A/N: I know it's been a long time since I've updated! Hopefully my next chapter lives up to the previous ones~
The following Wednesday, Ginny's mother woke everybody up early and hastily fed each Weasley around half a dozen bacon sandwiches. After Ginny had finished eating, she walked over to the fireplace, around which the rest of the Weasleys and Harry were gathered. Mrs. Weasley offered the flowerpot of Floo powder to Harry first.
"W-what am I supposed to do?" he stammered. Ginny knew at once that Harry had no idea of what to do with the green powder.
"Harry's never traveled by Floo powder before!" Ron exclaimed. Then, as an afterthought: "Sorry, Harry, I forgot."
Ginny refrained from rolling her eyes at her stupid brother as Fred demonstrated, quickly grabbing a pinch of powder from the pot. Stepping into the fireplace and grinning widely at Harry's shock, he threw the powder into the flames and said clearly, "Diagon Alley!" Fred disappeared in a flash of bright light.
George went next, followed by Mr. Weasley, and then it was Harry's turn. He inhaled a lungful of smoke, and choked, "D-Diagon Alley!"
"Oh dear," Mr. Weasley shook her head. "That didn't sound very clear at all."
Ron took the Floo powder. Ginny followed, and when she reached Diagon Alley, she didn't see Harry anywhere. Mrs. Weasley followed her out of the fire.
"Mum, I don't know where Harry is," Ron said, worried.
After what felt like hours, Ron, Fred, George, Ginny, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley found Harry in front of Gringotts, talking to Hagrid—the Keeper of Keys and gamekeeper at Hogwarts—and Hermione Granger, Harry and Ron's best friend from school.
"Harry!"
Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a big hug; he had ended up in Knockturn Alley, a street famed for its support of the Dark Arts.
"Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes'?" Harry said as they climbed the steps. "Malfoy and his father—"
Ginny's father interrupted sharply, "Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?"
"No, he was selling—"
"So he's worried. Oh, I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something…"
Mrs. Weasley's tone was warning. "You be careful, Arthur, that family's trouble. Don't go biting off more than you can chew—"
"So you don't think I'm a match for Lucius Malfoy, eh?" demanded Mr. Weasley.
He was, rather thankfully, distracted by Hermione Granger's parents, who were shyly standing at the counter that ran along the great marble hall, exchanging Muggle money into wizarding money. They were waiting nervously for Hermione to introduce them.
"But you're Muggles! We must have a drink! What's that you've got there? Oh, you're exchanging Muggle money! Molly, look!" He pointed excitedly at the ten-pound notes in Mr. Granger's hand. Ron caught Ginny's eye as they both tried to conceal their giggles.
The Weasleys, Harry, and the goblin all piled into one of the carts. As it rolled along the little railway tracks in the narrow stone passageway, the cart suddenly went downhill. Ginny's eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, but she kept them wide open.
"What's a stalagmite and what's a stalactite?" Ron asked.
Harry answered. "I'm not sure—I asked Hagrid in my first year but I don't remember. What I do remember is that he was too sick to speak."
They finally reached the Weasleys' vault. Mrs. Weasley blushed and hastily gathered everything in the vault—one Galleon and a small pile of Sickles—into a small bag and told the goblin to take them to Harry's vault.
When they reached his vault, Ginny saw that Harry was blushing. Seemingly attempting to hide his money, he hastily withdrew some and returned to the cart. The goblin led the cart back to the marble hall where Hermione was waiting.
"We'll all meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your schoolbooks," Mrs. Weasley said. "And not one step down Knockturn Alley!" she shouted to the twins' retreating backs. She shook her head exasperatedly when they waved her off.
Ron and Harry walked in a different direction with Hermione. Mrs Weasley accompanied Ginny to buy her new robes.
Ginny had been to Diagon Alley many times before, but it never ceased to amaze her. Ginny's mother and she walked into the secondhand robe shop. The witch at the counter smiled and said teasingly, "Another child, Molly?"
Mrs Weasley laughed. "And the last. Ginny, this is Daphne." Ginny waved.
"Daphne, this is Ginny, my only daughter. It's so exciting finally to be able to buy girls robes for her. Merlin only knows how exhausted I am of buying boys' robes after six of them."
The witch named Daphne smiled. "Oh I love fixing robes for first years! I've got another one over here. Come along, dearest. This is Miss Lovegood. You two chat while I go to the back to finish her robes."
Ginny's heart leapt. Luna! How could she not have known that her best friend was coming to Diagon Alley on the same day as herself?
"Luna!" Ginny grinned as Daphne retreated into the back.
"Ginny?" Luna turned around, and her eyes turned big and bright. "I didn't know you were going to be here today!"
"Neither did I. I was so afraid of meeting a bully, or a mermaid or something. Imagine if I'd met a centaur?"
