom nodded to him and they made their way through the back door, with Minerva tapping the specific brick in the wall to open the way into Diagon Alley.
'I don't have anything I need this time so I shall simply be window shopping,' said Minerva. 'Do try not to get yourselves in trouble,' and she swept away.
The alley was quite busy today, people bustling everywhere and crashing into each other.
'Probably cause of Lockhart,' said Y/N as he pressed himself and Hermione against the wall, a gaggle of witches were scampering past and had almost knocked into them both. 'Come on, this is gonna get tricky.'
Hermione hooked her arm around Y/N's and together they pushed on through the crowd eventually arriving at the white marble staircase to Gringotts.
'How on earth are we going to do our shopping in all of this?' she said, turning back to look at the sea of people moving around.
'Worst case, we just use this time to spy on Lockhart and come back tomorrow. Speaking of, remind me to pick up more powder for mum, I feel bad for using so much.'
The two of them turned and stepped inside. One gut wrenching ride later and they pulled up outside Hermione's vault. She stepped inside but instead of picking up coins she scooped up what seemed to be paper notes. She climbed back into the cart as the goblin locked up.
'What are those?' he asked, looking at them.
'Muggle money,' she said brightly. 'I had some savings, and once I got into Hogwarts, my parents gave me some more. I can convert it into wizard money with the goblins once we're back in the upstairs section.'
The goblin who was escorted them clambered back into the cart and they were whisked off to Y/N's vault. He opened it and scooped up his own money and they made their way back up to the top.
Y/N gave the main hall a proper look over whilst Hermione got her money converted. He hadn't really looked around the last time he was here, he just kind of skipped over it, but now he took the time. He tried to his best to not draw too many disapproving goblin eyes as he looked around.
Before long, Hermione re-joined him and the two stepped back out into the alley.
'Y/N! Hermione!' came a voice and Y/N looked around to see the Weasleys bustling towards them.
'Morning everyone!' called Y/N cheerily as they all clambered up the stairs towards them. 'Noticing an excessive amount of red and not much black. Did you kill him?' he looked at the twins both of whom were smirking.
'He coughed when using the floo powder,' said Mrs Weasley, she looked terrified. 'We don't know where he's ended up.'
'Couldn't have followed him Ronald?' said Y/N.
'I'd already gone through or I would have done!'
'That's what they all say, mate.'
'Y/N!' said Hermione smacking his arm. 'Why aren't you more worried about this?'
'Because he's over there with Hagrid,' said Y/N, pointing across the crowd towards the Hogwarts game keeper, who was steering a glasses-less Harry through the crowd.
Hermione shook her head at him before saying, 'What's happened to his glasses?'
'No idea,' said Y/N as most of the Weasleys made their way across the Alley. However, the youngest, and only girl from the looks of it, stayed next to him and Hermione, looking unsure.
Hermione looked nervous at how to continue but Y/N gave her arm a reassuring squeeze and said 'Go meet Harry and set up a plan, I'll be with you in a moment.'
Hermione nodded and moved off, and Y/N turned to his companion. She looked terrified.
'You okay there?' he asked and she jumped, turning towards him and nodding quickly. 'Y/N L/N,' and he held out his hand.
'Um, Ginny, Ginny Weasley,' she said and she slowly shook his hand.
'What's eating you up Ginny?'
She looked unsure on confiding in a total stranger, so Y/N crouched down a little bit. He was tall for a twelve-year-old and was substantially taller than Ginny.
'Hey, you don't have to tell me anything, but are you okay?'
She nodded slowly.
'Nervous about starting your first year?'
'A little bit.'
'Well that's okay, its natural. Have you heard much about Hogwarts?'
'My brothers have told me some stories, but that's all I've heard. I've never seen it.'
Y/N spent the next minute or two describing to Ginny some of the schools more impressive features. The sky in the Great Hall which mirrored the sky outside, the moving stairs, the talking and moving portraits.
