Having Harry live with us was certainly fun, but the only thing that I didn't like was that Ginny thought our room was the best spot in the world. I didn't mind, but sometimes I just wanted some time to myself. A week or so after Harry showed up, we got our letters from Hogwarts early on a Sunday morning. Harry and Ron came down for breakfast, and I quickly saved Ginny's porridge bowl from hitting the deck. "Letters from school." Dad said, approaching them and tucking letters into their hands. "Dumbledore already knows you're here, Harry, doesn't miss a trick that man. You've got them too." Dad added, handing Fred and George their own letters as they entered the room in their matching pyjamas. With everyone's letters secure in their possessions, everyone opened theirs. I had two letters, so I grabbed my book list.
Fifth-year students will require:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5 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
"It looks like everyone's got the same books this year." I commented, glancing at Ginny's textbook list.
"You've been told to get all Lockhart's books too!" Fred cried, peering at Harry's paper. "He new Defence Against the Dark Art's teacher must be a fan, bet it's a witch."
"This lot won't come cheep." Fred said. "Lockhart's books are really expensive…"
"Well, we'll manage." Mum assured, though she looked worried. "I expect we'll be able to pick up a lot of Ginny's things second-hand."
"Oh, are you starting Hogwarts this year?" Harry asked Ginny, who flushed as red as her hair. Just as Percy walked in, already dressed and with his prefect badge pinned to his top, I opened the next letter…and a shiny badge clattered out and onto the table. My hair flashed banana yellow and bright pink.
"Is that what I think it is?" Ginny asked as I picked up the red and gold item, turning it in my fingers.
"Awww." Fred groaned. "Another one!"
"Our own sister." George sighed.
"Congratulations Kenzie!" Percy said. "I will be able to-"
"No, Percy." I interrupted. "You're not teaching me how to be a prefect."
"You're what?" Mum wondered, rounding the table to stand next to me, "You're a Prefect?"
"Yes, Mum, I-"
"Oh I'm so proud of you!" Mum wrapped her arms around me, kissing the side of my head.
"Congratulations, Kenzie." Dad said, reaching over and clasping my hand.
"What do you want from Diagon Alley today, Kenzie?" Mum asked, pulling away. "Anything you want, within reason, you can have."
"Oh, thanks Mum." I said with a smile. "I-I'll look around and find something and get back to you, yeah?" Percy then went to sit down, but he lept to his feet again, moving Errol who was on the chair.
"Errol!" Ron sighed, taking the limp owl from Percy. He then tried to stand Errol on his perch just inside the door, but he flopped off again, so Ron laid him on the sink's draining board, muttering curses. There was a cry as a familiar golden eagle soared through the window and landed on the back of my chair, ruffling her feathers.
"Morning all." Aquila trilled.
"Morning Aquila." I replied, taking the letter that was tucked into the pouch on her back. "Oh, it's from Hermione." I handed the letter to Ron.
"I wrote to her saying we were going to rescue you from the Dursleys." Ron said to Harry. He then opened the letter and started to read. "Dear Ron, and Harry if you're there, I hope everything went all right and that Harry is ok, and that you didn't do anything illegal to get him out, Ron, because that would get Harry into trouble too. I've been really worried and if Harry is alright, will you please let me know at once. Aquila is certainly a fast flier. I'm very busy with schoolwork, of course- how can she be? We're on holiday! -and we're going to London next Wednesday to buy my new books. Why don't we meet in Diagon Alley? Let me know what's happening as soon as you can, love from Hermione?"
"Well, that fits in nicely, we can go and get all your things then too." Mum said. "What're you all up to today?" Fred, George, Ron and Harry were going to practice Quidditch up in a paddock that we owned. Percy holed up in his room, as he had been ever since the holidays had started. I was following Hermione's example and was studying for my O.W.L.s. Fifth year. With being a Prefect now, I'd need all the study time I could scrape together.
TIMESKIP
The next Wednesday, Mum woke us up early and after shovelling bacon sandwiches into our mouths, we pulled on our coats. Mum grabbed the floo pot off the mantlepiece, peering into it as she approached us again. "We're running low, Arthur." Mum sighed. "We'll have to buy some more today…ah, well, guests first!" Mum offered Harry the flowerpot. "After you, harry dear."
"W-What am I supposed to do?" Harry stuttered.
"He's never travelled by Floo Powder." Ron said in realisation. "Sorry Harry, I forgot."
"Never?" Dad wondered. "But how did you get to Diagon Alley to buy your school things last year?"
"I went on the Underground-" Harry started.
"Really? Were there escaptors?"
"Escalators, Dad." I corrected.
"Now now Arthur!" Mum scolded. "Floo Powder's a lot quicker, dear, but goodness me if you've never used it before-"
"He'll be all right, Mum." Fred assured.
