CHAPTER THREE

AT FLOURISH AND BLOTTS

Life at the Burrow was interesting and different. Lilian was used to the quietness that was her Godfather's house but it changed once she was in the Burrow. Everything seemed to happen unexpectedly and strangely. When she woke up the first morning she walked down stairs and looked in the mirror over the kitchen telpiece only for it to shout at her, "Make yourself look presentable!" There was a ghoul in the attic that howled and dropped pipes whenever he felt things were getting too quiet, and small explosions could be heard throughout Fred and George's room, which was rather normal. The Weasley's were rather kind to both her and Harry.

Mrs. Weasley would fuss over them everyday and it made Lilian wonder if what she was doing was how a mother usually acted. Of course she never had a motherly figure in her life, Mrs. Figgs was an old woman who fussed at her even more than Mrs. Weasley did and she wasn't the kindest woman in the world. The Dursleys were well... the Dursleys. Lilian spent most her time with the youngest child in the Weasley family, Ginny and she made quick friends with her. Lilian found it adorable the crush she had on Harry and vowed to try and get them together -- Once they were older of course. Every meal Harry and Lilian would sit by Mr. Weasley as he bombarded them with questions about life with Muggles.

"Fascinating!" He would say when Harry spoke to him by using the telephone.

"Ingenious, how many ways Muggles have found of getting along without magic."

It was a sunny morning when the Weasleys and their guests had heard from Hogwarts. Lilian went down to breakfast with Ginny and found Mr. and Mrs. Weasley already sitting at the kitchen table. Lilian took a seat besides Ginny and watched as Harry and Ron walked in the room. The moment Ginny saw Harry she accidentally knocked her porridge bowl to the floor with a loud clatter. After a while Lilian got used to it, Ginny was prone to dropping things whenever she saw Harry. Ginny dived under the table to retrieve the bowl and sat back down with her face as red as the setting sun. Lilian patted her swiftly on the back and watched as Harry pretended not to notice and sit down beside her.

"Letters from school." Mr. Weasley said, passing Ron, Harry and Lilian identical envelopes of yellowish parchment, addressed in green ink. "Dumbledore already knows you're here, Harry, Lilian - doesn't miss a trick, that man. You two's got them, too." He added as Fred and George walked in, still in their pajamas.

They read their letters in silence and she was told, like Harry, to catch the Hogwarts Express as usual from King's Cross station on September first. They also received the list of books they needed.

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

Fred, who had finished reading his list, looked over at Harry's while George looked over at Lilian's.

"You've been told to get all Lockhart's books, too!" Fred said. "The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan- bet it's a witch."

Fred caught his mother's eye and quickly busied himself with the marmalade.

"That lot won't come cheap." George said, with a quick look at his parents."Lockhart's books are really expensive..."

"Well, we'll manage." Mrs. Weasley said, but she looked worried. "I expect we'll be able to pick a lot of Ginny's things secondhand."

"Oh, are you starting at Hogwarts this year?" Harry asked her.

She nodded quickly, her face was as red as her hair, and put her elbow in the butter dish. No one noticed that because Percy walked inside, he was already dressed, his Hogwarts prefect badge pinned to his vest. Lilian fussed over Ginny and helped her clean up before anyone noticed.

"Morning, all." Percy said briskly. "Lovely day."

"Morning, Percy." Lilian said and he nodded at her. She was getting along with Percy, well with all the Weasley's since she came to their house.

He sat down in the only remaining chair but leapt up again almost immediately, he pulled out a molting, breathing, grey feather dust from underneath him. Lilian blinked again and noticed it was Errol.

"Errol!" Ron said, taking the limp owl from Percy and extracted a letter from his wing. "Finally - he's got Hermione's answer. I wrote to her saying we were going to try and rescue you from the Dursleys and get Lilian."

He carried Errol to a percy on the outside of the back door and tried to stand him up, but he flopped straight off again. So Ron laid him on the draining board instead, muttering "Pathetic." And ripped open Hermione's letter and read it out loud.

" 'Dear Ron, Lilian and Harry if you're there,

'I hope everything went all right and that Harry is okay and that you didn't do anything illegal to get him out, Ron, because that would get Harry into trouble, too. Tell Lilian I said hello and I hope everything is going well. I'm happy that Professor Snape let her come too.  I've been really worried and if Harry is all right, will you please let me know at once, but perhaps it would be better if you used a different owl, because I think another delivery might finish yours off.'"

