Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Magical Me
"Are all Slytherins like that?" Ginny asked after the Malfoys vanished from our line of sight.
Distractedly, I answered, "no", in a quiet voice.
At the same moment, Ron loudly declared, "yes". Causing Fred, George, and Sirius to snicker, and the lone Slytherin in our midst was singled out.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I turn my head to face my younger brother. "No", I said more firmly as I squeezed Adrian's hand. "No two people are alike".
With that statement, Sirius was able to compose his snickering. It made me wonder if the time he had spent over the summer with the reincarnation of his brother had shown him proof to support my words. But whatever deep thought had been pushed onto Sirius was lost when Ron rolled his eyes and said, "I didn't mean your Slytherin". That only set off more snickering.
I could feel my face heating up. Why did I ever feel like it was a good idea to invite Adrian to go shopping with my family? Of course, I know the reason and I blame it on the twenty-first brightest star. "I agree", Fred said between sniggers as he pretended to lean on Ginny for support.
"Our Holly has Pucey well trained". George added from behind Adrian and me as he placed his shoulder between us and successfully forced us to separate so he could stand in the middle.
My hand that had been holding Adrian's felt lost the moment we broke contact. "Pucey doesn't act like a Slytherin loose in the wild anymore". Fred continued. It seems that the disagreement Fred and George were going through was placed aside in favor of ribbing Adrian, who had adopted a stony-faced expression at my brothers' teasing.
"You two make it sound like he's a domesticated animal", I complained.
"I think", Harry piped up before any of my brothers could retort. "That Adrian's nice".
Unfortunately, Harry's genuine comment only made my fellow triplets and Sirius chortle harder. Though Ginny was now staring at Adrian in newfound awe. As if Harry's endorsement was all she needed to like the Slytherin boy. However, Adrian seemed to have been personally offended by the sentiment. "Nice has nothing to do with it", he said, flinching at the word nice as he got used to George standing between us. "I just know where I need to be to achieve my ambitions'', he said, pompously straightening his spine to stand taller.
Sirius snorted to cut his sniggering short. He clapped Harry on the shoulder and said, "let's go get the rest of your school books before you are infected with his Slytherin-isms. They're contagious, you know", Sirius joked as he led Harry away. Only pausing to send Adrian a grin over his shoulder. Ron trailed after them.
"So", Fred started as he put on an air of seriousness and stopped using Ginny for support. "What are your ambitions?" He asked Adrian.
"Oh, I think we know Fred", George said as he slung an arm over my shoulders. Yeah, definitely shouldn't have invited Adrian along on this trip.
"Quite right, George".
"We think his ambition…"
"Involves snogging our Jolly Holly". Merlin, kill me.
Almost growling, Adrian said, "I'm going to the arithmancy section". And he rigidly walked away. At that moment, I couldn't discern if he was offended, embarrassed, or biting his tongue because of the eleven-year-old who had been studying this whole exchange.
I glared at Fred. And if George wasn't standing so close to me, I would have done the same to him. Did they really have to become best friends again just in time to torment my friend who may be more than a friend? "Is that what the two of you were doing the other day?" Ginny asked, wide-eyed and curious. Bloody hell.
"Ginny, go find Mum", I ordered. A gentle push from Fred had her complying. If it was just me, she probably would have argued. But pressure from three older siblings might as well be law. I waited until Ginny was out of earshot. "Was that really necessary?" I asked; shrugging George's arm off my shoulders.
"It got everyone to leave, didn't it?" George said in an easygoing manner. Fred stepped closer to make our conversation slightly more private. Though we were standing in front of the shop's entrance, so….
"How did you two make up so fast?" I asked. After all, I've been trying to get through to them for days.
"We didn't", Fred assured me. I wrinkled my nose. They were fooling me.
"Sirius gave us some advice".
"Said that we could have as many girls as we can get to date us".
"But it's harder to get back a brother after you've lost him".
"So, we called a truce".
"We'll find a different way to fight for Angelina''. My left eye twitched. Ugh, boys. I think they missed a piece of Sirius' supposed advice.
"So, who wants to hold onto this?" Fred asked, uncovering the diary from under his school cloak. He held it out for either George or me to take.
"When did you take it from Ginny's cauldron?" I asked as I reached for the cursed diary. But my hands twitched back from it. I couldn't decide if it was out of fear or self-preservation.
"I slipped it out when everyone was distracted by Pucey's embarrassment", Fred answered as George took the diary and tucked it under our new copy of Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4. Percy wanted to keep the copy he was given from Charlie's fourth year to use for reference during his NEWT years. So, Mum and Dad relented and said we could buy a new one for the three of us to share. We typically bought everything second-hand. But when the plan was to pass it down through the Weasley rank, we'd splurge for something new. Fred and I looked at George inquisitively, expecting the diary to take possession of his soul. When nothing happened, we took a big breath. Though I suppose it was silly. Seeing that Fred had held it previously and was unaffected. Of course, we also knew the only way to get possessed was to pour your heart and soul into it. But we were still scared. It's not every day that we encounter a soul-sucking item.