Ginny seemed to have visibly calmed down as he was coming towards the end of his description and she threw him a bright smile.
'There you go!' he said cheerfully. 'Knew there was a smile in there somewhere! You'll be okay Ginny, and if you need anything you know where to find me yeah? Anyone giving you a hard time and I'll set them straight. Assuming Fred and George haven't gotten to them first.'
'I know how to look after myself,' she said, standing proud.
'I have no doubt about that, you have six brothers. However, sometimes we all need that little helping hand.' She nodded and then her eyes travelled back onto the group of the Weasleys, Hermione and Harry, who were now heading back over towards the two of them. She started to blush.
'Is it Harry?' he asked quietly and she nodded slowly. 'Don't worry, he's a prat.' and Ginny giggled.
'Are you two coming or not?' asked Ron as he jogged up the stairs towards them, 'we're gonna have a job shopping in this mess as it is.'
'Just making friends Ronald,' said Y/N as he and Ginny moved forward to join the rest of the group.
'We'll have to meet up with my parents later too Y/N,' said Hermione as he re-joined her.
'Oh right yeah, I'd almost forgotten. What time are they arriving?'
'Should be within the next hour or so,' she said glancing up to one of the nearby clocks.
At that moment, Fred and George spotted their friend Lee Jordan and moved off to join him. Y/N had a brain wave.
'Wait here,' and he moved off after them.
He caught up to them as they were preparing to enter Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop.
'Oh hey, Y/N. What's up?' said Fred.
Y/N stepped forward and pressed a money pouch into both twin's chests.
'What the-?'
'I never knew when your birthdays were,' he said as he threw another one to Lee, 'and you guys helped me get used to Hogwarts before I even had to start there. You've also gotten me presents before. So see this as the years I missed.'
'You didn't have too-' said Lee weakly as he glanced at the pouch.
'No, I didn't. And you guys didn't have to help me out with adjusting to the school and showing me around. Yet you did. Just take it and don't argue.'
'Thanks Y/N,' said George. It was the sincerest face Y/N had ever seen him pull. 'We'll make sure mum sends you a jumper.'
'Send one to Hermione too. Actually, get yourselves involved and tell your mum to do something that'll really wind her up.'
The look of trouble making was back on their faces.
'Oho, with pleasure,' said Fred smiling and with a laugh, Y/N made his way back over to the others.
They wandered around aimlessly for a while before Hermione dragged them off to meet up with her parents. They ran into Mr and Mrs Weasley and Ginny as they were about to head into the Leaky Cauldron. Mrs Weasley lead Ginny off to a second-hand robe shop, but Mr Weasley seemed to want to meet Hermione's parents so he joined them as they re-entered the Leaky Cauldron.
'Mum! Dad!' cried Hermione as she ran across the pub and hugged her mum.
'Pleasure to meet you again, Mr and Mrs Granger,' said Y/N shaking Mr Granger's hand. 'This is Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and Mr Weasley.'
'But you're muggles!' cried Mr Weasley. 'We must have a drink! I have so many questions!'
'He finds muggles fascinating,' Y/N whispered to Mr Granger, who looked suspicious. 'He doesn't get how you all manage without magic.'
Mr Granger simply shrugged and engaged in a conversation about light bulbs with Mr Weasley whilst Hermione spoke to her mum. Ron, Harry and Y/N moved over to the bar.
'What's it been like spending the summer with Hermione?' Harry asked Y/N as they sat there watching them.
'Relaxing,' said Y/N honestly. 'It got lonely with just mum, but its nice to have someone I can talk to whenever I want and then also just spend a quiet evening reading with.'
'You two sound like you're already together,' Harry said as he smirked at him.
'You say already as if she'd ever say yes.'
'Aha!' cried Harry, turning to Ron who looked grumpy.
'What?' asked Y/N as Ron handed Harry 5 sickles.
'Bet him that you liked Hermione, he reckoned you didn't and you were just friends.'