" 'I'm very busy with schoolwork, of course' — How can she be?" Ron said in horror. "We're on vacation! — '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. Happy late birthday, Lilian and Harry. Love from Hermione.' "

"Well, that fits in nicely, we can go and get all your things then, too." Mrs. Weasley said and looked over at Lilian. "Does Severus buy your things?"

"Not really, I have a vault." Lilian said awkwardly.

"Alright, what're you all up to today?"

Lilian was going to read a book while Ginny followed the boys to the hills. Once she was done reading she helped Mr. and Mrs. Weasley with anything they needed help with.
Mrs. Weasley woke them all early the following Wednesday. After a quick half a dozen bacon sandwiches each, they pulled on their coats and Mrs. Wesley took a flower pot off the kitchen mantelpiece and peered inside.

"We're running low, Arthur." She sighed. "We'll have to buy some more today... Ah well, guests first! After you, Lilian, Harry!"

She offered them the flowerpot.

They stared at them as they watched them.

"W-what are we supposed to do?" He stammered.

"I-I know about Floo powder..." Lilian said. "But I've never used it before."

"They've never traveled by Floo powder." Ron said suddenly. "Sorry, I forgot."

"Never?" Mr. Weasley said. "But how did you get to Diagon Alley to buy your school things last year?'

"Apparated." Lilian said.

"I went on the Underground -"

"Really?" Mr. Weasley said eagerly. "Were there escapators? How exactly -"

"Not now, Arthur." Mrs. Weasley said. "Floo powder's a lot quicker, Harry, but goodness me, if you've never used it before -"

"They'll be all right, Mum." Fred said. "Harry, watch us first."

He took a pinch of glittering powder out of the flowerpot, stepped up to the fire, and threw the powder into the flames.

A loud roar erupted from the fire and it turned emerald gold, the fire rose even higher than Fred who stepped right in the fire and shouted, "Diagon Alley!" He then vanished.

"You must speak clearly, dears." Mrs. Weasley said as George dipped his hand into the flowerpot. "You can go together, there's enough space. And be sure to get out at the right grate...."

"The right what?" They said nervously as the fire roared once again and whipped George out of sight.

"Well, there are an awful lot of wizard fires to choose from, you know, but as long as you've spoken clearly -"

"They'll be fine, Molly, don't fuss." Mr. Weasley said and helped himself to the Floo powder.

"Bur, dear, if they got lost, how would we ever explain to their guardians?"

"They wouldn't mind." Harry reassured her. "Dudley would think it was a brilliant joke if I got lost up a chimney, don't worry about that. Plus we'll be together - "

"Well.. all right... go after Arthur." She said. "Now. when you get into the fire, say where you're going -"

"And keep your elbows tucked in." Ron advised.

"And your eyes shut." Mrs. Weasley said. "The soot -"

"Don't fidget." Ron said. "Or you might well fall out of the wrong fireplace -"

"But don't panic and get out too early; wait until you see Fred and George."

Lilian felt sweat run down her face and looked over nervously to Harry, who had turned pale.

"Only one, who's going to say the destination?"

"I- I will." Harry said looking over to a nervous Lilian.

Harry took a pinch of Floo powder and they walked to the edge of the fire. They took a deep breath, scattered the powder into the flames, and stepped forward; the fire felt like a warm breeze; they accidentally open their mouths and Lilian started coughing as Harry accidentally swallowed a lot of hot ash.

"D-Dia-gon Alley." He coughed.

It felt as though they were pushed together into a tight hug and sucked down a giant drain. They were spinning and kept their eyes closed as a roar was heard from around them. Something hard knocked their elbows and they tucked there's in. Lilian had accidentally knocked into Harry and felt like a cold hand had slapped her in the face. She felt herself lurch forward a minute after Harry.

She fell onto cold stone and groaned.

She was dizzy and bruised and covered in soot.

"What are you doing?" A voice asked and she was pulled off of the ground. She held onto the arm and started coughing.

"I-I'm never-" Cough. "Doing t-that a-g-gain." She said.

"You look awful!" The voice said and she opened her eyes. She saw the stone fireplace that she came from and looked around the dimly lit wizard's shop.

A glass case held a withered hand on a cushion, a blood-stained pack of cars, and a staring glass eye. Evil-looking masked stared down from the walls, an assortment of human bones lay upon the counter, and rusty, spiked instruments hung from the ceiling. She looked through the dusty ship window and saw a dark, narrow street. She knew for a fact that she wasn't in Diagon Alley.

