When the Weasley children found their way to a private room thanks to Tom, they wanted to know everything from Harry, who did his best to retell the story of Dobby without suffering a major anxiety attack. This was the second year in a row that something bad and potentially life threatening had happened to him. What's worse, it's now affecting his family as well. What the hell made him so special?
There was a long, shocked silence when he had finished.
"Very fishy," said Fred finally.
"Definitely dodgy" agreed George. "So he wouldn't even tell you who's supposed to be plotting all this stuff?"
"I don't think he could," said Harry. "I told you, every time he got close to letting something slip, he started banging his head against the wall."
He saw Fred and George look at each other.
"What, you think he was lying to me?" said Harry.
"Well," said Fred, "put it this way — house-elves have got powerful magic of their own, but they can't usually use it without their master's permission. I reckon old Dobby was sent to stop you coming back to Hogwarts. Someone's idea of a joke. Or someone wanted to kill you. Can you think of anyone at school with a grudge against you?"
"Yes," said Harry and Ron together, instantly.
"Draco Malfoy," Harry explained. "He hates me."
"Draco Malfoy?" said George, turning around. "Not Lucius Malfoy's son?"
"Must be, it's not a very common name, is it?" said Harry.
"I've heard Dad talking about him," said George. "He was a big supporter of You-Know-Who."
"And when You-Know-Who disappeared," said Fred, craning around to look at Harry, "Lucius Malfoy came back saying he'd never meant any of it. Load of dung — Dad reckons he was right in You— Know-Who's inner circle."
Harry had heard these rumors about Malfoy's family before, and they didn't surprise him at all. But would Draco Malfoy resort to murder? Arson? It just didn't fit.
"I don't know whether the Malfoys own a house-elf.…" said Harry.
"Well, whoever owns him will be an old wizarding family, and they'll be rich," said Fred.
"Yeah, Mum's always wishing we had a house-elf to do the ironing," said George. "But all we've got is a lousy old ghoul in the attic and gnomes all over the garden. House-elves come with big old manors and castles and places like that; you wouldn't catch one in our house.…"
Harry was silent. Judging by the fact that Draco Malfoy usually had the best of everything, his family was rolling in wizard gold; he could just see Malfoy strutting around a large manor house. Sending the family servant to stop Harry from going back to Hogwarts also sounded exactly like the sort of thing Malfoy would do. But still... his gut instinct told him that Draco had nothing to do with this. And after everything that happened last year, he knew to trust his gut.
Just then, an ethereal blue Phoenix flew into their room and landed gracefully on the table they were sitting around. When it opened it's mouth to speak, it spoke with the Headmaster's voice:
"Home is safe, we are discussing right now. Why don't you get your stuff for Hogwarts and then come back?"
The Patronus then vanished, leaving a stack of Hogwarts letters behind for everyone.
For a few minutes there was silence as they all read their letters. Harry's told him to catch the Hogwarts Express as usual from King's Cross station on September first. There was also a list of the new books he'd need for the coming 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
43 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
Fred, who had finished his own list, peered over at Harry's.
"You've been told to get all Lockhart's books, too!" he said. "The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan — bet it's a witch."
"That lot won't come cheap," said George, with a quick look at his parents. "Lockhart's books are really expensive…."
"Then I'll buy them." Harry said. Upon seeing his siblings about to argue, he added "I've got the money for it, and it's because of me we have a psychotic house elf trying to burn our home down. Let me do it."
They couldn't really argue that point.
"So Gringotts first, then we get supplies?" Ron suggested and, with no better alternative, they decided to go with that plan.
Harry looked up and saw Hermione Granger standing at the top of the white flight of steps to Gringotts. She ran down to meet them, her bushy brown hair flying behind her.
"What happened to your glasses? Hi, everyone — Oh, it's wonderful to see you two again — Are you coming into Gringotts, Harry?" Hermione asked
"Yeah, I'm buying everyone's school stuff so I need to get some money." Harry explained. "As for how I broke my glasses... would you believe me if I told you a gnome punched me in the nose?"
Words couldn't describe how happy he was to see Hermione. He knew he missed her, but he didn't realize how much he missed her until he saw her again. He was distracted almost at once by the sight of Hermione's parents, who were standing nervously at the counter that ran all along the great marble hall, waiting for Hermione to introduce them.
"You must be Mr. and Mrs. Granger." Harry said, politely offering his hand to shake. "I'm Harry Potter, me and my brother Ron are good friends with Hermione. Those are my brothers, Fred, George and Percy, and the little one is my sister, Ginny."
"Please, call me Nick." Nicholas Granger said, smiling at Harry. "You went out of your way to befriend my little girl and, from what I've gathered, you two had quite the adventure. You've earned that right."