'But I never said-'
'Yeah you did mate,' said Harry, patting Y/N gently on the shoulder. 'But seriously, she'd totally say yes! She's spent the entire summer at yours! Friends don't just do that.'
'When are you and Ron announcing it then?' asked Y/N.
'You know what I mean.'
'Look, I doubt she sees me as more than someone's who's nice to her. I doubt she likes me like that,' but even as he said it, Y/N couldn't help but feel like he was lying to them and himself.
'If you want to keep being dense mate you go ahead, but you'll want to make a move soon. Or she'll do it for you.'
Y/N opened his mouth to respond but stopped himself as Hermione reappeared at his shoulder.
'Ready to go?' she asked brightly. 'You okay Y/N? You look a bit red.'
'Fine!' he said in an unnaturally high voice. 'Your parents not coming with us?'
'They're a bit nervous with the amount of people, and I don't think Mr Weasley is going to let them escape any time soon.'
Sure enough, Mr Weasley had whisked them over to a table and seemed deep in conversation with Mr Granger.
They made their way out of the Leaky Cauldron, back into the alley and began moving around the shops gathering what they need for the next year. Y/N and Hermione dragged Ron and Harry to many of the 'boring' shops for studying supplies, parchment and anything else they'd need.
They ran into the twins and Lee still inside the joke shop and came across Percy inside a tiny little junk shop, he seemed to be reading a book. Y/N leant over one of the nearby shelves to read the title.
''A study of Hogwarts prefects and their later careers',' he read aloud.
'Sounds fascinating Perc,' said Ron.
'Go away!' Percy snapped.
'He's very ambitious, Percy, he's got it all planned out. Wants to be Minister for Magic,' said Ron in an undertone as they moved away.
Around an hour later and they made their way over to Flourish and Blotts. A small queue was forming out the front of the store.
'Honestly,' scoffed Hermione, looking at the horde of witches attempting to pile in. 'You'd think they had nothing better to do than fawn over him. Just cause he's in a book doesn't make him that likeable.'
Y/N raised his eyebrows at her.
'What?' she asked looking up at him.
'I'd have thought you of all people would like someone more for being in a book.'
'Yes, if they actually were capable of the things they were in the book for. But from what your mums been saying, Lockhart clearly isn't.'
'Wonder how different her tune would be if Y/N wasn't here,' Ron muttered so that Hermione couldn't hear him.
Eventually, after the wizard out the front of the store got almost trampled twice, the crowd thinned and Ron, Hermione, Harry and Y/N managed to slip their way inside.
'Here you go,' said Y/N passing out a copy of 'The Standard Book of Spells Grade 2' to Harry and Ron.
'Are you not getting one?' asked Harry, looking at Y/N who raised his eyebrows.
'Harry, I've already got it remember. Me and Hermione spent most of last year reading it.'
'Oh yeah.'
'You want one 'Mione?' he asked, turning to reach over again.
'Don't need one, I can just share with you. If you're okay with that of course.'
'Doesn't bother me,' he said. 'Just means we'll need to do our revision sessions together.'
'You say that as if we didn't anyway.'
'True.'
The four of them slunk through the crowd to re-join the Weasleys and Hermione's parents who were all gathered, waiting for Lockhart to make his appearance.
'Oh, there you are, good,' said Mrs Weasley. She sounded breathless and kept patting her hair. 'We'll be able to see him in a minute…'
At that moment, Gilderoy Lockhart came slowly into view. Y/N immediately didn't like him. The man had a permanent toothy smile affixed to his face, it looked almost painful. And around him many pictures also did the same, winking and beaming down at the crowd. His robes and hat were both a garish blue and his hat was lopsided.
'Hate him,' said Y/N and Harry and Ron nodded.
A small man was dancing around them, trying to take photographs with a large black camera. It spat out plumes of purple smoke every time he used it.
'Out of the way there,' he said, knocking Ron aside. 'This is for the Daily Prophet.'
