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Augustus stood not far from Flourish and Blotts, watching Harry and Lockhart surrounded by a crowd of excited fans.
"Flash that smile, Harry," Lockhart beamed, showing off his own dazzlingly white teeth. "We'll make front page, you and me!"
By the time he finally let go of Harry's hand, Harry's fingers had gone numb. He tried to slip back over to the Weasleys, but Lockhart still had one arm clamped tightly around his shoulder, keeping him stuck at his side.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Lockhart called out loudly, waving for silence. "What an extraordinary moment! I'd like to take this opportunity to announce something small—something I've been keeping under wraps for a while now."
"Young Harry here came into Flourish and Blotts today just to buy my autobiography—something I'm more than happy to give him for free—" More applause broke out. "—but little did he know," Lockhart continued, giving Harry a jostle that knocked his glasses down his nose, "that he's about to get something far more valuable than my humble book.
In fact, he and his classmates will soon be getting the real, magical me! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to announce: starting this September, I will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"
Augustus was seriously stunned by the announcement. Someone with such weak magical skills is going to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts? What on earth was Dumbledore thinking? Was it really that hard to find a decent teacher for the job?
"Hey, Mr. Augustus! Fancy seeing you here," came a voice from behind him. Augustus turned and saw Draco Malfoy and his father Lucius walking toward him and his family.
"Lucius, here to buy schoolbooks for your son?" Clovey asked with a polite smile.
"Indeed. Can you believe how many Lockhart books they're requiring this term? Honestly, I think Dumbledore's lost his mind. Appointing that show-off Gilderoy as Draco's Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? The man's all flash and no substance," Lucius said with clear irritation, holding a worn old book in his hand as he complained to Clovey.
"Well, who knows? I'm sure Dumbledore has his reasons. Maybe we just don't get it," Clovey replied, clearly not a fan of Lockhart either, waving it off.
"Look who it is—the famous Harry Potter. Bet you're loving the attention, huh, Potter?" Draco suddenly sneered like he'd stumbled across treasure.
"Harry Potter, the celebrity," Draco said mockingly. "Can't even enter a bookstore without making front page."
"Don't be stupid, he doesn't even want that!" Ginny cut in fiercely. It was the first time she'd ever spoken directly to Harry, and she glared at Draco with surprising boldness.
"Ooooh, Potter's got himself a girlfriend!" Draco drawled. Ginny went scarlet, and just then Ron and Hermione squeezed over, each holding a tall stack of Lockhart's books.
"Oh, it's you," Ron said, giving Draco a look like he'd stepped in something foul. "Bet you're real surprised to see Harry here, huh?"
"What surprises me more is that you could even afford to step into the store, Weasley," Draco shot back. "Guess your parents'll be skipping a few meals next month to pay for all that junk."
Ron's face turned bright red. He tossed his books into his cauldron and charged at Draco, but Harry and Hermione grabbed his robes and held him back.
"Ron!" Mr. Weasley came pushing through the crowd with Fred and George. "What do you think you're doing? The place is packed—we're going outside."
"Well, well—Arthur Weasley," said a drawling voice.
Lucius Malfoy stepped forward, placing a hand on Draco's shoulder and wearing the same smug smirk as his son.
"Lucius," Mr. Weasley said coolly, giving him a stiff nod.
"Heard work's been keeping you busy," Lucius said. "All those raids and inspections… they are paying you overtime, right?" He reached into Ginny's cauldron and pulled out a battered copy of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, buried between the brand-new Lockhart books.
Clovey didn't know what to say. These two always clashed like bitter rivals. Nothing good ever happened when they ran into each other.
"Doesn't look like they are. Honestly, if you're not even getting paid well, what's the point of being a disgrace to wizardkind?"
Mr. Weasley's face turned even redder than Ron and Ginny's.
"Our definitions of 'disgrace' are clearly very different, Malfoy," he said coldly.
"Of course," Lucius said with a nasty smile, his pale eyes shifting over to the Grangers, who were watching nervously. "Just look at the company you keep, Weasley. I didn't think your family could sink any lower."
CRASH!
Ginny's cauldron went flying. Mr. Weasley lunged at Lucius, slamming him into a bookshelf. Dozens of thick spellbooks came raining down on top of them.
"Get him, Dad!" Fred and George shouted.
"Arthur, stop it! Not here!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked.
People scrambled back in panic, knocking over more shelves in the chaos.
"Gentlemen—please—calm down!" a shop assistant yelled, trying to restore order.
Then a loud, commanding voice cut through all the noise: "Break it up, gentlemen—now!"
Augustus watched the two grown men wrestling on the floor and couldn't help shaking his head. Seriously? Brawling like kids in front of a crowd? He pulled out his wand, aimed it between them, and summoned an invisible wall that instantly separated them.
With a flick of his wand, both men were yanked backwards, as if dragged by an unseen hand.
"There. Little girl—take your book," Lucius growled, tossing the worn transfiguration book back at Ginny. "That's the best your father can give you." He jerked his head at Draco and stormed out of the shop.
Augustus glanced at the book, and his expression darkened. Something was off about it. That book wasn't just any ordinary secondhand textbook—it was radiating powerful magic. And not the good kind. It was laced with dark magic.
The Grangers were shaking all over, and Mrs. Weasley looked about ready to explode.
"Great example for the kids… Brawling in public… What will Gilderoy Lockhart think…"
"Oh, he loved it," Fred said cheerfully. "Didn't you hear him on the way out? He asked someone if the fight could be included in the paper—said it'd be sensational."
With all the books bought, Augustus finished picking up the rest of the school supplies for the term. As the sun dipped low in the sky, he walked toward the entrance of Diagon Alley and boarded the massive carriage that had been waiting there. Bathed in the soft golden glow of twilight, the carriage lifted into the air and flew off toward the manor.
"..."