"What do we do now?" George asked.
"We take it home and keep it safe until we can figure out how to destroy it", I said slowly. Because other than today, we really didn't have a plan or clue about what we were doing.
"It's Harry Potter!" A jovial voice exclaimed. Causing the bookshop to erupt in cheers and applause. Fred, George, and I looked over to where all the fuss was occurring. Lockhart had left his book signing table and was walking across the room to the till where Harry, Ron, and Sirius were standing. Evidently, this was publicity the famous author couldn't let pass him by. What was surprising was how easily the crowd of middle-aged witches parted to let Lockhart through.
A flash went off. I looked over in the direction of the source in time to see a man with a camera in his hands pushing through Mum, Ginny, and Mrs. Pucey. "Excuse me, Ladies. This is for the Daily Prophet", he shouted over the masses. As if that fact made it okay. Reporters, the absolute lowest of the low if you ask me.
Sirius stepped forward and pulled Harry and Ron behind him before Lockhart or the reporter could get too close. Their shopping was left abandoned at the checkout desk behind them. "These boys are minors, and you don't have permission to take their picture", Sirius said curtly to the man with the camera. Then he turned towards Lockhart. "I'll ask you to leave my Godson alone". The crows of middle-aged witches started muttering amongst themselves. It was unclear if they were muttering with approval or disapproval. I imagine it was a mixture of both.
Lockhart wasn't dissuaded. "My word! Sirius Black", Lockhart exclaimed as he grabbed Sirius' hand and shook it in a rapid fashion. "I'm very pleased to meet you, good sir".
Dad appeared as he maneuvered his way through the spectators in our direction as Lockhart went on to say, "I was so sure you were innocent. I could feel it in my gut. So glad someone else connected the dots and you're able to stand here today".
"Boys, Holly", Dad said to gain our attention. "I'll buy these", he said, grabbing the textbook and diary from George's hands.
"No", the three of us immediately sputtered.
Dad talked over us. "You three, go get Ron and Harry and wait outside". He gives each of us a stern look. It's an expression Dad rarely uses. It only comes out when he's concerned with his children's welfare.
"Wait, Dad", Fred said as he tried to stop him. At the same time, George made a move to grab the books back from Dad. But he had already turned away.
Bollocks. My heart beats loudly as we watch Dad trying to maneuver through the crowd again; this time trying to get to the till. "Have you guys noticed that, apart from Pettigrew, our plans never work?"
I scoffed. Is now really the time to be pointing that out? "We have to do something", I said quickly. "If Dad tries to buy the dairy the shop clerk will know it's not a book from their stock. That'll draw attention to it".
Fred nodded once; the wheels in his mind turning. "Holly, you distract Dad. I'll intercept and George will get the diary".
We didn't wait for any of us to confirm we understood. All moving at once; we hurried after Dad. He had just reached the area where Lockhart was boasting about knowing that Sirius was innocent along when we caught up.
"Dad", I said when I grabbed his elbow; the one that wasn't attached to the hand that was holding the books.
He turned around and when he saw that it was me that was gripping his elbow, he frowned. "Holly, I asked you to-"
But I cut him off. "Fred's getting Harry and Ron". I said, giving Fred an excuse to push past Dad on his other side and a display of Lockhart's new book, Magical Me. Conveniently knocking the books out of Dad's hand. They gave off a thumping sound when they landed on the hardwood floor of the shop. No one paid any mind. A couple of dropped books are easy to ignore when Lockhart was trying to get Sirius Black and Harry Potter to pose for pictures.
"Sorry, Dad", Fred called over his shoulder; keeping up the ruse of getting to Ron and Harry.
Dad pressed his lips together before sighing. "Fred", he complained. Dad moved to pick up the books, but my hold on his arm prevented it. "But what about Ginny?" I continued, trying to hold his attention as George squatted to retrieve the diary. "Shouldn't we get her too? And what about Percy? I don't know where Percy is". I finished talking just as George stood up.
"Holly", Dad started as he removed my hand from his elbow. "Your big brother can take care of himself, and Ginny is with Mum. I need you to watch out for Harry and Ron. Boys their age don't need this sort of attention". Arguably, no one needs a celebrity level of attention.
"Here you go, Dad", said George as he handed him The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4. I stared at George with questioning eyes. Where's the diary? Reading my expression, George tilted his head back, as if trying to nod behind him. He had put it on the Magical Me display.
"Thank you, son", Dad said before he stared down at the textbook; perplexed. "Weren't there two books?"