She finally looked at the voice and saw a taller, Draco Malfoy in front of her. He had gained a few inches since the last time she saw him and his face had only slightly matured. Beside him was an unimpressed man that must have been his father. Same pale, pointed face and identical cold, grey eyes. He looked at her for a second as he crossed the shop, looked lazily at the items on display, and rang a bell on the counter before looking back at her and his son.

"Touch nothing."

"I thought you were going to buy me a present."

"I said I would buy you a racing broom." his father said, drumming his fingertips on the counter.

"What's the good of that if I'm not on the House team?" Draco says, looking sulky and bad-tempered. "Harry Potter 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.."

He bent down to examine a shelf full of skulls.

".. everyone thinks he's so smart, wonderful Potter with his scar and his broomstick -" He stops and looks over at Lilian. "You look awful."

"Thanks." She said boredly, his father takes out his wand and with a flick of it all of the dust and soot was off of her. "Thank you." His father says nothing and goes back to the conversation he had with his son.

"You have told me that at least a dozen times already." He said with a quelling look at Draco. "And I would remind you that it is not - prudent - to appear less than fond of Harry Potter, not when most of our kind regard him as the hero who made the Dark Lord disappear - ah Mr. Borgin."

A stopping man had appeared behind the counter, smoothing his greasy hair back from his face.

'Mr. Malfoy, what a pleasure to see you again."  Borgin said, in a voice as oily as his hair. "Delighted - and young Master Malfoy and his friend, too - charmed." Lilian and Draco looked at each other but don't complain. "How may I be of assistance? I must show you, just in today, and very reasonable priced -"

"I'm not buying today, Mr. Borgin, but selling." Mr. Malfoy said.

"Selling?' The smile faded slightly away from Mr. Borgin's face.

"You have heard, of course, that the Ministry is conducting more raids." Mr. Malfoy said, taking a roll of parchment from the inside of his pocket and unraveled it for Mr. Borgin to read. "I have a few - ah - items at home that might embarrass me, if the Ministry were to call..."

Mr. Borgin fixed a pair of pince-nez to his nose and looked down at the list.

"This Ministry wouldn't presume to trouble you, sir, surely?" Mr. Malfoy's lip curled.
"I have not been visited yet. The name Malfoy still commands a certain respect, yet the Ministry grows ever more meddlesome. There are rumors about a new Muggle
Protection Act - no doubt that flea-bitten, Muggle-loving fool Arthur Weasley is behind it and as you see, certain of these poisons might make it appear -"

"Poisons?" Lilian whispered to Draco and he said nothing but looked at the withered hand on it cushion. Lilian tried not to think about what Mr. Malfoy said about Mr. Weasley and focused back on the conversation.

"I understand, sir, of course." Mr. Borgin said. "Let me see..."

"Can I have that?" Draco interrupted, pointing to the same withered hand from before.

"Ah, the Hand of Glory!" Mr. Borgin said, abandoning Mr. Malfoy's list and scurried 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." Mr. Malfoy said coldly.

"No offense, sir no offense meant -" Mr. Borgin said quickly.

"Though if his grades don't pick up." Mr. Malfoy said. "That may indeed be all he is fit for-"

"It's not my fault." Draco retorted. "The teachers all have favorites, that Hermione Granger -"

"I would have thought you'd be ashamed that a girl of no wizard family -." He snapped and looked over to Lilian. "And your cousin beat you in every exam."

"It's the same all over." Mr. Borgin said in his oily voice. "But congratulations Ms. Black, wizard blood is counting for less everywhere -"

"Not with me." Mr. Malfoy said, his long nostrils flaring.

"No, sir, nor with me, sir." Mr. Borgin said, with a deep bow.

"In that case, perhaps we can return to my list." Mr. Malfoy said shortly. "I am in something of a hurry, Borgin, I have important business elsewhere today -"

They started to speak to one another and bargain as Lilian spoke to Draco.

"Your dad's really scary." Lilian said quietly and a look went over Draco's face.

"You don't even know the half of it." He said, his eyes flickering to his father's and went back to examining the objects for sale. She followed him over to a cabinet and a long coil of hangman's rope. The card propped on a magnificent necklace of opals, read: Caution: Do not Touch. Cursed - Has Claimed the Lives of Nineteen Muggle Owners to Date.

Lilian looked over to the cabinet and bent down to look inside it. She saw a flash of familiar emerald eyes and messy black hair.