Luna smiled. "That wouldn't be too strange, centaurs are extremely wise creatures. I'd suppose they'd be in Ravenclaw."
"But what about that one Decree? I think it says that mythical creatures can't go to Hogwarts."
"Pity. Although, I think there ought to be many half-wizards at Hogwarts. I think they're in disguise," Luna whispered.
Ginny laughed. "If we find a half-wizard, I will give you anything in the world that you want."
"If we find a half-wizard, Ginny Weasley, you must give me a Wailing Willowweed."
"Sure," Ginny smirked. "And if by our seventh year we haven't found one, Luna Lovegood, you're giving me a certificate saying Ginny Weasley Is Always Right, and ten Galleons for good measure."
At that moment, Daphne came back. "Miss Lovegood, I've got your robes, my dear. Now, Miss Weasley, it's your turn."
The measurements were taken and the robes fixed. Ginny and her mum walked out of the store towards the Apothecary, where Ginny got her potions ingredients and a new cauldron. Then they went to Ollivander's to get her a new wand.
Ginny had been inside the wand shop at least four times before, but she had been too young to properly remember how scary Mr. Ollivander was.
As soon as he saw her, he peered carefully into her face, and said, "I wondered when I would be seeing you, Miss Weasley."
Ginny didn't know what to say.
"Mr. Ollivander, it's so lovely to see you again," Ginny's mother said warmly. Ollivander turned away from Ginny and towards her mother.
"Quite so, Molly. I trust your wand is in top condition?"
"Yes, sir." Mrs. Weasley procured her wand and handed it to him. He examined it, and a small smile spread on his face.
"Twenty-plus years and still in tip-top condition!" Mrs. Weasley said proudly. Ollivander nodded approvingly.
"Now, to your youngest daughter." Ollivander swiftly turned around and walked to the back room. He spent a few minutes looking through multiple boxes, then picked one up and walked back to the desk. He handed it to Ginny, saying, "Try this—12 inches, willow, very swishy. Dragon heartstring."
Excited, Ginny waved the wand, but nothing happened.
"Not to worry, not to worry..."
He walked to another section of the store, rummaged around for a few minutes, and brought out another box. "Holly and unicorn hair, 10 inches, quite whippy."
Nothing happened, but Ollivander didn't feel or look dismayed.
"Ah, I thought as much. Now let me see..."
After multiple more failed attempts, Ollivander looked under his desk and brought out yet another wand box. "Ah, I've a good feeling about this one. Holly and unicorn tail hair, eight point five inches, nice and supple."
Ginny waved the wand and there was sudden warmth in her fingers. Her hair blew around her face. She raised the wand above her head and waved it, and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like fireworks.
"Ah, yes! How wonderful."
Ginny gave Ollivander the seventeen sickles she owed for the wand and waved goodbye as Mrs. Weasley called her.
"Ginny! Ginny, dear! We have to go to Flourish and Blotts right now. We're late!"
Ginny ran after her mother and the two walked across the street towards the bookstore. As they approached the bookstore, they saw a large banner stretched across the whole upper windows:
GILDEROY LOCKHART
will be signing copies of his autobiography
MAGICAL ME
today 12:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.
"It's Gilderoy Lockhart!" said her mum, breathlessly patting her hair.
They went inside and found themselves in a large bookshop which had pictures of Gilderoy Lockhart stuck on every wall. The bookshop was very crowded with not only school students but also with people queuing up for signed copies of Lockhart's new book.
Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, Percy and Mr. and Mrs. Granger were already there. Percy called, "Over here!"
Ginny and her mother walked towards them and stood in line and at just that moment, Harry, Ron and Hermione arrived, laden with school supplies.
"Oh, there you are, good. We'll be able to see him in a minute!" Mrs. Weasley was as close to squealing as Ginny had ever seen. She seemed to think that everyone shared her enthusiasm about meeting the famous Gilderoy Lockhart. (Ginny believed that Harry was much more famous, and much more worth knowing.)
Gilderoy Lockhart came slowly into view, seated at a table which was surrounded by pictures of himself, all winking and wearing a big grin. Multiple sets of his pearly white teeth flashed dazzlingly at the crowd. The real Lockhart was wearing robes of forget-me-not blue which were the exact same color as his eyes, his wavy hair was almost all hidden by a wizards hat set at a jaunty angle. A short, cross-looking old man was jumping around taking photographs with a large black camera that was releasing purple puffs of smoke with every blinding flash.
Ron yelled in pain—apparently the cameraman had stepped on his foot. Instead of apologizing, he said to Ron, "Out of the way, there, this is for the Daily Prophet—"
"Big deal," said Ron, who was rubbing his foot.
Gilderoy Lockhart heard him. He looked at Ron—then he saw Harry. Then he practically shouted, "It can't be Harry Potter?"
