At Flourish and Blotts
Being at Merlon Manor was so different compared to being at Privet Drive. And Arthur loved that.
Whereas Privet Drive was very mundane and normal, Merlon Manor was truly magical and exciting.
It turns out that the Merlin portrait can communicate with whoever approaches it and Arthur had quite the conversations with the portrait to say the least. The ghoul in the attic would howl and drop pipes when it felt that it was too quiet and apparently, all of the small explosions that come from Jack and Kevin's room was a normal occurrence.
What surprised Arthur the most was how everyone made him feel like he was part of the family. This moved him so much that when they weren't looking, he'd shed tears, so happy to be so accepted by every member Merlon he met so far.
Martha often fed him some of his favourite foods and Ben would tell him stories of various cases he'd been involved with as an Auror, all of which were exciting and thrilling.
And with Mary, for the first few days, she was a bit nervous around Arthur, but eventually, when she got used to his presence, she proved to be a fun and bubbly personality.
One sunny morning, about a week after arriving at Merlon Manor, Arthur went down to have breakfast and was the last person to arrive at the kitchen table, excluding Sam. He sat down next to David and across from Mary, who was having porridge. Arthur took the toast that Martha offered him and started spreading butter and then jam.
"Your Hogwarts letters have arrived. Even yours, Arthur. Dumbledore knows, as he always does. He never misses a trick, that man." Ben said as he handed his children and Arthur envelopes of yellowish parchment, addressed in green ink.
There was a few minutes of silence as they all read their letters. Arthur's letter said the usual stuff of catching the Hogwarts Express from King's Cross station on September the first. And there was a list of the various new books he'd need for the upcoming school year.
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
Arthur ended up scrunching his face up, questioning why almost all the books are all from that pompous wizard. And he wasn't the only one questioning this.
"It looks like our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is either a witch, who's a big fan of his, or, and I hope this ain't true, it'll be Lockhart himself." Jack said.
"Honestly, why do we even need these books? They don't tell us things we need to know." David groaned.
"Let's just be glad we're not poor, all these books combined are very expensive." Kevin noted to his parents.
"Mmmm…. Of course, we also need to get Mary's school supplies." Martha said.
"So you're finally going to Hogwarts, huh?" Arthur asked Mary, who smiled with a nod. Just then, Sam finally arrived for breakfast, wearing black pyjama bottoms and a white tank top.
"Good morning, all." He greeted everyone, sitting down next to Arthur but he then leapt up instantly, shouting in shock, pulling up what at first looked like a moulting grey feather duster but Arthur realised it was an owl.
"Errol!" David said, taking the limp owl from Sam and extracted the letter from under its wing. "About time. He has Chrys' answer. I wrote to her before we went and picked you up."
Sam took Errol back and carried him to the perch by one of the windows, trying to stand him on it, only for Errol to flop straight off again. This made the Merlons all shake their heads.
David opened up the letter and both he and Arthur read it:
Dear David, and Arthur if you're there,
I hope that you managed to get to Arthur and make sure if he was okay. I do hope you two didn't get into trouble. Please let me know at once, though you'd probably have to use a different owl.
I've just finished all my homework by the time of writing this and me and my parents are going to London next Wednesday to buy my new books. We can meet in Diagon Alley.
Again, let me know what's happening as soon as possible,
Love from Chrys.
"That fits well. We can all go and get all your things then, too." Martha said as she was clearing the table. "What are you all up to today?"
Arthur, David and the twins planned on playing in the Quidditch pitch at the back of the manor that had the trees surround a clearing, providing space for goalposts and for the trees to act as a barrier. While the family had a Quaffle, they didn't have Bludgers or a Snitch as they'd be problematic if they were let loose and reached the nearby village.
The three Merlons took turns in trying out Arthur's Nimbus Two Thousand, and all of them agreed that they outclassed their Cleansweep Sevens. Even their dad took a turn on it and was truly impressed.
Five minutes later, they'd march their way to the pitch with their broomsticks over their shoulders. They'd asked Sam if he wanted to join, but he said that he was busy. Arthur would only ever see him during breakfast and other meal times. The rest of the time was him shut in his room.
"I just wished I knew what was up with him. He's been acting odd. His exam results actually came the day before we picked you up, you know. He got twelve O.W.L.s and didn't even say anything about it." Jack said to Arthur. Of course, since there aren't any clues, he can't figure out why he's been acting differently.