"Wha?" Draco said and was about to bend down -

"Done." Mr. malfoy said at the counter. "Come, Draco" He snapped at them and they followed behind the elder man. He looked over at Lilian. "I suppose you know how to go back to Diagon Alley?"

"Er- yes." She said quickly

"Good day to you, Mr. Borgin. I'll expect you at the manor tomorrow to pick up the goods." He looked over once more at Lilian. "I suggest that you don't speak with anyone about this."

She nodded and watched as the door closed and looked over at Mr. Borgin who had dropped his oily manner.

"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 and his dark eyes looked over to Lilian. He gave her an annoyed look and disappeared into a back room, leaving her to herself.

"Harry..?" She whispered after a minute had passed. Said boy slipped out of the cabinet, past the glass case and walked over to Lilian. "I didn't know you ended up here too."

"Well, I didn't plan on it." He said and looked out the shop door. "Let's go."

"Wait!" She said quickly and flattened the hair on his head to hide his scar and took off his glasses and put them in her pocket. "I don't think you want people to recognize you wherever we are." She tugged the cloak around her and took out her wand and tried to fix the soot on his face and his cloak. They were wearing Muggle clothes and if the people hated Muggles as much as Mr. Malfoy did it would cause them trouble.

"I agree." He said and they took each other's hands and walked out the shop door. They stared around. They emerged into a dingy alleyway that seemed to made up of shop entirely devoted to the Dark Arts. The shop they had left was Borgin and Burkes, which looked the largest. The opposite of the shop was a nasty window that displayed shrunken heads, two doors down was a large cage that was alive with gigantic black spiders. She shuddered and looked at the rest of the street. There were two shabby-looking wizards in the shadow of a doorway, but they didn't seem to recognize either of them.

"We're in Knockturn Alley." Lilian whispered to him. "Just don't look nervous or anxious and no one will mess with you. If anyone asks you for food say no."

"How do you know this?"

"I read about Knockturn Alley, but the rest was advice from my Slytherin friends in case I ever found myself here. They don't like this place much either. Follow me."

They passed a old, wooden street sign that hung over a shop selling poisonous candles that said: Knockturn Alley. They walked down the alley dodging witches and wizards. They were near Gringotts Bank when they saw Hagrid's massive form. They were out at Knockturn Alley and Harry yelled.

"Hagrid!" The gamekeeper whipped around and looked over at them. He scrunched his eyes and looked at them.

"Harry?" He asked. "Where's yer glasses?"

"Right here." Lilian said and held them up. "Oculus Reparo." She tapped the glasses and a red light flashed for a second and the glasses snapped back together.

"Thanks." Harry said and put them back on his face.

"Where'd yeh come from?" Hagrid asked.

"We used Floo Powder and ended up in Borgin and Burkes."

"Knockturn Alley?!" He yelled angrily and they jumped. "Dodgy place.."

"What were you doing there?" They asked.

"I was lookin' fer a Flesh-Eatin' Slug Repellent." Hagrid growled. "They're ruinin' the school cabbages." He looked around. "Yer not on yer own? Didn't think Professor Snape would let yeh here."

"If you tell him he'll kill me!" Lilian begged.

"We're staying with the Weasleys but we got separated." Harry explained. "We've got to go and find them..."

The trio traveled off together down the street.

"How come yeh never wrote back ter me?" Hagrid said as they jogged alongside him, (Harry took three steps to every stride of Hagrid's enormous boots while Lilian took five). Lilian listened once as Harry explained the situation with the Dursleys and Dobby.
"Lousy Muggles." Hagrid growled. "If I'd've known -"

"Harry! Lilian! Over here!"

They looked up and saw Hermione Granger standing at the top of the white flights of stairs to Gringotts. She ran down to them them.

"Hello Hagrid- Oh, it's wonderful to see you three again - Are you coming into Gringotts?"

"As soon as we find the Weasleys." Harry said.

"Yeh won't have long ter wait." Hagrid said with a grin.

They looked around and saw a group of redheads: Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Mr. Weasley.

"Harry, Lilian." Mr. Weasley panted. "We'd hoped you'd only gone one grate too far.." he mopped his glistening bald patch. "Molly's frantic - she's coming now -"

"Where did you come out?" Ron asked.

"Knockturn Alley." Hagrid said grimly.

"Excellent!" The twins say together.

"We've never been allowed in." Ron said enviously.

"I should ruddy well think not." Hagrid growled.