"And please, call me Helen. Nick pretty much summed things up pretty succintly." Helen Granger added, smiling at Harry. "Sweetie, why don't you go with Harry and Ron and the rest of us wait here?"
Hermione nodded in agreement as the Golden Trio were led off to Harry's underground vault by another Griphook not long after. The vaults were reached by means of small, goblin-driven carts that sped along miniature train tracks through the bank's underground tunnels. Harry enjoyed the breakneck journey down to his vault , but felt dreadful, far worse than he had following Dobby's bizarre warning and subsequent attack, when it was opened. He never really liked to flaunt his wealth now that he knew about it, especially after he and Ron learned that Harry would become a billionaire once he became of age, and now he felt like he was flaunting it to Hermione as well. Fortunately, she said nothing as Harry scooped some money into a leather bag and pocketed it.
Back outside on the marble steps, they all separated. Percy muttered vaguely about needing a new quill. Fred and George had spotted their friend from Hogwarts, Lee Jordan. Ron decided to take Ginny to get her robes, and Nicholas and Helen decided that they wanted to explore Diagon Alley a little for themselves (though they would never admit that they had decided to leave Harry and Hermione alone on a hunch), leaving Harry and Hermione alone to do what whatever they wanted before they'd all meet up at Flourish and Blotts.
The two strolled off along the winding, cobbled street. The bag of gold, silver, and bronze jangling cheerfully in Harry's pocket was clamoring to be spent, so he bought two large strawberry-and-peanut-butter ice creams, which they slurped happily as they wandered up the alley, examining the fascinating shop windows. They passed by Eeylop's Owl Emporium where Harry bought some treats for Hedwig until Hermione dragged them off to buy ink and parchment next door. In Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, they met Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, who were stocking up on Dr. Filibuster's Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks, and in a tiny junk shop full of broken wands, lopsided brass scales, and old cloaks covered in potion stains they found Percy, deeply immersed in a small and deeply boring book called Prefects Who Gained Power.
"Here, Perce. Early birthday present." Harry said with a grin, paying for the book for his older brother, who looked surprised, but grateful. An hour later, they headed for Flourish and Blotts. They were by no means the only ones making their way to the bookshop. As they approached it, they saw to their surprise a large crowd jostling outside the doors, trying to get in. The reason for this was proclaimed by a large banner stretched across the upper windows:
GILDEROY LOCKHART
will be signing copies of his autobiography
MAGICAL ME
today 12:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.
"We can actually meet him!" Hermione squealed. "I mean, he's written almost the whole booklist!"
The crowd seemed to be made up mostly of witches around Mrs. Weasley's age. A harassed-looking wizard stood at the door, saying, "Calmly, please, ladies.…Don't push, there…mind the books, now.…"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione squeezed inside. A long line wound right to the back of the shop, where Gilderoy Lockhart was signing his books. They each grabbed a copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 and sneaked up the line to where the rest of the Weasleys (With the exception of Molly and Arthur), were standing with Mr. and Mrs. Granger.
Gilderoy Lockhart came slowly into view, seated at a table surrounded by large pictures of his own face, all winking and flashing dazzlingly white teeth at the crowd. The real Lockhart was wearing robes of forget-me-not blue that exactly matched his eyes; his pointed wizard's hat was set at a jaunty angle on his wavy hair. A short, irritable-looking man was dancing around taking photographs with a large black camera that emitted puffs of purple smoke with every blinding flash.
"Out of the way, there," he snarled at Ron, moving back to get a better shot. "This is for the Daily Prophet —"
"Big deal," said Ron, rubbing his foot where the photographer had stepped on it.
Gilderoy Lockhart heard him. He looked up. He saw Ron — and then he saw Harry. He stared. Then he leapt to his feet and positively shouted, "It can't be Harry Potter?"
The crowd parted, whispering excitedly; Lockhart dived forward, seized Harry's arm, and pulled him to the front. The crowd burst into applause. Harry's face burned as Lockhart shook his hand for the photographer, who was clicking away madly, wafting thick smoke over the Weasleys.
"Nice big smile, Harry," said Lockhart, through his own gleaming teeth. "Together, you and I are worth the front page."
When he finally let go of Harry's hand, Harry could hardly feel his fingers. He tried to sidle back over to the Weasleys, but Lockhart threw an arm around his shoulders and clamped him tightly to his side.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said loudly, waving 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 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 —" The crowd applauded again. "He had no idea ," Lockhart continued, giving Harry a little shake that made his glasses slip to the end of his nose, "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!"