"I'll go first, yeah?" I said, setting my hand on Harry's shoulder. The young boy looked up at me. I gave him a smile. "It's easy. Here, you just take some Floo Powder." I pinched some from the flowerpot, showing Harry the shiny powder before throwing it into the fire. The flames turned emerald green, and erupted in the fireplace. They flickered higher than me, and I smiled. "Diagon Alley!" I shouted, my tone clear and my voice loud. I stepped into the flames, my body disappearing into the fire as I travelled around. When I realised I was at the right fireplace, I stepped out. One by one, my family showed up…all but Harry. We started looking for him, and soon found him on the steps of Gringots with Hermione and Hagrid.
"Harry!" Dad panted, running up to him. "We hoped you'd only gone one grate too far…" Dad wiped his head. "Molly's frantic, she's coming now."
"Where did you come out?" Ron asked.
"Knockturn Alley." Hagrid said, his voice grim.
"Brilliant!" The Twins chorused.
"We've never been allowed in." Ron said.
"I should ruddy well think not!" Hagrid growled.
"You're lucky you got out of there with your robes." I said softly.
"Oh Harry!" Mum gasped, with Ginny on her arm. "Oh my dear, you could have been anywhere!" Mum grabbed a large brush out of her handbag and started to sweep soot off him. Dad took Harry's glasses off, tapped them with his wand, and the item repaired himself.
"Well, gotta be off." Hagrid said. "See yer at Hogwarts!" And with that, he walked off.
"Guess who I saw at Borgin and Burkes?" Harry wondered. "Malfoy and his father."
"Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?" Dad asked, turning to sharply look at Ron.
"No, he was selling." Harry said.
"So he's worried. Oh, I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something…"
"You be careful, Arthur." Mum told Dad as we were ushered into the bank by a goblin. "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?" Dad was almost instantly distracted by Mr and Mrs Granger, and raced up to greet them.
"Dad, Dad, go with Mum." I said, pushing him toward her. "I will help Mr and Mrs Granger with their money." Dad grumbled as his wife pulled him away.
"T-thank you so much." Mrs Granger said.
"It's not a problem at all." I said with a smile. "I'm taking Muggle Studies, so I have a fairly good concept of the exchange rate." I chatted with the Grangers as I helped them with their funds. "I just want to say, Mr and Mrs Granger, that your daughter is an exceptional witch." I smiled at the parents as I saw Hermione flush and duck her head. "I know one day she'll be the brightest witch of her generation."
"Thank you for telling us." Mr Granger said. "Hermione's told us much about you as well, Mackenzie, yes?"
"Yes, Mackenzie Weasley, though you can call me Kenzie, everyone else does." I shared handshakes with them as my family and Harry came back from the vaults. We all separated at the steps outside the bank. Percy wandered off and muttered something about needing a new quill, while Fred and George spotted their friend Lee and hurried off to him. Mum took Ginny over to a second-hand shop and Dad hauled Mr and Mrs Granger off for a drink. Mrs Granger handed me the pouch of coins to purchase Hermione's things.
"We'll all meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your school books." Mum said before she and Ginny left. "And not one step down Knockturn Alley!" She shouted to the twins. I joined Harry, Ron and Hermione down Diagon Alley. The first purchase of the day was by Harry, who got four large strawberries and peanut butter ice creams, which I appreciated. Ron was eying a full set of Chudley Cannon Quidditch robes in the window of 'Quality Quidditch Supplies', and then Hermione dragged us to buy ink and parchment in the next store over. We stopped in Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, where we saw Fred, George and Lee stocking up on their pranking wares. We found Percy in another shop reading a book called 'Prefects Who Gained Power'. He looked up when he saw us.
"Ah, Kenzie, I think you'd-"
"No." I interrupted. "I'm not reading that stupid book. I'm going to be a prefect in my own way, I'm not going to follow you or Charlie or Bill, ok? Ok. Come on guys." I guided the younger Gryffindor students out of the bookshop.
TIMESKIP
I had met up with Mum during our pursuit, and I think I had decided on what I wanted as my present for being selected as a Prefect. A pet Kneazle. A feline-like animal that could grow as big as a baby tiger in some cases. The Kneazle I chose looked like a tabby cat, she was a kitten at the moment, but she liked me, which I loved. I had to apply for a Kneazle licence, but due to the perk of having Animal Legitimacy, I was told it would be fast-tracked. An hour later, we were all at Flourish and Blotts…and we were most certainly not the only ones there. There was a massive crowd outside the doors, trying to squeeze into the shop. The main group of people at the bookstore were middle-aged witches who were around Mum's age. I understood why when I looked up to the top windows.
GILDEROY LOCKHART
will be signing copies of his autobiography
MAGICAL ME
today 12:30 - 4:30 pm
"Oh great." I groaned.
"We can actually meet him!" Hermione gushed. "I mean, he's written almost all the whole booklist!" The four of us managed to squeeze into the store, a massive queue wrapped around the entirety of the store, starting at where Lockhart was signing. We weaselled our way up the line to where our family was waiting with Mr and Mrs Granger. I handed the Muggles the coin pouch.
