CH 140

Entering the store Harry didn't realise they'd walked past the Weasleys who were in the queue and only a couple of people back from the front.

The only other text Harry and Daphne needed was 'The Standard Book of Spells Grade 2' by Miranda Goshawk. He already had a copy of it in his hands the previous year. However, he had to return it to Professor McGonagall. He didn't mind, though, purchasing a copy of his own. He moved beyond the crowd and discovered Lockhart's books were only available from the stacks just behind and alongside the forget-me-not-blue-wearing 'woodpecker' where he sat at a table surround by photographs of himself.

'Sweet Merlin, the man's so vain he could be a wind-cock,' thought Harry.

He was thinking of sending Daphne into the crowd to collect the books, but realised that wouldn't have been gentlemanly of him. With a sigh, he threaded through to collect the books.

There was a man taking photographs and moving around near the front. His camera kept emitting puffs of purple smoke with each photo taken.

"Out of the way there," snarled the photographer at some unfortunate soul. "This is for the Daily Prophet." And Harry heard a voice he recognised, Ron Weasley, snarl back, "Big deal!"

As he was about to pass Lockhart he heard him call out, "It can't be Harry Potter?"

The woodpecker surged to his feet, suddenly grabbed Harry and spun around. He felt himself then yanked in closer under the fop's arm

"Nice big smile, Harry," said the fop. "Together, you and I are worth the front page."

Harry immediately ducked his head and dropped straight down and away. As he came up with his back to the camera and outside of the arm, he snapped out with his foot in a 'push' kick right at Lockhart's closest ankle.

As soon as he connected, Lockhart squealed like a pig and tried to lift his foot at the same time as bending to the side to grab his ankle.

There was another flash and puff of purple smoke.

"Never grab me like that, again!" snarled Harry in a near-shout right into the face of Lockhart where it was now level his own.

That drew quite a few gasps of outrage from those close by, whether they were there to get books signed, or were just drawn in by the crowd. Harry didn't know if they were outraged with him or Lockhart, and didn't care.

Trying to rescue the situation, Lockhart slammed his foot back down and stood up straight, with his smile firmly fixed to his face.

"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 & Blotts today, he only wanted to buy my autobiography - which I shall be happy to present him now, free of charge."

The crowd, going with the flow, applauded.

"He had no idea," Lockhart continued, "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 Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

The crowd cheered and clapped and Harry found himself being presented, by way of them being shoved into his chest, with the entire works of Gilderoy Lockhart. Harry just glared back.

He then collected the same set, but for Daphne, and took them away back to Daphne and Isabel.

"Are you alright, Harry," asked Isabel.

"Yeah, thanks," said Harry. "He startled me. I wasn't expecting to be grabbed like that."

"So, he's the new DADA Professor," said Daphne, clearly not excited by the prospect of the woodpecker teaching them.

"Don't worry, Daphne," said Harry, quietly. "We'll make good use of the Come and Go Room and do our own studies."

"But, what will we actually use to study with?" she quietly asked. "I mean, it's not as if it's an OWL year, so the test isn't set by the Examination Board."

"Then how about we track down some copies of previous OWL tests and work backwards from those?" asked Harry. "We have the text from last year, after all. And I'm sure we can track down previous Second Year texts from better teachers of the subject."

"That would work," she mused. "Yes, that's a good idea."

While queuing up to purchase the books there was a commotion back in the queue of those waiting to get books signed. There was the sound of raised voices before someone crashed into a bookshelf, and the sound of heavy spell books crashing down. Harry heard Fred, or maybe George, yell, "Get him, Dad!" followed by Missus Weasley shrieking, "No, Arthur; no!"

There was a sound of more shelves being knocked over. Then one of the shop assistants cried, "Gentlemen, please please!" and then, louder than all, the voice of Hagrid, "Break it up, there, gents; break it up!"

Looking through, Harry saw Hagrid wading toward the fracas through the sea of books. In an instant he had pulled the combatants, Misters Weasley and some older gent who looked like an older version of Draco Malfoy, apart. Mister Weasley had a cut lip and Malfoy had been hit in the eye.

Malfoy thrust an old Transfiguration book at Ginny. His eyes glittering with malice, he snarled, "Here, girl - take your book - it's the best your father can give you." Pulling himself out of Hagrid's grip Malfoy senior beckoned to Draco, who was standing nearby, and swept from the shop.

"Yeh should've ignored him, Arthur," said Hagrid, almost lifting Mister 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 leaving, but he barely came up to Hagrid's waist and seemed to think better of it.

Summer, as with all things, must come to an end. And Tuesday, the 1st of September, saw the Greengrasses and Harry back at Kings Cross Station and heading for Platform 9 ¾. Harry was happy to enter by way of the muggle platforms as it would give him a chance to see Wendell and Monica again. They were taking the day off work and were bringing Hermione in by car. He found he actually liked them. They were in a minority of people around him who understood his references to the muggle world.

The Grangers beat them to the Station so the Greengrasses met them not far away from the barrier.

Harry was surprised when Daphne hurried forward and wrapped Hermione in a hug with both girls squealing and jumping up and down a little.

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