OOO
"Oh, book shopping." Ginny heaved a sigh. "Is there any task quite so thrilling?"
"I told you, you can have mine," Draco pointed out. "No need for you to come with us."
"He's right you know," Theo added. "They've probably never even been opened," he told her, evading an elbow in the side from Draco. "Fine. Maybe he opened them once."
"Well Mum said that all the DADA books are new. And I need to get a wand from Ollivander's, which is something I should really do myself. Besides, books and wands or not, if I don't come with, I'll miss out on the ice cream afterwards, which is, as we call know, the most important part of any trip to Diagon Alley."
"And I'm sure that the presence of certain blond, pompous, Witch Weekly award winning smile holders would have nothing to do with your desire to accompany us on this errand?" Theo teased.
"No!"
"Careful there, Theo," Harry grinned. "She really looks irritated."
"I'll say," Theo laughed. "Methinks the lady doth protest…OW!" He winced as Ginny slapped him on the back of his head.
"And the next person who says something like that, I'll knee him in the…"
"Fine!" Theo backed away from her. "We get the idea. Very clearly. Really," he said with a glare at Harry and Draco to be quiet.
"You know," Luna said as she skipped, "for being the winner of so many smile awards he doesn't have a very good one."
"Of course he doesn't. He's a smarmy git and smarmy gits don't have good smiles," Draco replied.
"The readership of Witch Weekly might disagree," Harry pointed out.
"The readership of Witch Weekly – Mrs. Weasley and her recipes notwithstanding – probably has a single collective brain cell between them," Theo added, rolling his eyes.
"And… there's a line." Draco's shoulders slumped as he looked at the throng of girls outside of Flourish and Blott's.
"Are you that surprised?" Theo's eyebrow arched.
"No. Not really. I was just…" He trailed off, frowning. "Is that Hermione?
"I think it is," Harry nodded.
The bushy-haired girl noticed them and began waving them over vigorously. The walked up to her, finding her flushed and clutching a stack of books.
"Are you here for the Lockhart signing too?" She asked. "I would have come over but I've been waiting in line for over an hour and I didn't want to lose my place. Isn't this exciting? I can't believe I'm going to get to meet with him, talk to him, breath the same air as him…"
Theo looked like he'd been punched in the face. "Please tell me you aren't serious," he said when he finally regained his ability to speak.
"What do you mean? Of course I am!" She gushed. "I mean, you don't get a chance like this very often, do you, to meet somebody with such an illustrious career and such a… such a stunning smile."
"I… uh… I think we'd better go," Draco said, dragging Nott, whose mouth was gaping like a fish out of water, away from the scene. "Are they letting in people who aren't here for the signing? You know, to get textbooks and all?"
"I think so. Around the corner there's another entrance. But you won't get your books signed that way."
"You know, Hermione, I must admit that is not a big priority for us," Harry replied.
She nodded like she understood. "Girl thing I guess. But what about your friends?" She looked at Ginny and Luna. "Won't they want to get theirs signed?"
"Oh not at all," Luna told her. "I think he's false and pretentious. And disconcerting and a little bit nauseating."
"Really." Hermione stated flatly, glaring daggers.
"Well of course," Luna went on. "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't truly believe it. And do you know that he never talked about the snorkacks in any of his books on travel?"
"The what?" Hermione demanded, agitation evident.
"Textbooks!" Draco pushed Ginny and Luna simultaneously, motioning for Harry to drag Theo away before he or Ginny could start adding their objections to Lockhart's existence. "Lots to do, have to run…"
"Wasn't that Susan and Hannah a few places behind her?" Harry turned to Draco once they were safely inside the bookstore, away from Hermione and anything blond and grinning.
"Probably was," Draco groaned. "I wonder if the whole year is going to be like this and if every girl is going to go spare."
"I'm a girl and I haven't gone spare," Ginny pointed out in an affronted tone.
"What I'd rather know is why all of his books are on our reading list." Theo glowered at the parchment he was holding. "Quirrell was an awful teacher, no doubt about it, but who would be fool enough to assign the drivel this moron writes?" The obvious answer occurred to him and to Harry simultaneously and they exchanged looks of horror.
"What?" Draco looked at one then the other. "You two look like you've been munching vomit flavored Bertie Bott's."
"Lockhart," Harry murmured.
"They wouldn't," Nott rejoined. "They have to have some standards."
Draco snorted. "What? You think they're going to make that one a teacher?"
"Who else would assign his books?" Nott pointed out. "It's the only answer that makes sense."
When Lockhart caught sight of Harry and waved him over to make a 'tremendous announcement' only minutes later, Theo shot Draco an 'I-told-you-so' smirk and Draco groaned.
"He'll be at the school too?" He moaned as the air filled with adolescent squeals.
"Hex me now," Theo muttered.
"Hex you? Hex him more like. Maybe we'll get lucky and the bad luck that trails that DADA job will hit him early. As in one week in early."
"One week? Our brains will be rot by then," Ginny grumbled.