The crowd cheered and clapped and Harry found himself being presented with the entire works of Gilderoy Lockhart. Staggering slightly under their weight, he managed to make his way out of the limelight to the edge of the room, where Ginny was standing next to her new cauldron.
"You have these," Harry mumbled to her, tipping the books into the cauldron. "I'll buy my own —"
"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" said a voice Harry had no trouble recognizing. He straightened up and found himself face-to-face with Draco Malfoy, who was wearing his usual sneer.
"Famous Harry Potter," said Malfoy. "Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."
"What, upset you aren't the center of the attention?" Harry snarked back with a glare.
"Oh, it's you," said Ron, looking at Malfoy as if he were 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 shop, Weasley," retorted Malfoy. "I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for all those."
Harry immediately held Ron back. "Don't bother. He's all talk. Besides, he wouldn't try anything in public. Wouldn't do for the son of a Lord to be seen attacking The Boy Who Lived, after all. What did your family do before they became a Noble Family again? Dung farmers?"
"Why you little-" Draco snapped, going for his wand when all of a sudden...
"Ron!" said Mr. Weasley, struggling over with Fred and George. "What are you doing? It's too crowded in here, let's go outside."
"Well, well, well — Arthur Weasley."
It was Mr. Malfoy. He stood with his hand on Draco's shoulder, sneering in just the same way.
"Lucius," said Mr. Weasley, nodding coldly.
"Busy time at the Ministry, I hear," said Mr. Malfoy. "All those raids…I hope they're paying you overtime?"
He reached into Ginny's cauldron and extracted, from amid the glossy Lockhart books, a very old, very battered copy of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration .
"Obviously not," Mr. Malfoy said. "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?"
Mr. Weasley flushed darker than either Ron or Ginny.
"We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy," he said.
"Clearly," said Mr. Malfoy, his pale eyes straying to Mr. and Mrs. Granger, who were watching apprehensively. "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 at Mr. Malfoy, knocking him backward into a bookshelf. Dozens of heavy spellbooks came thundering down on all their heads; there was a yell of, "Get him, Dad!" from Fred or George; Mrs. Weasley was shrieking, "No, Arthur, no!"; the crowd stampeded backward, knocking more shelves over; "Gentlemen, please — please!" cried the assistant, and then, louder than all —
"PROTEGO!"
Albus Dumbledore was wading toward them through the sea of books. In an instant he had cast an overpowered shield charm, separating Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy apart. Mr. Weasley had a cut lip and Mr. Malfoy had been hit in the eye by an Encyclopedia of Toadstools . He was still holding Ginny's old Transfiguration book. He thrust it at her, his eyes glittering with malice.
"Here, girl — take your book — it's the best your father can give you —" With a murderous glare at Dumblefore, he beckoned to Draco and swept from the shop.
"Arthur, I understand emotions are running high currently, but do you really think that was the wisest course of action?" Albus asked, helping Arthur to his feet and healing his cuts and bruises with a flick of his wand.
"I know, Albus. I'm sorry. Malfoy just really knows how to get under my skin." Arthur said apologetically.
The assistant looked as though he wanted to stop them leaving, but upon seeing the Headmaster of Hogwarts, who also happened to be Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards "He was pleased," said Fred. "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 —"
But it was a subdued group that headed back to the fireside in the Leaky Cauldron, where Harry, the Weasleys, and all their shopping would be traveling back to the Burrow using Floo powder. They said good-bye to the Grangers, who were leaving the pub for the Muggle street on the other side; Mr. Weasley started to ask them how bus stops worked, but stopped quickly at the look on Mrs. Weasley's face.
As the Weasley's and Dumbledore returned to The Burrow, Harry was relieved to see the old house intact, the fire having not made it to the house.
"Well, now that we are all sorted, I do believe it is time for us to talk about what happened, Harry." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling.
To quote a certain headmaster: "Well that was fun."
I know this chapter kinda felt like a whole lotta nothing and that was kinda by design. My intent for this chapter was for it to be a bit of a wind down chapter and to establish some key players early on, that being Lucius, Lockhart, and the Grangers. I wanted to introduce Nick and Helen now because, as promised, Harry/Hermione is the endgame here by the end of the series which means it's going to be a fair bit of a slow burn. I can say right now are that my current plans are to have Harry and Hermione officially start dating around Goblet of Fire. Yule Ball, specifically. Hopefully. But that doesn't mean I can't start to lay the seeds here. I had my first real school crush around 12 years old and that's really going to start here but don't really expect anything major to come of it until either Book 3 or Book 4.
Anyway, that's about it for me here, thank y'all for reading and as always,
Drive the Speed Limit, Drink Some Water and Love One Another.
Pizza!