"O.W.L.s stands for Ordinary Wizarding Levels. Rob got twelve, too. I wouldn't be surprised if Sam ends up being Head Boy as well." Kevin added.
Rob was, of course, the oldest Merlon sibling. Both he and the next sibling, Kenny, had already left Hogwarts. Arthur hasn't met them yet, mainly because Kenny's in Romania, studying dragons, and Rob is in Egypt, working for the wizarding bank, Gringotts.
Kevin was doing some maths over the fact that they needed to get five sets of Lockhart books and getting Mary's supplies for her first year. It reminded Arthur of when he was surprised to learn of the vast wealth he inherited from his parents. He was glad the Merlons were wealthy as well because if they weren't he'd feel really awkward.
Martha had woken everyone up the following Wednesday. After half a dozen bacon sandwiches (Arthur devouring 8 as he loves bacon sandwiches) each, they all put on their jackets and then Martha took a flowerpot off the living room mantelpiece and looked inside.
"Ben, we're running low. We're gonna have to get some more today… anyway, after you, Arthur."
"Just… what am I supposed to do?" He asked, confused as everyone watched him.
"Mum, he's never travelled by Floo powder before. I'll go first." Jack said.
"Well, how did you get to Diagon Alley last year?" Ben asked Arthur, confused.
"Hagrid took me on his bike." Arthur replied, making Ben make a 'huh' sound.
Jack took a pinch of some kind of glittering powder out of the flowerpot before stepping into the fire and threw the powder into the flames, resulting in the fire turning emerald green and rose higher with a roar and Jack then stepped into it, shouting 'Diagon Alley!' before he vanished completely. Arthur was speechless.
"It's key that you speak the name of where you want to go clearly. And to get out at the right gate." Martha explained.
"What? What do you mean 'right gate'?" Arthur questioned, sounding worried as he watched Kevin vanish as well after he dipped his hand into the flowerpot.
"There are a lot of wizard fires to choose from, but if you were to speak clearly-"
"Martha, don't scare him before his first try." Ben cut his wife off, grabbing some Floo powder as well.
"But what would happen if he got lost? What would we say to his aunt and uncle?" Martha asked back.
"Just let me go first before Arthur, okay?" He said to her.
"Alright. Remember, Arthur, say where you're going-"
"Keep the elbows tucked in." David added.
"And have your eyes shut. All of that soot-"
"Make sure you don't fidget, otherwise you'll fall out of the wrong fireplace-"
"And don't panic and get out too early, just wait until you see both Jack and Kevin."
Trying to absorb all of the advice from his best friend and his mother, he grabbed a pinch of Floo powder and made it to the edge of the fire. He then took a deep breath and scattered the powder into the flames and stepped forward. The fire wasn't scolding hot, instead it was more of a warm breeze. When he opened his mouth, he unfortunately swallowed up a lot of ash.
"D-Dia-gon Alley." He coughed aloud.
He felt like he was being sucked through a plug hole and seemed to be spinning so fast, the roaring in his ears deafening. He tried keeping his eyes open but he just felt so queasy and sick from the whirling green flames. Something hard then knocked his elbow and got tucked in tightly, spinning and spinning…. He then felt what can be described as cold hands slapping his face. He was able to squint through his eyes and see glimpses of rooms.
He was able to keep the bacon sandwiches he ate inside and not throw up as he closed his eyes again, hoping this will all end soon, which it did.
He fell, face forward and onto cold stone.
Feeling so dizzy and bruised, covered in soot, he carefully got to his feet.
Arthur knew immediately that he was alone and didn't know where he was. He stood in the fireplace of a large and dimly lit wizard's shop with items that would definitely not be on a Hogwarts school list.
There was a glass case nearby that held a withered hand on a cushion, a blood stained pack of cards and a staring glass eye, all of which freaked Arthur out. There were also evil looking masks leering down from the walls, human bones laying upon the counter as well as rusty, spiked instruments that hung from the ceiling.
What made it all worse was the fact that the dark narrow street outside the dusty shop window was definitely not Diagon Alley.
He had to get out of there, and quickly.
Ignoring the pain on his nose from hitting the hearth, he quietly and stealthily made his way to the door but stopped halfway in horror upon seeing two people appear on the other side of the glass, one of whom was Draco Malfoy, the one person Arthur wanted to avoid at this very moment.
He looked around for somewhere to hide when he spotted a large black cabinet to his left. He shot right towards it and entered inside it, pulling the doors until there was a small crack for him to peer through.