"You really think so?" Luna sounded distressed. "Brain rot is a very serious condition. You really think he has it and he might be contagious?"
Draco grinned. "I don't think he's quite that bad. But I wouldn't listen to his lectures too closely, just in case."
Luna nodded as if this were sage advice.
"Probably wouldn't learn anything even if you did," Theo remarked offhandedly as he perused the stacks for additional reading just as Harry escape the throng and made his way back.
"Done with your public so soon, Mr. Potter?" Draco teased.
"Skip it," he grumbled, shoving the books in Ginny's direction. "Here, take them."
"What?" She scoffed. "The autographed copies? Thanks but no thanks. Don't you need them for your classes too?"
"I'll get my own." He looked uneasy. "I mean, they're pretty pricey…"
Uncomfortable silence descended and Ginny looked away for a moment, blushing, then turned back smirking. "Why don't you give them to Hermione? I'll bet she'd like them." She looked at Theo in a skeptical fashion. "You know, I thought you said she was smart."
"She is!" Nott folded his arms, exasperated. "Probably the smartest witch in our level! That's why I can't understand why she's so… so gone over this moron."
"We are mysterious creatures," Ginny said, sticking her tongue in her cheek. "And you know what? Never mind about the books. I think I'll manage just fine without them."
"Shall we finish up and go to Florean Fortescue's, then?"
"Definitely," Draco nodded. "The sooner we're out of the Lockhart-polluted air the better."
OOO
Remus settled into the café chair and listened to the swirl of voices around him as he sipped his tea. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched the children head towards the ice cream parlor, catching sight of Sirius on their way. He stood up from the window of robes he was looking at and made a move as if to go towards Harry, only to see Draco next to Harry, herding him away. Draco and Sirius made eye contact for a moment before Draco pushed Harry inside and Sirius moved on.
The patter of voices around Remus started up again.
"…would have thought he would be more insistent…"
"I heard he was the godfather…"
"…well I'd still be bitter, wouldn't you?"
"…falling in with a boy like that…"
"…it only goes to show…"
"I'm surprised they even let them hang out together."
"…mother's married to his cousin…"
"Bad blood all around…"
"…then who's been raising him?"
"I heard Muggles…"
"They're always seen together, you know."
"…Hogwarts, even?"
"…surprised a lot of people, his house did…"
The conversation continued, speculating on who might be influencing whom and trying to guess reasons and motivations behind every little action that they saw.
It was all Remus could do to keep from laughing.
OOO
At the end of the day, Draco slipped back to his own house with Harry, secretly relieved that he'd been able to convince Harry to stay with him for the last few days and that his parents had been more than willing to let him go book shopping with his friends alone. Ginny seemed thankful that her parents had agreed to stay home as well. One on one, parents weren't so bad, but he didn't want to imagine what might have happened if their parents had run into each other. Harry was edgy enough about the Malfoys as it was, something Draco had attempted to explain to his parents.
They walked Luna back since it was getting dark and both he and Harry agreed that, despite the relative safety of the surrounding countryside, they should make sure that she got home safely. Upon seeing them, her father smiled when he met them at the door.
"And how did you like your birthday gift?"
"Very much!" Draco grinned. "My parents freaked a bit when they found out I had him, but he's been behaving and staying back in his cave and not harassing the peacocks or digging up the flower beds."
"Well I was certainly glad to assist in the effort!" He beamed. "I can think of no fitter person to take charge of a cerberus."
"Thanks!"
"Draco?" Harry motioned towards the setting sun. "We need to get back. Sorry," he apologized to Mr. Lovegood.
"No trouble at all. Good luck at Hogwarts – may your minds be open to the fantastic."
"So the dog is doing well?" Harry asked as the rode back.
"Definitely. You can see him if you like. He's really very nice, I assure you."
"Maybe. Maybe. Not too keen on meeting huge hellhounds alone in the woods."
"Oh, don't worry about that. He's my dog, he'd never hurt you or anybody else I like. Really, beneath it all, he's very sweet."
"If you say so… race you!"
They urged the horses into a gallop that didn't stop until they pulled up at the manor, leapt off and then dashed for the door. Draco reached it first, Harry catching up a moment later.
"Told you I would be faster the next time," the silver-haired boy panted.
"Draco!" Harry laughed, turning and leaning against the door. "That was ages ago!"
"I have a long memory," he replied, hitting the doorbell.
"Back so soon?" His mother gave them an arched looked when she opened the door. "You two have the ride to school tomorrow you know. Did you both buy everything that was on the list? Are you all packed and ready to go?"
"I know, I know! We're fine, totally read, I promise. One or two things left." As he entered he gave his father a look. "And dad?"
"Yes?"
"You're on the Board of Governors for Hogwarts, right?"
"I am. Why do you ask?"
"Who on earth decided to let Lockhart teach?" He demanded with a touch of indignance, leaning down to scratch Dragon behind the ears. "I thought the point of school was to get at least some education. I mean, not to sound like Nott, but the only thing bright about this guy is his teeth."