'Big deal,' said Ron, but Lockhart had apparently heard them. His eyes locked onto Ron and then travelled onto Harry. He jumped to his feet.
'It can't be. Harry Potter?' he called into the crowd.
'Good luck mate,' said Y/N, placing a hand on Harry's back and pushing him forward. The crowd parted, and Lockhart seized Harry's arm, pulling him up to the front desk. The crowd burst into applause and Y/N could see Harry's face almost letting off steam.
The photographer was dancing around them clicking away madly. As they began to become steadily buried under a pile of the purple smoke, Y/N seized Hermione's hand and moved her more off to the side.
'You okay?' she asked as he crouched down behind her, glancing over her shoulder.
'I am here to watch this and then I am leaving, Harry is going to kill me.'
'Nice big smile Harry!' called Lockhart. 'Together, you and I are worth the front page.'
Lockhart eventually let go of Harry's hand and Y/N watched Harry rubbing it gingerly, scanning the crowd. His eyes connected with Y/N's.
'Well. That's my cue,' he said, and he made to duck away.
Harry went to stalk after him, but Lockhart threw an arm around his shoulders, locking Harry against his side.
'Never mind,' and he returned his head to Hermione's shoulder.
'Ladies and Gentlemen!' Lockhart proclaimed loudly, as he waved to the crowd. 'What an extraordinary moment this is! The perfect moment for me to make a little announcement I've been sitting on for some time!'
Y/N groaned.
'When young Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts today, he only wanted to buy my autobiography. Which, I shall be happy to present him now, free of charge—' The crowd applauded. 'He had no idea,' Lockhart continued, as he shook Harry, 'that he would shortly be getting much, much more than my book, Magical Me. He and his schoolmates will, in fact, be getting the real magical me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have great pleasure and pride in announcing that this September, I will be taking up the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!'
The crowd began cheering and clapping as Lockhart pushed his entire collection of books into Harry's hands.
'You'd think he'd get sick of hearing himself after a while,' said Hermione. Y/N laughed and then straightened up. 'You going to dash away again?'
'Nah, I reckon he's over it,' said Y/N brightly as he watched Harry slip into the crowd. 'I'm also much taller than he is, and he has an Invisibility Cloak. It just wouldn't work.'
'You can feel the cloak coming.'
'Stop being smart.'
'No,' said Hermione, smirking at him.
'Good, smart suits you,' he said, and Hermione went pink. They made their way back over to where the Weasleys had been stood, all that was left there was Ginny as the rest had moved forward to pick up Lockhart's books.
A moment later and Y/N was rubbing his arm.
'Okay, yeah, I deserved that,' he said, looking at the spot Harry had just punched.
'Yeah. You did,' said Harry angrily as he tipped his stack of Lockhart books into Ginny's cauldron. 'You have these,' he added looking at Ginny. 'I'll buy my own.'
'Bet you loved that didn't you Potter?' came a drawling voice from behind them, and they turned to see Draco Malfoy who had apparently crept closer in the noise. 'Famous Harry Potter, can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page.'
'Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!' said Ginny. Y/N threw her a thumbs up but she didn't seem to have noticed. She was glaring at Malfoy.
'Potter. You've got yourself a girlfriend,' sneered Malfoy and Ginny went scarlet.
'Reckon that's enough out of you,' said Y/N, stepping between Malfoy and Ginny just as Ron reappeared alongside them.
'Oh, it's you,' said Ron, looking at Malfoy as if he were something unpleasant on the bottom of his shoe. 'Bet you're surprised to see Harry here, eh?'
'Not as surprised as I am to see you in a shop, Weasley,' retorted Malfoy. 'I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for all those.'
Ron went red, Hermione and Harry grabbed him as Y/N stepped towards Malfoy.
'I've given you your warning Malfoy,' he said darkly. 'Drop it, now.'
'Or what L/N? Going to get your mummy to take some points off me?'
'My mummy won't be able to save you from what I'll do to you.'
The two glared at each other for a moment before a voice rang out towards them.