Seconds later, a bell rang and Draco entered the shop.
The man who followed him was, without any doubt, Lucius Malfoy. He had the same pale, pointed face and identical cold grey eyes as well as long blonde hair. He also carried a walking stick that had the design of a snake on the top. He crossed the shop, looking at the various items on display lazily and then rang a bell on the counter before he turned to his son.
"Touch nothing, Draco." He said in a cold drawl as Draco was reaching the glass eye.
"I thought you were going to buy me a present." Draco whined, like the spoiled brat that he is.
"I said I would buy you a racing broom." Lucius replied, drumming his fingers on the counter.
"What's the good of that if I'm not in the house team? Arthur Pendergast got a Nimbus Two Thousand last year. Special permission from Dumbledore so he could play for Gryffindor. He's not even that good, it's just because he's famous… famous for having a stupid scar on his forehead…." Draco complained, looking sulky and bad tempered as he bent down to examine a shelf of skulls. Arthur frowned, seeing that he's planning to buy his way into the Slytherin team and is blind to the fact that Arthur is actually good.
"...everyone thinks he's so smart, wonderful Pendergast with his scar and his broomstick-"
"You have told me this at least a dozen times already," Lucius said with a quelling look to his son. "...and I would remind you that it is not prudent, to appear less than fond of Arthur Pendergast, not when most of our kind regard him as the hero who made the Dark Lord disappear - ah, Mr Borgin."
A man with greasy hair smoothed it back from his face as he appeared stopping behind the counter.
"Mr Malfoy, what a pleasure to see you again," Borgin said with a voice just as oily as his hair. "...and young Master Malfoy, too, charmed. How may I be of assistance? I must show you, just in today, and reasonably priced-"
"I'm not buying today, Mr Borgin, but selling." Lucius cut him off.
"Selling?" Borgin's smile faded slightly. Arthur was curious about what he's planning to sell.
"You have heard, of course, that the Ministry is conducting more raids." Lucius said as he pulled out a roll of parchment from his inside pocket and unravelled it for Borgin to read. "I have a few, ah, items at home that might embarrass me, if the Ministry were to call…." Okay, this is getting interesting. Borgin fixed a pince-nez to his nose and looked at the list.
"The Ministry wouldn't presume to trouble you, sir, surely?" Borgin's comment made Lucius' lip curl.
"I have not been visited yet. The name Malfoy still commands a certain respect, yet the Ministry grows ever more meddlesome. There are rumours about a new Muggle Protection Act, no doubt that flea bitten, Muggle loving fool Gideon Weasley is behind it, with backing from the traitorous Benjamin Merlon-" This made Arthur feel a rage nearly as strong as when he laid eyes on Voldemort. "-and as you see, certain of these poisons might make it appear-"
"I understand, sir, of course." Borgin said, abandoning the list and getting over to Draco. "Insert a candle and it gives light only to the holder! Best friend of thieves and plunderers! Your son has fine taste, sir."
"I hope my son will amount to more than a thief or a plunderer, Borgin." Lucius coldly replied.
"No, offence, sir, no offence meant-"
"Though if his school marks don't pick up, that may indeed be all he is fit for." Lucius said, more coldly.
"It's not my fault. The teachers all have favourites, that Chrysanthemum Ranger-"
"I would have thought you'd be ashamed that a girl of no wizard family beat you in every exam." Lucius snapped at his son. Arthur was so satisfied to see this. And Draco just can't accept the fact that Snape is really the only one to play favourites, every other teacher was fair, no doubt being biassed.
"It's the same all over. Wizard blood is counting for less everywhere-"
"Not with me." Lucius cut Borgin off, long nostrils flaring.
"No, sir, nor with me, sir." Borgin replied with a deep bow.
"In that case, perhaps we can return to my list." Lucius said shortly. "I am in something of a hurry, Borgin, I have important business elsewhere today."
The two started haggling. But Arthur kept his eyes on Draco, getting worried as he was getting nearer and nearer to his hiding place, examining the various items for sale. He had paused to examine what looked like a long coil of hangman's rope and to read, smirking, the card propped on a necklace of opals.
Caution: Do Not Touch
Cursed - Has Claimed the Lives of
Nineteen Muggle Owners to Date
Draco then turned and saw the cabinet right in front of him. Arthur was scared as he walked forward and stretched out his hand to the handle….
"Done. Come, Draco!" Lucius said from the counter.