Glancing at Narcissa first, he leaned in towards Draco and Harry. "You see, this is why we shouldn't let witches make decisions," he whispered.
"I heard that Lucius! And this witch is about to decide that you will be sleeping on the couch tonight!"
Lucius blushed only faintly and smirked as he shooed the boys upstairs.
OOO
I'm tired, so tired, I can't continue on like this…
You will keep it up. They cannot know. You know what will happen if they know...
My face hurts. I hate to smile when…
Swallow your dislike. You are good at that aren't you? You've had so much practice.
Tired…
If you cannot, I can. Slip in like a glove…
I still don't understand. I don't know what you're… I don't see what you think you can gain…
All will be clear. But not to you.
OOO
Ginny pressed her ear against Theo's door and knocked again. "Theo?" She rapped with her knuckles. "Theo, are you in there? Are the twins with you?"
The door swung open a second later, revealing a haggard looking Theo. "Sorry, just talking to me self, trying to remind myself to pack everything."
"Oh. Yeah, I guess there's a lot to remember." She sat on the bed and reached for a stray volume that he'd left sitting out. He breezed over, snatched it away and dropped it in his trunk before she could touch it, however.
"Do you have everything packed?" He asked her before she could inquire about the book.
"Mostly." She shrugged. "I mean, not like I have a whole lot to take."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Not like it ever bothered me or any of my brothers before. Well, any except Ron," she amended with a frown. "Really, Theo. Don't look so down. And hey, even if I can't have it this year, next time this year I'll have a Nimbus in tow," she grinned.
"I suppose." He put another armful of books in his trunk. "Speaking of… him… do you know how he's getting back to school? Has he even bought his books yet that you know of?"
"Who knows?" She shrugged. "For all we know he fell into the ocean. He's probably fine – I'm sure Pansy bought him everything." She rolled her eyes. "But even he's fine, Mum sure isn't. Crying her eyes out again about him going back without even seeing her. Dad's been trying to console her; I was rather hoping she'd forgotten she had such a rotten kid."
"She might see him at King's Crossing."
"Doubt it. But hey!" Ginny clapped. "Dad just told me! We're taking the car tomorrow!"
"What? The one he's been working on?"
"Yeah! Isn't that cool?"
"Yes," he managed a smile. "Yes, it is. I'll bet that Draco will be disappointed once he hears about this. The Malfoys are taking him and Harry up, I believe. I suspect he'll be crushed at the thought of such a lost opportunity."
"Not like the car is going anywhere. Well, it is but it's coming back. You know what I mean! Dad can give him a ride as soon as we have a break or something."
"Speaking of you father – is he licensed to drive the car?"
Ginny blushed. "He left that part out."
"Which means no." Theo smirked. "Wonderful."
"I'm sure he'll drive just fine," Ginny said with a touch of defensiveness.
"And I'm sure I would rather see one of the twins behind the whell," Theo rejoined.
Ginny couldn't help laughed at this, leaning back with a sigh when she finally caught her breath. "So is Hogwarts everything that you guys say it is? Be honest with me Theo. What's it really like? What should I expect?"
"Expect Snape to be nasty, right from the start. Expect to learn nothing in Defense Against the Dark Arts because Lockhart is a blithering idiot – although I suspect you already knew that. Expect your brother and his toadying gal pal to cause trouble. Do not, under any circumstances, eat anything the twins give you – although I suspect you already knew that too. Feel free, however, to offer their wares to other firsties, especially the ones you don't like.
"If you need help finding anything, Harry, Draco or I always have the map somewhere between one of us and Draco and Harry are liberal with their invisibility cloaks – though get Harry's if you have need of one and you can. Nothing against Draco's but Harry's is fantastic. The still life down in the basement leads to the kitchens – just tickle the pear. There is, in fact, a giant squid and if you want to get acquainted with it, talk to Draco. He is, shall we say, well acquainted with the beast."
"Oh?" She grinned. "What did he do?"
Theo leaned over to her. "He snuck out one evening last spring and went swimming in the lake with it in his skivvies. Came back in his cloak, according to Ernie, soaked and practically starkers."
Ginny let out a shriek at this and gasped for a moment or two. "He didn't!"
"Does it sound like something he would do?"
"Well… yes." She stifled another giggle. "Somehow I don't think I want to be that familiar."
"Well, I'm sure the offer is on the table. As for anything else – the Forbidden Forest isn't nearly as fascinating as some make it out to be, the Room of Requirement is – and we can show you precisely where that is located since it doesn't show on the map – and Hagrid makes absolutely terrible pastries so that's another thing to avoid eating ever."
"I'll try to keep that in mind. All of it." She stood. "But I suppose I had better pack what I do have. We're leaving pretty early and I need to get some rest. You should too; you look like you could you it."
"Don't worry Ginny. I will." As soon as she left the room, his shoulder's sagged and he looked at the door, worn. "…at least I'll try."
OOO
A/N: The situation with the diary will become clearer as things progress and by the end everything will be explained. Promise. And yes, next chapter will in fact end with another sorting! So stick around to see where everybody ends up. :)