"Oh there you are!" Mum breathed. "Good. We'll be able to see him in a minute." Slowly but surely, the man of the hour came into view, seated at a large table, moving pictures of his own face surrounding him. He himself was blonde, with blue eyes and wavy blonde hair that would make most witches swoon. I frowned at him, my hair bleeding Caribbean Green in irritation. A short man with a camera ambled around.
"Out of the way there." He snarled at Ron, backing away and stepping on his foot. "This is for the Daily Prophet."
"Big deal." Ron grumbled, massaging his foot. Lockhart heard my brother, turning to him. His eyes swept over my daily…and landed on Harry. Lockhart lept to his feet, his voice echoing through the store.
"It can't be!" He cried. "Harry Potter?" Whispers broke out around the store, excitedly muttering about the prospect of the Boy Who Lived. Lockhart let forward, grabbing Harry by the arm and yanking him to the front of the room. The inhabitants of the store burst into applause as Harry flushed, shaking hands with Lockhart for a dozen photos, the purple smoke wafting over my family. I wave it away with a scowl. When Lockhart had stopped squeezing Harry's fingers off, he threw his arm around Harry's shoulders, pulling him close.
"Ladies and gentlemen." Lockhart started, the room going 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 Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts today, he not only wanted to buy my autobiography, which I will be happy to present to him now, free of charge-" Lockhart paused as the store applauded. "-he has no idea that he would 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!" The crowd went crazy, and Harry was presented with the entire works of Lockhart before he stumbled away to Ginny and I.
"You have these." Harry muttered, tipping the books into Ginny's cauldron. "I'll buy my own-"
"Bet you loved that, didn't you Potter?" A familiar voice almost spat. I looked up to see Draco Malfoy, who was sneering at Harry. "Famous Harry Potter, can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."
"Leave him alone!" Ginny spoke up, glaring at Malfoy. "He didn't want that!"
"Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!"
"Oh, it's you." Ron scowled when he and Hermione came over with stacks of Lockhart's books. I took the duplicates from the two of them, taking them for grabbing my books too. "Bet you're surprised to see Harry here, eh?"
"Not as I am to see you in a shop, Weasley. I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for that lot." Ron dropped his books into Ginny's cauldron, and went to stalk to Malfoy but I wrapped my arm around his chest to hold him back.
"Ron! Kenzie!" Dad cried as he ambled over with Fred and George. "What are you two doing? It's mad in here, let's go outside."
"Well, well, well, Arthur Weasly." A voice crooned. I licked my lips a little at the sight of Lucius Malfoy. He put his hand on his son's shoulder with the same scowl.
"Lucius." Dad greeted evenly with a cold nod.
"Buys time with the Ministry, I hear." Mr Malfoy said. "All those raids…I hope they're paying you overtime?" Mr Malfoy reached into Ginny's cauldron and picked up a battered copy of 'A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration'. "Obviously not. 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?"
"We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of Wizard, Malfoy." Dad said, flushing darker than my siblings.
"Clearly." His eyes fell to Mr and Mrs Granger, who watched our interaction closely. I shifted to keep Hermione out of Mr Malfoy's eyeline. "The company you keep, Weasley…and I thought your family could sink no lower-" Before anyone could do anything, Ginny's cauldron went flying as Dad threw himself at Mr Malfy.
"Dad!" I cried, leaping forward and grabbing my father to try to pull him away. I was thrown back, however, with Harry, Ron and Hermione having to hold me upright so I didn't fall. Dad had shoved Mr Malfoy back into a bookshelf, with heavy books falling over them.
"Get him, Dad!" The twins cried.
"No, Arthur!" Mum shrieked. "No!" The shop assistant tried to stop the fight, but one voice cut through everything.
"Break it up there, gents, break it up." Hagrid appeared like a light from the abyss, puling Dad and Mr Malfoy apart. Dad had a cut lip, and Mr Malfoy had a bruise forming over his eye having been hit with a thick tome of 'Encyclopedia of Toadstools'. Mr Malfoy shoved Ginny's book back at her, causing her to stumble as she gripped the book.
"Here, girl." He spat. "Take your book, its the best your father can give you." And with that, he yanked himself out of Hagrid's hold, took his son by the arm and pulled him out of the shop.
"Yeh should have ignored him, Arthur." Hagrid told Dad, lifting him onto his feet and straightening his robes. "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 out of here." The assistant seemed to want to protest, but with him barely coming up to Hagrid's waist, he thought better of it. Mr and Mrs Granger followed after us, frightened.
"A fine example to set for your children!" Mum huffed at Dad. "Brawling in public! What Gilderoy Lockhart must've thought."
"He was pleased." Fred told her. "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 the fight into his report, said it was all publicity." And that was the end of the day, we headed to the Leaky Cauldron, and the Grangers headed to the Muggle entrance. I gave the Grangers a whistle I had charmed, it would call Aquila to their location at a moment's notice.
"If ever you need to contact me." I said to them. "Aquila is a loyal bird, you can trust her."
"Thank you." Mrs Granger said. Wishing them goodbye, the trio left. We then headed to the Floo Fireplace, heading back home to the Burrow.