Arthur let out a breath he was holding as Draco walked away.
"Good day to you, Mr Borgin, I'll expect you at the manor tomorrow to pick up the goods." Once the door was closed and both Malfoys left, Borgin dropped his oily manner, clearly all an act, which Arthur was starting to suspect.
Good day yourself, Mister Malfoy, and if the stories are true, you haven't sold me half of what's hidden in your manor…." He muttered darkly before disappearing into a back room.
Arthur decided to wait for another minute in case he came back before he very quietly slipped out of the cabinet, past all the glass cases and slipped out through the shop door.
He looked around to see that he's emerged into a very dingy alleyway made of up shops fully devoted to all things in the Dark Arts. The one he had just left, Borgin and Burkes, seemed to be the largest, yet was opposite a nasty window display of shrunken heads, and two doors down was a large cage housing gigantic black spiders. He wanted to get as far away from that as possible.
Arthur's heart sank when he noticed two shabby looking wizards watching him from a shadowy doorway, muttering to each other. Arthur then set off, wanting to get as far away from this place as possible.
He found an old wooden street sign that hung over a shop selling poisonous candles which said that he was in Knockturn Alley, clearly a dark version of Diagon Alley. He definitely didn't speak clearly enough, thanks to the mouthful of ashes. He growled in annoyance at this fact. He just needed to leave.
"Not lost are you, my dear?" A voice in his ear said, making him jump and face whoever spoke to him with a defensive stance.
It was an aged witch holding a tray of what looked to be human fingernails, which made Arthur feel sick. She then leered at him, showing off her mossy teeth, making him back off.
"I'm perfectly fine, thank you. I'm just-"
"ARTHUR! What d'yeh think yer doin' down there?"
Arthur's heart had leapt. As did the witch as a load of fingernails cascaded over her feet, cursing as the large form of Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, strided towards them, beetle black eyes flashing over his large beard.
"Thank goodness you're here, Hagrid! I was lost, thanks to Floo powder."
Hagrid had seized the boy by the scruff of his neck and pulled him away from the witch, also knocking the tray out of her hands.
Her shrieks faded as they went through twisting alleyways and then out into bright daylight. Arthur then noticed the snow white marble building of Gringotts bank in the distance as Hagrid had finally gotten him to Diagon Alley.
"Yer a mess!" Hagrid said gruffly, brushing off the soot on Arthur. He did so forcefully that he was nearly knocked into a barrel of dragon dung outside an apothecary's.
"Skulkin' around Knockturn Alley, I dunno, dodgy place, Arthur, don' want no one ter see yeh down there-"
"I'm aware. And like I said, I was lost. Plus what were you doing down there?" Arthur retorted, ducking as Hagrid tried to brush him again.
"I was lookin' fer a Flesh Eatin' Slug Repellent. They're ruinin' the school cabbages. Yer not on yer own?"
"I've been staying with the Merlons but we got separated. I have to find them." Arthur replied before the two set off down the street.
"How come yeh never wrote back ter me?" Hagrid asked with Arthur jogging alongside him (taking three steps to every stride that Hagrid made with his enormous boots). Arthur went on to explain about Dobby, the warning he gave him, how he intercepted the letters and how there's a chance that it was all a scheme to get Arthur expelled by Draco. This made Hagrid growl.
"Hey, Arthur, over here!"
He looked and saw that Chrysanthemum Ranger was standing at the top of the white steps to Gringotts. She then ran down to meet them, her crazy brown hair flung back, held together thanks to it being a ponytail this time instead of a messy bubble.
"It's nice seeing you two again. Are you coming to Gringotts, Arthur?" Chrys then said once she reached them.
"I need to find the Merlons first." Arthur told her, so glad to see her again.
"Yeh won't have long ter wait." Hagrid grinned. The two looked and saw David, Jack, Kevin, Sam and Ben all sprinting up the crowded street to them.
"Arthur! Thank goodness. We're all worried something happened. Martha's been frantic, in fact, she's coming." Ben panted.
"Where did you even come out?" David asked.
"I got out in Knockturn Alley." He told everyone.
"Really?" The twins asked in unison, sounding concerned.
Martha had come running into view, her handbag swinging wildly and with Mary right behind her.
"Thank Merlin you're alright." She said as she pulled out a brush from her bag and sweeped off any soot Hagrid didn't beat away.
"Well, gotta be off. See yer at Hogwarts!" Hagrid waved goodbye after Martha thanked him for finding Arthur.