Mrs. Weasley came running into view, her handbag was swinging wildly in one hand, Ginny clinging onto the other. The young girl ran over to Lilian and gave her a big hug.

"I was- oh I'm so happy- what happened?" Ginny said frantically.

"Oh, Harry- Lilian - oh, my dear - you could have been anywhere -" Mrs. Weasley said at the same time as her daughter. Both of them took a breath.

"Well, gotta be off." Hagrid said, who was having his hand wrung by Mrs. Weasley ("Knockturn Alley!"). "See yer at Hogwarts!" He strode away, head and shoulders taller than everyone else in the packed street.

Lilian started speaking with Ginny. "It was weird. But I guess I shouldn't expect less. Draco gets his personality from Mr. Malfoy!"

"What was it like?"

"Horrible." She said truthfully. "I hope I never go back there again. It isn't a pleasant place." They walked into Gringotts and saw Hermione's parents.

"But you're Muggles!" Mr. Weasley said delightedly. "We must have a drink! What's that you've got there? Oh, you're changing Muggle money. Molly, look!" He was acting like a child on Christmas.

"He's so embarrassing." Ginny said with a blush on her face and Lilian smiled.
"Meet you back here." Ron said to Hermione and walked to the counter.

"Ms. Black?" A goblin said and she nodded. "Follow me." The Weasleys and Harry went to move but he stopped them. "Only her." They gave her a nervous look but she told them that she would be fine and watched as another goblin took them away to the underground vaults.

She followed the goblin down the narrow stone passageway, into the small cart and watched as it went downward. Soaring past tunnels as fire shot out from the ground over their heads.

Ten minutes had passed and the cart stopped. The goblin walked out showed her to the narrow passage stopping finally at a large, iron door. Lilian took off her necklace and placed it in the usual spot on the door. The spot had shifted from the last time she had visited, she realized that it changed height as much as she did.

The door crumbled and she was pushed inside by the wind. She fell on the gold and looked back at the door. It was closed and the locks closed themselves and it spat back her necklace to her. The same green bag from last year fell onto her head and expanded as she held it. It held the amount of gold that she would need. Popping in a few more coins she closed it, it turned itself into a small bracelet and shrunk to fit around her wrist. She nodded to herself and touched the door.

The doro shivered, glowed and disappeared. It pushed her out of the vault and followed the goblin back to the surface. She looked around and saw everyone, but they were all separated. Percy muttered vaguely about needing a new quill, Fred and George were leaving with Lee Jordan while Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were hand-and-hand going to a secondhand robe shop. Mr. Weasley was insisting on taking Mr. and Mrs. Granger off to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink.

"We'll all meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your schoolbooks." Mrs. Weasley said setting off with Ginny. Lilian said goodbye to her new friend. "And not one step down Knockturn Alley!" She shouted at the twins' backs.

"Lilian!" A voice yelled and the second years looked back. There was Daphne and Theodore waving to her.

"Coming!" She yelled and looked over at her other friends. "I'll see you guys in an hour." She then hurried off to her Slytherin friends.

"Where do you want to go?" The group asked one another.

"I need to get new robes." Daphne said and looked at the rest of her friends. "Seems like all of us do."

"Let's go there first."

The group walked down the crowded streets of Diagon Alley until they reached Chudley Cannon robes. "Mum's with Astoria." Daphne said and showed them her bag full of coins. "So they said I could get my school supplies."

"Dad's at home, I came with Daphne." Theodore said. Lilian didn't bother asking about his mother, she already knew that his mother had died shortly after he was born.

"You need a nickname." Daphne said sharply.

"Dad calls me Theo." He said and blushed slightly.

"Perfect!' She said and dragged them into the store. It took a few minutes for their measurements to be done and Mr. Cannon told them that they would be delivered in a few days. Lilian continued to speak with her friends and before she knew it an hour had passed. Lilian had almost everything she needed, besides her books. Her friends waved goodbye as she walked to Flourish and Blotts where she found Ron, Hermione and Harry outside, waiting to get in.

There was a large crowd jostling outside the doors, trying to get inside the shop near it was 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!"

"He seems like a phony." Lilian whispered to the boys. "I've read some of his books... seems like he made up everything."

The crowd was 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..."

They squeezed inside. A long line wound right to the back of the shop, where Gilderoy Lockhart was signing his books. They grabbed a copy of The Standard Book of Spells and sneaked up the line where the rest of the Weasley's and the Grangers were.

