Chapter 4
As Harry would find out, it was rather easy to gain permission to go to Ron’s house for the rest of the summer. Well, it was easy with the application of some magic, a few colorful threats, and the tantalizing promise of not having to deal with him for the rest of the holidays. That was how he found himself at The Burrow, after being picked up by Mr Weasley.
“Harry! How was your summer?” Ron asked, barreling his way out the front door.
“Um… let’s just say that it was dull, how about you?”
“Eh, it’s not been too boring. Mum’s been getting us to degnome the garden, but the little buggers keep getting back in somehow, so it’s basically a losing battle. Speaking of mum, you have to meet the rest of the family!”
With that said, Ron pulled him into the kitchen to introduce him to Mrs. Weasley.
“Hello ma’am, I hope it’s not too much of an imposition on you to have me over for the rest of the summer.”
“Oh Harry, there’s no reason to call me ma’am, call me Molly. And don’t you worry about being a burden, it’s no issue at all.” she said, as she swept him into a hug. “Now, Ron tells me you like treacle tart, and I’ve some in the oven for supper for you.”
“Thank you, you didn’t have to do that for me.”
“Nonsense. Now Ron, why don’t you show him to your room, I hope Harry rooming with you isn’t a bother.”
As they were walking up the stairs, Ron pointed out where the rest of his siblings slept, whilst speaking. “Obviously you’ve met the twins and Percy. Bill and Charlie are still overseas working, then there’s Ginny. If she squeaks and runs out the room when you try and talk to her, ignore it, she’s had a crush on you since she was like, 8. Anyway, this is my room. It’s not much, but you should be comfortable.”
“Ron, it’s perfect. The uh… orange-ness adds character.” Harry commented, staring at the Chudley Cannons merch. “You said you were a fan, but Wow, you really meant it.”
That led to an entire tangent on the Cannons and how they were definitely going to win this season.
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As a whole, the summer progressed rather domestically. Homework was finished, degnoming was performed, pickup games of quidditch happened, and Ginny was desensitized to the existence of Harry Potter. That morning, as the Weasleys and he were eating, Mrs. Weasley came in from the garden holding a set of letters.
“Hogwarts letters are here!” she called out as she handed the letters to their recipients.
“Who on earth is ‘Gilderoy Lockhart, and why are like all of our books written by him?” Harry asked before one of the twins took a look at their list.
“Wait, you lot have his books as well?” George asked, “I reckon the new Defense professor’s a fan.”
“This… doesn’t bode well for having a competent professor. I mean, really, who on earth assigns the exact same books for second and fourth years?”
“Well, let’s not speculate about future professors. Everyone get ready, we’ll be going to Diagon in about half an hour. Harry dear, you know how to use the floo right?”
“Yes Mrs. Weasley, I’ve seen you and Mr. Weasley use it often enough that I understand.”
“Good, now head on up and get changed.”
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Harry really was quite grateful for the fact that part of the school shopping trip included getting new robes and that they did that part first, as it gave him the chance to discuss current events with the Gardener of Men.
“Well, seeing as there’s no one here to talk to me, did you manage to get anything out of Dobby?”
“Of course, I did, mortal. This “ plot ” that his master Lucious was planning is meant to go in effect today. He’s planning on giving a notebook to the youngest Weasley. It is, in some manner, enchanted with pernicious intent.”
“Okay, so I’m gonna have to interfere in that. The question is do I take it when everyone else is asleep using the Cloak, or do I filch it when he slips it?”
“Given the… fiscal status of your compatriots, I imagine the absence would be noticed. It would be logical to procure it in some manner when he first sets his plan in motion.”
It was at that moment that Madame Malkin informed him she had finished up and shepherded him to the checkout. Joining the rest of his cohort, they started heading to Flourish and Blotts but encountered some difficulty in entering the store, due to the massive crowd outside.
“Right, why’s a bloody bookstore so crowded?” Ron asked.
“Well, Gilderoy Lockhart is doing a book signing today.” a familiar voice said behind them.
Turning around, Harry saw a familiar brunette. “Hermione! Why didn’t you mention you’d be here in your last letter? We could have made it a little reunion thing.”
“I wanted to surprise you, you dolt.” Hermione smiled. “How’s your summer been? I imagine the Weasleys are much more fun than the Dursely’s.”
“It’s been fantastic! Their house is just so… magical!” Harry replied, “Who do you think our new Defense professor is gonna be? I’m not optimistic ‘cus they assigned the Twins the same books as us.”
Just as they managed to break through the crowd into the store, Hermione replied with “Oh, really? That’s not a good sign. The course material ought to be wildly different, what with the two-year age gap.”
It was as they were waiting around for the crowd to disperse to get their books that a rather short photographer accidentally stomped on Ron’s foot. “Out the way! This is for the Prophet .”
Unfortunately, that was enough of an occurrence to bring Lockhart’s attention to their group and more importantly to the fact that Harry Potter was in the store.
“Why, my eyes. If it isn’t The Harry Potter!” He exclaimed before attempting to grab Harry’s arm, which was prevented, with a quick application of some Sparks.
“Generally, it’s polite to ask someone to participate in a press event, Mr. Lockhart.”
“Of course, of course, you wouldn’t mind a few photos for the Prophet would you Harry?”
Giving a defeated sigh, Harry replied “Fine.”
After a few photos with them shaking hands, Lockhart went on some egomaniacal rant about how the “Magical Me” was going to be the Defense professor, before giving him a free set of books, which he promptly dumped into Ginny’s cauldron with a parting line of “Consider it a welcoming gift for Hogwarts."
After that, he excused himself to find his school books, as well as a few others he wanted to get, which he did, but it was mostly a ruse to put on his Cloak. Sneaking back to the front of the store, he encountered Mr Malfoy and his son in the middle of a verbal altercation with the Weasleys. Seeing that Malfoy Sr. had slipped a book back into Ginny’s cauldron, he carefully took the diary out put it in his pocket, and snuck to an out-the-way shelf.
“Oh, that book felt so fucking gross. I’m sending it to you as soon as possible. It feels kind of Daedric-ish, but inherently evil.”
“It feels suspiciously like the wraith. That is… unusual.”
At that moment Ron came running around the corner.
“Harry, you missed the coolest thing ever. Dad just right-hooked Malfoy’s dad!”
Walking back to the front of the store Harry merely lamented his missing the sight with Ron, all the while planning how to sneak out that night.
The question that remained was: Where was close to the Burrow that he could draw with blood?