DISCLAIMER: THE BOOK BELONGS TO J. I HAVE ONLY BORROWED BOTH CHARACTERS AND PLOTLINE.
CHAPTER 22
Two days later three official looking letters from Hogwarts arrived, for Hermione and the Potter twins with the years supplies lists. They had decided that today they would go to Diagon alley and join up with the Weasleys later on.
Diagon alley had been transformed. There were ginormous balloons floating aimlessly on the streets bearing the face of a rather handsome man sporting a toothy grin. Strung from lampposts were colourful streamers bearing an elegant letter 'L'.
Children were running around trying to catch balloons that seemed to move away from them as soon as they tried approaching them. They were blowing into party whistles that suspiciously produced a noise that sounded like 'Lockhart'.
Looking around fascinated, they went towards Flourish and Blotts to buy their books. In front of the store they saw a small, slightly raised platform on which a gaudy golden throne had been placed. Sitting on the throne was the man whose face had been floating around the streets. He was even more handsome in person. At the base of the platform was a long line of witches all squealing and blushing pink as they waited for their turn to get the books in their hands autographed. Standing in the line somewhere in the middle, they saw Mrs Weasley looking flustered and red in the face, with Ginny holding her hand and Arthur standing behind them looking quite nauseated.
Walking up to them Lily asked what the commotion was all about. "It's Mr Gilderloy himself, in the flesh," Molly said, beaming and sweating profusely "he has come for a book signing. He is the author of the book 'My year with the yeti' for which he won an Order of Merlin third class, and look" she said fumbling around for something in her bag and pulled out a bottle" 'The get Gilded!', hair colour."
Lily bewildered took the bottle from her. It looked like a badly made action figure of the man himself. Reading the instructions for use she raised her eyebrow, "Um Molly, this is to make your hair golden, you have red hair Molly!"
Chuckling and taking it back while looking lovingly at "It's a keepsake. I like looking at it."
Ginny who had been partially hidden behind her mother, mimed vomiting into her new cauldron. Looking at her, the Potter's and Hermione tried their hardest to keep straight faces. Mr Weasley just looked resigned to his fate too tired to say anything .
They left them standing in queue and went in to buy their books. Harry bought an extra book on Occlumency, 'Know your mind' when no one was looking and hid it beneath all the other books they had purchased.
Coming out of the shop Lockhart recognized Darren's famous auburn hair and had called out with a rather put on accent "Mr Potter?" Darren pretended not to hear and grabbing Harry's hand he shot his parents a pleading look and started to walk away faster, breaking into a run while dragging Harry behind him and ducked into the nearest store for cover.
Harry was breathing hard and almost choking with laughter "Darren we could have gotten a year's supply of hair care products, why did you run?"
Darren looked at him trying to keep a straight face "Now look here Harry…" he said and unable to control himself burst out laughing making Harry also laugh. Looking around they realized they were in the apothecary, so they decided to continue shopping for school till their parents came, when in walked Ron and the twins "Saw you running like a mad man Darren, what happened did mum try to sic Lockhart on you?"
Darren went over to them and playfully wrestled with them, they all started laughing almost hysterically, that Harry could feel his sides aching, while the owner of the store shot venomous disapproving glares in their direction."
The day had been fun and light hearted George had managed to grab two balloons for his mum and kneeling on the floor while she ate ice-cream in Mr Fortesque's shop dramatically said "For you my lady!" Blushing furiously she swatted him and hid her face in embarrassment, turning away from the crowd of tittering people.