Lockhart dived forward, grabbed Harry's arm, and pulled him up front. The grumpy cameraman took picture after picture. Harry was as red as Ginny had been when she had buttered her elbow.
"Ladies and gentlemen, what an extraordinary moment this is! The perfect moment for me to make a little announcement I've been sitting on for some time! 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—he had no idea 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 Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"
Ron, Fred and George gasped in horror, Percy dropped his books on the floor; however, Mrs. Weasley and Hermione's eyes lit up, excited. Ginny exchanged a look of horror with her father, who said to her, "A tutor, perhaps, would be wise…"
Lockhart gave Harry a large case full of every single book he had ever written. Harry staggered back towards the Weasleys and Grangers under the weight of the books, still as red as a brick.
Harry dropped the books into Ginny's cauldron, saying, "You have these—I'll buy my own—"
Ginny was speechless. She knew that Harry didn't want them, and he didn't want to get them for free, and all, but giving them to her? Ginny didn't know that she should accept them, but before she could refuse, a sneering, drawling voice said, "Bet you loved that, didn't you Potter? Famous Harry Potter can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page!"
Ginny knew who he was—he was Draco Malfoy, the boy who hated Harry and the Weasleys.
Maybe it was her anger at Lockhart for putting Harry on the spot, maybe it was her inherent hatred for the Malfoys, or maybe it was a combination of both; whatever the reason was, Ginny suddenly spoke for the first time in front of Harry, glaring daggers at Malfoy, "Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!"
"Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!" Malfoy drawled. Ginny flushed scarlet. Would someone please dig me a hole so I can go die in it please thank you goodbye.
Harry didn't deign a reply. Ron and Hermione fought their way over, both clutching stacks of Lockhart's books.
"Oh, it's you," said Ron, looking at Malfoy as if he was something unpleasant on the sole of his shoe. "Bet you're surprised to see Harry here, eh?"
"Not as surprised as I am to see you in a bookshop, Weasley," retorted Malfoy. "I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for all of those."
Ron's face turned as red as Ginny's. He dropped his books into the cauldron and started towards Malfoy, but Harry and Hermione grabbed the back of his jacket.
"Ron! What are you doing? It's too crowded here, let's go outside!" said Mr. Weasley, struggling over with Fred and George.
"Well, well, well—Arthur Weasley." It was Mr. Malfoy.
"Lucius," nodded Mr. Weasley curtly.
"Busy time at the Ministry, I hear. All those raids…I hope they're paying you overtime?" said Mr. Malfoy, reaching into Ginny's cauldron.
From amidst the glossy Lockhart books, he brought out a very old, very battered copy of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration which had once belonged to Bill.
"Obviously not. Dear me, what is the use of being a disgrace to the name of a wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?"
Mr. Weasley flushed. "We have a verydifferent idea of what disgraces the name of a wizard, Malfoy," he said.
"Clearly." Pause. "The company you keep, Weasley…and I thought your family could sink no lower—"
There was a thud of metal as Ginny's cauldron went flying; Mr. Weasley had thrown himself on Mr. Malfoy, knocking him backwards into a bookshelf.
Fred, George, Ginny and Ron yelled, "Get him dad!" and Mrs. Weasley was shrieking, "NO, Arthur, NO!" while Hermione shouted "Mr. Weasley, no!" Percy shook his head disapprovingly while the Grangers watched, looking terrified.
"Gentlemen, please—please!" cried the assistant to no avail, and then, Hagrid's voice came, louder than the rest, "Break it up, there, gents, break it up—"
Hagrid pulled Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy apart.
Mr. Malfoy was still holding Ginny's old Transfiguration book. He shoved it at her, his eyes glittering with malice, and said, "Here, girl—take your book—it's the best your father can give you—"
He beckoned to Draco and pulled him out of the shop.
Ginny had never before felt so scared by a person.
"Yeh shoulda ignored him, Arthur. Rotten ter the core, the whole family, everyone knows that—no Malfoy's worth listenin' ter—bad blood, that's what it is—come on, now—let's get outta here."
They hurried up the street, the Grangers shaking with fright. Mrs. Weasley was beside herself with fury. "A fine example to set for your children…brawlingin public…what Gilderoy Lockhart must've thought!—"
Fred interrupted. "He was pleased. Didn't you hear him as we were leaving? He was asking that bloke from the Daily Prophet if he'd be able to work that fight into the report—said it was all publicity—"
They went to the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron, subdued. The Weasleys and Harry would be traveling to the Burrow using Floo powder. They said goodbye to the Grangers, who were going by Muggle transportation.
Ginny saw Harry take off his glasses and put them into his pocket before helping himself to some Floo Powder. I'm sure it isn't his favorite way to travel, thought Ginny.
A/N: Next chapter should be hopefully up within a week. Reviews are like hot chocolate on a cold rainy day!