"Oh, there you are, good." Mrs. Weasley said. She was breathless and kept patting her hair. "We'll be able to see him in a minute..."

Gilderoy Lockhart was a foppish, blandly handsome wizard with wavy blonde hair and particularly straight and shiny teeth. He was winking and flashing dazzlingly white teeth at the crowd.  He wore robes that were a forget-me-not blue that exactly matched his eyes; while 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." Ron said, rubbing his foot where the man had stepped on.

Gilderoy Lockhart looked up. Saw Ron- and then his eyes turned to Harry and he stared.

"Get ready." Lilian whispered to him and Harry paled.

The man leapt to his feet and shouted. "It can't be Harry Potter?"

The crowded parted and starting whispering excitedly. Lockhart dived forward and seized Harry's arm, pulling him to the front. The crowded burst into applause as Lilian groaned. Seems like her best friend can't go anywhere without someone staring at him. She took a deep breath as Harry's pale face turned blood red. The photographer started clicking pictures, wafting thick smoke over them.

Harry tried to escape Lockhart's grasp but he threw his arm over his shoulder.

"Ladies and gentlemen." He said loudly, waving his hand and there was a hush over the crowd. "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 to- day, 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!"

"Great.." Lilian said to Ron and he shook his head.

"I don't see what's so great about him."

"Neither do I."

The crowd cheered and clapped as Harry was presented with the entire work of Gilderoy Lockhart. He staggered under the weight as Lilian helped him move out of the limelight towards the edge of the room where Ginny stood.

"You have these." Harry mumbled and tipped the books into the cauldron. "I'll buy my own-"

"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" Draco Malfoy said. "Famous Harry Potter." He said. "Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."

Lilian opened her mouth but Ginny beat her to it. "Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!"

"Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!" Draco said and Ginny went as scarlet as Ron and Hermione fought their way over, clutching stacks of Lockhart's books.

"Don't be jealous, Draco." Lilian said with the same snarl as her cousin. "Just because Harry can get one and you can't."

"You-" He said but was interrupted by Ron.

"Oh, it's you." He said, looking at Draco like he was dirt on his shoe. "Bet you're surprised to see Harry here, eh?"

"Not as surprised I am to see you in a shop, Weasley." Draco retorted. "I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for all those."

Ron went as red as Ginny. He dropped his books into the cauldron and started towards Draco, but Harry and Hermione held him back.

"I wouldn't try to pick a fight." Lilian said. "Crabbe and Goyle aren't here to back you up."

"Ron!" Mr. Weasley, struggling over with the twins. "What are you doing? It's too crowded in here, let's go outside."

"Well, well, well - Arthur Weasley." Mr. Malfoy appeared and but his hand on his son's shoulder, with a similar sneer on his face;

"Lucius." Mr. Weasley said, nodding coldly.

"Busy time at the Ministry, I hear." Mr. Malfoy said. "All those raids.. I hope they're paying you over time?"

He reached into Ginny's cauldron and took 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. "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 threw 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; Mrs. Weasley was shrieking, "No, Arthur, no!"; the crowd stammered backward, knocking more shelves over; "Gentlemen, please — please!" cried the assistant, and then, louder than all —

"Break it up, there, gents, break it up —"

Hagrid was walking toward them through the sea of books. And in an instant he had pulled Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy apart. Mr. Weasley had a cut on his lip and Mr. Malfoy had been hit in the eye by an Encyclopedia of Toadstools. He thrust Ginny's book at her, his eyes glittering with malice.

"Here, girl — take your book — it's the best your father can give you —" Pulling himself out of Hagrid's grip he beckoned to Draco and swept from the shop.

"Yeh should've ignored him, Arthur," said Hagrid, almost lifting Mr. Weasley off his feet as he straightened 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 outta here."

The assistant looked as though he wanted to stop them from leaving, but he barely came up to Hagrid's waist and seemed to think better of it. They hurried up the street, with the Grangers shaking with fright and Mrs. Weasley beside him in a fury.

"A fine example to set for your children . . . brawling in public . . . what Gilderoy Lockhart must've thought —"

"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 they headed back to the fireside in the Leaky Cauldron. They said goodbye to the Grangers, who were leaving from the other side; Mr. Weasley started to ask them about how bus stops worked, but stopped once he saw the look on Mrs. Weasley's face. Lilian gave a look over to Harry deciding better of it and went back with Mr. Weasley, she didn't want to lose anyone again.

But she definitely knew that she hated Floo powder.