THE NEXT MORNING, THE WEASLEYS, HARRY and Harper got up very early to go to Diagon Alley to get everything they need for their next year at Hogwarts.

"Now remember," Molly said, standing in front of the fire place, "just take a bit of Floo powder and speak clearly 'Diagon Alley'."

All of them nodded and Molly gestured for Fred to go first. He moved into the fireplace, taking some Floo powder in the process, before throwing it at his feet and saying, "Diagon Alley!"

Green flames rose from the ashes, surrounding him, and then he was gone.

Harper followed his example, said loud and clearly, "Diagon Alley!" and the Burrow disappeared to make way for the Leaky Cauldron.

She stumbled out of the fireplace straight into Fred's arms.

"You okay?" he asked, as he helped her steady herself.

"Yeah, all fine," Harper said, dusting her pants off.

Ron appeared behind her and was soon followed by George, who looked around rather worriedly.

"What's wrong?" Harper asked.

"Is Harry here?"

Harper narrowed her eyes. "No, I thought he was with you in the Burrow."

George went with his hand through his hair. "Harry misspoke himself, I don't know where the Floo powder has taken him."

Harper paled. "Oh Merlin."

Ron placed his hand reassuringly on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Harp, we'll find him, won't we?" he said, glancing at his brothers.

"Definitely," Fred replied, trying to stay positive. "I mean, how far could he have gone?"

• ✧ •

SPLITTING UP, INTO TWO GROUPS SO THEY could cover more ground, Ron and Harper made their way through the crowd, calling out Harry's name.

"Look Harp!" Ron exclaimed next to her, pointing at a familiar head that stuck out of the crowd. "Hagrid is here! Maybe he has seen Harry."

Harper eyed the half-giant and saw to her utter relief that a black haired boy was waking besides him. A smile appeared on her lips as she pushed her way through the crowds.

"Harry!" She engulfed him in a tight short hug before pulling back. "Are you all right?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, Hagrid found me."

Harper turned to Hagrid. "Hello Hagrid, it's wonderful to see you again. Thanks for bringing this idiot back." She nudged Harry amusingly.

Hagrid smiled down at her. "It's no problem, Harp. It's good to see you as well." He glanced at his watch. "It's time fer me to go. I'll see yeh at Hogwarts!"

They said their goodbyes and Hagrid gave them a small wave before disappearing into an alley.

"Harper! Harry! Ron!" someone squealed behind them. Harper turned around and saw Hermione dashing over to them.

"It's good to see you!" she exclaimed, enthusiastically. "Are you going to Gringotts?"

"As soon as we've found the Weasleys," Harry said.

"We don't have to wait for long," Harper told him, seeing the red headed family making their way towards them.

"Harry," Arthur panted. "We 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, glancing at Harry.

"Knockturn Alley," Harry replied.

"Brilliant!" Fred and George exclaimed together.

"We've never been allowed in," Ron explained enviously.

Harper glanced past the Weasley family to see Molly galloping into view, her handbag swinging wildly in one hand, Ginny just clinging onto the other.

"Oh, Harry—oh, my dear—you could have been anywhere . . ."

Gasping for breath she pulled a large clothes brush out of her bag and began sweeping off the soot. Arthur took Harry's glasses, gave them a tap of his wand and returned them, good as new.

"Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes," Harry quietly whispered to Ron, Hermione and Harper as they climbed the Gringotts steps. "Malfoy and his father."

"Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?" Arthur asked sharply behind them.

"No," Harry replied, shaking his head, "he was selling."

"So, he's worried," Arthur said with grim satisfaction. "Oh, I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something . . ."

"You be careful," Molly said sharply, as they were ushered into the bank by a bowing goblin at the door. "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?" Arthur said indignantly, but 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.

"But you're Muggles!" Arthur said delightedly. "We must have a drink! What's that you've got there? Oh, you're changing Muggle money. Molly, look!" He pointed excitedly at the ten-pound notes in Mr Granger's hand.

"Meet you back here," Ron said to Hermione, as the Weasleys, Harry and Harper were led off to their underground vaults by another Gringotts goblin.

The vaults were reached by means of small, goblin-driven carts that sped along miniature train-tracks through the bank's underground tunnels. Harper enjoyed the breakneck journey to the Weasley's vault, it reminded reminded of Quidditch.

However, she felt dreadful when the Weasley's vault was opened. There was a very small pile of silver Sickles inside, and just one gold Galleon. Molly felt right into the corners before sweeping the whole lot into her bag.

Harper felt even worse when they neared their vault. Harry tried to block the contents from view as she hastily shoved handfuls of coins into a leather bag.

Back outside on the marble steps, they all separated.

Percy muttered vaguely about needing a new quill.

Fred and George had spotted Lee and dashed over to their friend.

Molly and Ginny wanted to go to a second-hand robe shop but Harper stopped them and said that Ginny could use hers, she needed new one's anyways and her old robes were still pretty intact. Arthur was insisting on taking the Grangers off to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink, taking Molly and Ginny with him.

"We'll all meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your school books," Molly said, setting off with Ginny after her husband. "And not one step down Knockturn Alley!" she shouted at the twins' retreating backs.