"No, just the one", George said as I skirted around him to retrieve the diary. It was right behind George on the display. The aged black leather of the diary was a stark contrast to the blue and white covers of Magical Me books. Now, how to take it without Dad noticing? I could conceal it under my school cloak. Could I keep one hand and the diary under the cloak until we made it home?
"No", Dad said after he thought about it. "I'm sure you had two books".
"This is the only one Mum said we could get", George replied. I assume he gestured to the textbook when he said that. "I was just looking at the other one. I'll put it back".
"Oh, well", Dad said in a softer voice. "I'm sure we can afford one more book. Can't put a price on knowledge after all. And you never ask for anything, George. You can get a little something extra". I could practically hear the smile in Dad's voice.
"That's okay", George tried again. "I know Lockhart's books aren't cheap and we needed to get four sets since all the years are using the same texts". It was a hardship for our family that a professor was using the same book for every class because it meant we couldn't use our older siblings' hand-me-downs.
"It's fine George", Dad assured. "You deserve just as much as your siblings, and you triplets really helped out when you volunteered to share a set". We usually do share school supplies between the three of us, but this time especially we wanted to make sure Mum and Dad didn't waste money on Lockhart's books. Or at least, not waste any more money than they had to since we knew we wouldn't actually need those books. "What book did you want?"
"Uh, um", George stammered. At this rate, we wouldn't be able to get out of here without buying a second book.
"George", Dad said, getting slightly sterner. "What is it you don't want me to see?" Thinking quickly, I pulled a book cover off a copy of Magical Me and slipped it on the diary. Luckily, it was the same size. Though having a book cover on a leather-bound journal felt weird. At least now it had a price tag.
"Um, uh", George said as he tried to think of something convincing to say.
"This is the one he wanted", I said as I turned around with the disguised diary in hand. "He was embarrassed because it was another Lockhart book", I explained as I gave the diary back to Dad. Though he had to practically pry it from my hand. It just felt wrong to hand my dad a dark artifact of an evil lord.
George's knee-jerk reaction was to disagree. "I'm not embar-" But me digging the heel of my foot into his toes was enough to catch George up to speed. "I mean, I just wanted to know what all the fuss is about".
Dad was trying not to show his amusement. I could tell by how frequently he was moving around his jaw. "I'll get these", he said as he nodded to the books he was holding. "You two go help Fred with Ron and Harry".
"I'll stay with you", I said quickly as George went to join Fred. We knew we both couldn't stay with Dad, but someone had to keep an eye on the diary.
Though Fred and George weren't having much luck sneaking Harry and Ron out from under Lockhart's nose. "Let them through" Sirius ordered as Lockhart tried to get Harry to step out from behind Fred and George. And poor Ron, throughout all of this, was standing next to Harry looking completely over the entire situation. I suspect it would be a challenge to get Ron to enter another bookshop after this.
"Now, now", Lockhart said placatingly to Sirius before speaking directly to my brothers and Harry. "How about I sign your books. You're here to buy my collected works for school, are you not?" Another flash from the reporter's camera went off causing all four boys to flinch.
Dad, catching wind of all this as we reached the till stepped closer. "Boys, this way", he directed. Trying to get the boys to step in front of him and away from Lockhart and the reporter. Before he said directly to the Author without any of his normal cheer. "Please leave the children alone". Fred and George started leading Ron and Harry in my direction.
It was good timing too as Lockhart placed his attention on something else. "Why, you're buying my book", he said to Dad. "Here, let me sign it for you. Since you are friends with Mr. Black and Mr. Potter, you can skip the line". Lockhart said good-naturedly as he grabbed the disguised diary from Dad without his permission.
"N-" I started to protest, but I stopped myself. It wouldn't make any sense for me to object to a book being signed by its author.
Dad, however, saw this as a perfect opportunity. "You five, get out of here", he ordered. Gesturing his head in the direction of the door. He really didn't have to tell Ron and Harry twice. Ron grabbed Fred's cloak, and Harry grabbed George's sleeve as they made a break for the exit. And that was without learning that Lockhart was the new defense professor. This was going to be a long year.
At the same moment, Lockhart turned towards the store clerk, pausing just long enough for the reporter to take another picture. "Do you have a quill and some ink?" Lockhart asked.
A flustered store clerk quickly fetched Lockhart's required items from under the check-out desk as Ron called over his shoulder. "Holly, let's go. Why are you always so slow?" This brat.
I made a whining sound in the back of my throat as my heart raced and Lockhart inked the borrowed quill and opened the diary to what he thought was the flyleaf page.
"Holly, go with the boys", Dad said in a rare tone of voice that left no room for argument. I made an uncomfortable whining sound again as I turned to obey.
Meanwhile, Lockhart read aloud what he was writing. "To my greatest fans, Gilderoy Lockhart". Oh, Merlin's beard. This isn't good.