"You're not gonna believe who I saw in Borgin and Burkes, Lucius and Draco Malfoy." Arthur said to everyone as they climbed the steps into Gringotts.
"And was Lucius buying anything?" Ben asked sharply.
"No, he was selling and planned for Borgin to come to his manor tomorrow. Something about the Ministry doing raids." Arthur told him.
"He's getting worried. One day, I'll show everyone just how much of a scumbag he and his family are." Ben then said with a grim satisfaction.
"Just be careful, dear. They're a slithery lot." Martha warned him as they were ushered into the bank by a bowing goblin at the door.
They all met up with Chrys' parents, who stood nervously at the counter that ran along the great marble hall, waiting for their daughter to introduce them.
After they all gathered the money needed to get their school supplies for the new school year (Arthur seeing that the Merlons had around the same amount of money as his vault held), they walked back outside the marble steps and separated.
Sam went off, saying something about getting a new quill. Both Jack and Kevin spotted Lee Jordan, their friend from Hogwarts and said they'd head off to the joke shop. Martha was going to take Mary to Madam Malkin's for her robes. Ben said he'll take the Rangers to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink.
"Remember, we're to meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour's time to get your school books." Martha told everyone as she set off with her daughter.
Arthur, David and Chrys all made their way through the cobbled street, planning to have some fun, along with getting their new Gryffindor robes (where the inside of the robes are red and they have the house emblem on the chest over the heart).
After they got their new robes, they all went and got ice cream, which they slurped enjoyably as they wandered up and down the alley, looking at all of the shop windows. Of course, David gazed longingly at a set of Chudley Cannon robes at 'Quality Quidditch Supplies' and had to be literally dragged by Arthur and Chrys to carry on.
When they entered Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, they had met up with the twins and Lee Jordan, who were stocking up on various items.
After they left, they found Sam, who was reading a book called How to Succeed at the Ministry.
"He's ambitious. He hopes to be the head of a department one day." David whispered. Arthur's glad that Sam isn't a pompous brat and is grounded.
Once the hour passed, they made their way to Flourish and Blotts. Once there, they were shocked to see that a large crowd of witches around Martha's age were outside, trying to get in. The reason was because of what was proclaimed by a large banner across the upper windows:
Gilderoy Lockhart
will be signing copies of his autobiography
MAGICAL ME
today 12:30 - 4:30 pm
"Looks like we'll meet him here." Chrys said, sounding not too thrilled.
There was a harassed looking wizard standing at the door telling them all "Calmly, please, ladies… don't push, there… mind the books, now…."
The three were able to squeeze their way inside. There was a long queue that made its way to the back of the shop, where Lockhart would sign his books. All three of them grabbed a copy of Break with a Banshee and snuck into the line where the rest of the Merlons stood with Chrys' parents.
"I was wondering where you three were." Martha said upon seeing them.
Gilderoy Lockhart had finally come into view, seated at a table that was surrounded by large pictures of his own face, all winking and flashing dazzlingly white teeth. Arthur rolled his eyes at the man's ego.
The actual Lockhart wore clothes that were a lighter shade of his wavy hair.
A short and irritable man danced around to take photographs with a large black camera that emitted puffs of purple smoke whenever it flashed.
"Out of the way, there. This is for the Daily Prophet." The man snarled at David, moving back to get a better shot.
"So what?" David said as he rubbed his foot as the photographer stepped on it.
This attracted the attention of Lockhart, who looked up and saw David before laying his eyes on Arthur. He stared until he leapt to his feet and positively shouted "It can't be Arthur Pendergast?"
The whole crowd parted, whispering excitedly, much to Arthur's annoyance. And before he could do anything, Lockhart dived and seized his arm and pulled him to the front. Arthur was able to see that the Merlons and Chrys weren't too thrilled about this either.
Either way, the crowd burst into applause, making Arthur's face burn red as Lockhart shook his hand for the photographer, who clicked away like a madman, wafting thick smoke over the Merlons.
"Nice big smile, Arthur. Together, you and I are worth the front page." Lockhart said through his gleaming teeth.
Once he let go of Arthur's hand, he could hardly feel his fingers from how tight he held it. He then tried to get back with the Merlons when Lockhart had thrown his arm around his shoulders and clamped him tightly to his side.
"Ladies and gentlemen." Lockhart said loudly with a wave for quiet. "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 Arthur 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 once more. "...he had no idea…" He continued, giving Arthur a little shake. "...that he would shortly be getting much, much more than my book, Magical Me. He and his school fellows 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!"