The four of them strolled off along the winding cobbled street. The bag of gold, silver and bronze jangling cheerfully in Harper's pocket was clamoring to be spent, so she decided with Harry to buy four large strawberry and peanut-butter ice-creams which they all slurped happily as they wandered up the alley, examining the fascinating shop windows.

Ron gazed longingly at a full set of Chudley Cannon robes in the window of 'Quality Quidditch Supplies' until Hermione dragged them off to buy ink and parchment next door.

Then, Harry, Hermione and Harper went to buy new robes. Ron however, had to wear the hand-me-downs from his brothers. Harper would have offered him some money wasn't it for the fact she knew that was only going to embarrass him.

As the hour passed, the four of them made their way towards Flourish and Bots.

"Is it me," Harper started, looking into the shop, "or are there more people inside than usual?"

"It's because Gilderoy Lockhart is signing copies of his autobiography!" Hermione squealed.

Harry, Ron and Harper exchanged a glance. They all had the same question in mind.

"Who is Gilderoy Lockhart?" Harper asked.

"He's the one who has written almost our whole booklist!" Hermione exclaimed, looking inside, trying to see the man.

The four of them squeezed inside. A long queue wound right to the back of the shop, where Gilderoy Lockhart was signing his books. We each grabbed a copy of Break with a Banshee, and sneaked up the line to where the rest of the Weasleys were standing with Mr and Mrs Granger.

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

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 with 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," Ron said, 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?"

Harper sighed, knowing Harry didn't like to stand in the spotlight.

The crowd parted, whispering excitedly. Lockhart dived forward, seized Harry's arm and pulled him to the front.

The crowd burst into applause. Harper could see Harry's face burning up as Lockhart shook his hand for the photographer, who was clicking away madly, wafting thick smoke over her and the Weasleys.

When the photos were done, Harper saw Harry trying to come back to them but Lockhart threw an arm around his shoulders and clamped him tightly to his side.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began 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 charges—he had no idea."

Lockhart gave 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 school fellows will, in fact, be getting the real, magical me."

Oh no, Harper thought. Oh, no, no, no.

"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 crowed cheered and clapped while Harper groaned.

Harry made his way back towards them, carrying the entire work of Lockhart. He stopped by Ginny, who had her new cauldron, and put the books in it.

"You have these," he mumbled, "I'll buy my own."

He then made his way towards Harper.

"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" a voice behind them said. Harper sighed at this, having recognized the voice before she had seen the face. Turning around she was met with the unpleasant face of Draco Malfoy. As usual, he was wearing a sneer.

"Famous Harry Potter," Malfoy continued. "Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."

Before Harper could come up with a comeback—she had lots, Ginny spoke up, stepping slightly before Harry.

"Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!"

Malfoy looked amused at Ginny before looking back at Harry.

"Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!" he drawled.

Ginny went scarlet and Harper narrowed her eyes.

"Shut up Malfoy!" she said. "Shouldn't you be with mommy and daddy?"

Before he could reply, Ron and Hermione made their way over to them.

"Oh, it's you," Ron said, 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," Malfoy retorted. "I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for that lot."

Harry held Ron back as Hermione held Harper. She was furious.

"Ron!" said, struggling over with Fred and George. "What are you doing? It's mad in here, let's go outside."

"Well, well, well—Arthur Weasley."

Harper did not recognize the man who had come up behind Malfoy, but as soon as she saw the similarities between the two of them, she knew this must be Mr Malfoy. They even shared the same sneer.

"Lucius," Arthur said, nodding coldly.

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

He reached into Ginny's cauldron and extracted, from amidst the glossy Lockhart books, a very old, very battered copy of A Beginner's Guide to Tranfiguration.

"Obviously not," he said. "Dear me, what's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard of they don't even pay you well for it."

Arthur flushed darker than either Ron or Ginny.

"We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy," he said.

"Clearly," Mr Malfoy replied, 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; Arthur had thrown himself at Mr Malfoy, knocking him backwards into a bookshelf. Dozens of heavy spellbooks came thundering down on all of our heads; there was a yell of 'Get him, dad!' from Fred or George; Molly was shrieking 'No, Arthur, no!'; the crowd stampeded backwards, 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 wading towards them through the sea of books. In an instant he had pulled Arthur and Mr Malfoy apart.

Arthur 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."

Pulling himself out of Hagrid's grip he beckoned to his son and swept from the shop.

"Yeh should've ignored him, Arthur," Hagrid said, almost lifting Arthur off his feet as he straightened his robes. "Rotten ter the core, the whole family, everyone knows that. No Malfoy's worth listenin' at. 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 leaving, but he barely came up to Hagrid's waist and seemed to think better of it.

They hurried up the street, the Grangers shaking with fright and Molly beside herself with fury.

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

"He was pleased," Fred replied. "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 who headed back to the fireside in the Leaky Cauldron, where Harry, the Weasleys, their shopping and Harper would be traveling back to The Burrow using Floo powder.

They said goodbye to the Grangers, who were leaving the pub for the Muggle street on the other side. Arthur started to ask them how bus stops worked, but stopped quickly at the look on Molly's face.

Harper took some Floo powder before stepping into a fireplace before saying, "The Burrow!"

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May 30th 2022
I hope you enjoy it & tell me what you think of it! :)