'There you are,' said Mr Weasley, fighting his way towards them. 'What are you doing? It's too crowded out here, let's go outside.'
Y/N didn't move, his and Malfoy's eyes were still locked.
'Get away from my son,' came a harsh voice from next to Y/N, and he glanced up into a pair of extremely pale, cold grey eyes and a very pale pointed face.
Y/N held his gaze for a fraction of a second, before he felt a tug on his arm, and he allowed Hermione to pull him back towards the rest of their group.
'Well, well, well. Arthur Weasley,' drawled Mr Malfoy as he straightened up.
'Lucius,' said Mr Weasley, nodding coldly.
'Busy time at the Ministry, I hear,' said Mr Malfoy. 'All those raids… I hope they're paying you overtime?'
He reached into Ginny's cauldron and pulled, from amid the Lockhart books, a very old, very battered copy of 'A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration'.
'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's face tightened.
'We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy,' he said.
'Clearly,' said Mr Malfoy, his eyes travelled onto Mr and Mrs Granger, who were standing nearby, watching. 'The company you keep, Weasley… and I thought your family could sink no lower—'
Y/N went to move forward but was interrupted as Mr Weasley threw himself at Lucius. They fell backwards into the nearby bookshelf sending dozens of books cascading to the floor around their heads.
'Get him dad!' yelled Fred.
'Arthur no!' came Mrs Weasley's voice from somewhere nearby.
Y/N pulled Hermione out of the crowd of people and waterfall of books just as Hagrid's voice rang through over all others.
'Break it up, there, gents! Break it up-'
He reached the two struggling figures and easily pulled them apart. Mr Weasleys lip was bleeding and Lucius seemed to be holding a hand over his eye. He was still holding Ginny's book. He thrust the book towards her.
'Ah!' gasped Y/N, staggering slightly, Hermione caught him. His head had given a powerful pulse. Despite his meagre understanding of his ability, he could sense that whatever he'd just felt was pure evil.
'What's up?' Hermione asked worried. 'Is it your sense?'
Y/N nodded. 'Give us a hand?'
Hermione held him up as Y/N closed his eyes. He sent his mind outwards and felt it wrap around something. At first it looked a little bit like Ginny's transfiguration book, but a split second later and a plain black book swam into view, it looked almost like a diary.
He could feel his eyes watering, and when he opened them his vision was blurred.
'Here,' came Hermione's voice, and she pressed something into his hand. He bit down on the chocolate she'd given him as the two Malfoys swept from the shop.
'Where did you even get this?' he asked, looking at the chocolate in his hand. 'I haven't had any on me all summer.'
'Just because you don't plan for sudden things like that doesn't mean I don't,' she said, still helping to prop him up. 'I've been carrying a bar on me since I heard what happened at Christmas with Harry's cloak.'
'You're too good to me,' he said, straightening up as Harry and Ron made their way over.
'You okay Y/N?' asked Harry looking at his pale face, but Y/N simply nodded. He wanted to investigate himself more before he told them.
'Me and Hermione still need our Lockhart books,' he said weakly. 'You two head out, we'll catch up.'
The two boys retreated outside the store with the rest of the Weasleys and the Grangers. Y/N felt the evil presence receding as they did.
'Mr Malfoy just slipped Ginny something,' he said quietly to Hermione. 'It feels evil, but from what I can see it's just a diary.'
'Should we tell them?' she asked looking concerned, but Y/N shook his head.
'I'd rather my ability didn't become common knowledge, and that's a definite way to get me noticed. Mr and Mrs Weasley will know what to do with it. I'm sure Ginny will tell them once she finds it.'
'Should we grab his books before we leave?' asked Hermione, nodding her head towards Lockhart. 'Saves us needing to come back.'
''Suppose,' said Y/N. 'You going to get him to sign them too?'
'Don't think I won't punch you, Y/N.'
And with a laugh, they both made their way forward to pick up their new schoolbooks.