While the crowd cheered and clapped as Arthur was presented with the entire works of Lockhart, staggering under the weight, he was finding himself dreading having him as a teacher. And clearly the Merlons and Chrys felt the same based on their frowns.
Arthur managed to finally make his way out of the limelight to the edge of the room to where Mary was with her new cauldron.
"You can have these, I'll just get my own-"
"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Pendergast?" A voice Arthur recognised sneered. He straightened and was face to face with Draco.
"Famous Arthur Pendergast. Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page." Draco continued on.
"You leave him alone! He never wanted any of that. You're just jealous!" Mary stood up for Arthur.
"Pendergast, you've got yourself a girlfriend!" Draco drawled, making Mary go scarlet as David and Chrys both made their way over, both with stacks of Lockhart's books.
"You must be surprised to see Arthur here, huh?" David poked at Draco. Ben and the twins then came over.
"Come on, let's get out of here, you lot." Ben said to his children, Arthur and Chrys.
"Well, well, well, Benjamin Merlon." Lucius Malfoy came, standing with his free hand on his son's shoulder, sneering just like Draco.
"Hello, Lucius." Ben greeted him with a coldness that made him intimidating.
"Busy time at the Ministry, I hear. All those raids…" Lucius said as he reached into Mary's cauldron and had extracted, along Lockhart's glossy books, an old copy of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration. Arthur once got told that the Merlons use old copies from their older children for their younger children so that they don't waste their money, which was efficient.
"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? Especially from descendents of such a great wizard like Merlin." Lucius coolly said, taking a jab at all of the Merlons. All of them glared at him.
"We're just efficient. And what you think disgraces the name of wizard is so outdated that you're becoming obsolete." Ben retorted, his fists clenched so tight that they were white and shaking.
"Sure." Lucius said, his pale eyes straying over to the Rangers, who watched with frowns of their own, sensing prejudice in the air. "The company you and that Weasley keep, Merlon… and I thought your family could sink no lower-"
There was a loud roar as Mary's cauldron went flying. Ben launched himself at Lucius, knocking him into a bookshelf, causing dozens of heavy spellbooks to come thundering down on all of them.
Ben threw insults at Lucius as he punched his face. His sons all cheered him on, even Martha when she saw what was going on. The crowd all stampeded backwards, knocking more shelves over. The assistant tried breaking them up but it was no use as Ben was stronger than he looked.
Arthur was truly shocked seeing this side of Ben, seeing himself in him at this moment as he was like this when he met Voldemort at the end of the last school year.
Hagrid came towards them through the sea of books. He then pulled Ben and Lucius apart. Ben only had a small amount of blood coming out of one nostril while Lucius had a black eye, a cut on both his cheek and lip and had a bloody nose as well.
Lucius still held Mary's old transfiguration book before he thrust it at her, along with a black leather book, eyes glittering with real malice, which Arthur noticed, thinking as though he set the stage for something.
"Here, girl, take your book." Lucius spat as he pulled himself out of Hagrid's grip and then beckoned to Draco and swept out of the shop.
"Yeh should've ignored him, Ben." Hagrid said as Ben stood on his feet and brushed himself and wiped the blood away.
"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."
While the assistant looked like he wanted to stop them from leaving, he barely came up to Hagrid's waist and so he let them go. They all hurried up the street, the Rangers looking upset and Martha tried to calm her husband.
"Listen, ignore him. Merlin would be proud of us if he saw all of us. Lucius is just trying to get under your skin." She said with a soothing tone that even soothed Arthur as he felt angry at Lucius for what he said.
"You should've seen Lockhart. He asked that bloke from the Daily Prophet if he can work the fight into his report, saying it's all publicity. Greedy git." Jack shook his head.
It was a subdued group that headed to the fireside in the Leaky Cauldron, where Arthur, the Merlons and all of their shopping would travel back to Merlon Manor with Floo powder. They all said goodbye to the Rangers, who left the pub and out into the Muggle street on the other side.
Arthur prepared himself as he grabbed some Floo powder, not looking forward to what was for sure his least favourite way to travel.
Lockhart here will be exactly as he looks in the Chamber of Secrets film, I just love Kenneth Branagh's portrayal of him.
And we see that Ben is similar to Arthur where he feels rage whenever he lays eyes on Lucius, like Arthur with Voldemort.