Draco was strolling casually through Diagon Alley, while Lucius was in charge of placing orders at the Quidditch boutique. Back at home, when Lucius saw the large pile of Galleons Draco produced, he was very surprised and said, "A perfect way to buy people's loyalty. I think all the Slytherin students will be grateful to you. Well done, child."
As for why Draco did not follow him, was it not because a shop assistant had been tricked by him a few days ago?
He ultimately chose to go to the Leaky Cauldron to pass the time. He ordered a drink that suited his taste and sipped it slowly, but the loud talking of some people around him made him feel uncomfortable. They were shouting excitedly, occasionally slamming their hands heavily on the table, and using foul language; it looked like they were gambling at cards.
Estimating that it was about time, Draco left a few silver Sickles on the greasy table, stood up, walked out of the Leaky Cauldron, and headed toward the agreed-upon Flourish and Blotts.
While still a long way from the bookstore, he saw a large crowd squeezed outside the door, all wanting to get in. A large banner was draped upstairs: Gilderoy Lockhart signing his autobiography today from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM. The onlookers were not just students, but also a large group of middle-aged women.
As he approached, the number of people around increased. Most of the women's faces shone with excitement. Lockhart sat behind a table, surrounded by large photographs of himself. All the faces in the photos were winking at the crowd, revealing dazzling white teeth. The real Lockhart was wearing robes in the same blue as forget-me-not flowers, matching his blue eyes perfectly. A pointed wizard's hat was perched playfully on his curly hair.
A short man was taking pictures of him. Obviously, with his legendary experiences and charming appearance, he was the darling of various magazines and newspapers.
Suddenly, there was a commotion in the crowd. Lockhart jumped up from his seat in surprise and shouted, "Isn't that Harry Potter?"
The crowded mass immediately made way for Lockhart. He rushed up, grabbed Harry's arm, and pulled him to the front. The whole place erupted in warm applause. The man taking pictures pressed the shutter even more frantically, as if his salary increased with every shot he took.
Subsequently, Lockhart gave Harry a set of his works and took the opportunity to announce that he would be serving as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Even more enthusiastic applause and screams came from the crowd, with women making up the majority. Whether they were young girls in their prime or middle-aged women, they almost all looked at Lockhart with worship. Handsome, wealthy, legendary experiences, and now perhaps with the added aura of a teacher.
"Brainless fans in any world are truly unreasonable." Seeing this, Draco merely shook his head. He had no intention of exposing the superficial man; he was not that idle. He silently squeezed into the crowded throng, bought the set of autobiographies that could at best be described as "adventure stories" rather than textbooks, and then retreated from the crowd.
Suddenly, he heard what sounded like a fierce argument by the wall. He rushed over, only to see a bookshelf knocked over. Lucius was trading insults with another man with fiery red hair, mocking the other for spending next month's living expenses on books, and mocking someone's poor character.
"For the sake of my leisurely school life, Father, your plan is likely to fall through." Draco sighed inwardly, then walked toward Lucius.
"Draco, come here quickly, stay away from them. I feel it is a disgrace to breathe the same air as them." Lucius saw Draco walking toward him and shouted hurriedly. He was panting, obviously having just fought with the other man. His neatly combed platinum-blonde hair was already dishevelled, and one eye was swollen; it seemed he had been struck by a book.
As for his opponent, Arthur, he was no better off; his lip was also split.
Draco slowly approached his father.
He said, "Father, don't you always teach me to maintain my composure at all times? Even if some people are truly unbearable, we should simply ignore them, shouldn't we?"
"Draco, you must know that some savages have reckless tendencies in their blood. You might ignore them, but they will still crash into you," Lucius said viciously.
"Father, is this book in your hand for me? It's terribly battered, isn't it? Could it be some old wizard's experience?" Draco exclaimed, taking the dilapidated book from Lucius's hand. The title on it seemed to be falling off: A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration.
"We are not like people from some families who use only old things. Here, this book is the textbook for the little girl opposite you. You had better return it to them quickly, otherwise their living expenses for next month might really not be enough. Perhaps the Muggle couple next to them can lend them a few pennies." Lucius did not forget to mock the Weasley family.
"Say that again!" Arthur stretched his neck, his face flushed red.
Lucius turned his head to the side and stopped speaking, obviously knowing when to quit.
Both sides were blinded by anger, and no one noticed Draco secretly pulling a small notebook out of the book. Alright, mission accomplished. This year should be able to pass peacefully. He thought to himself, then handed the book to Ginny, sneering as he did so: "Cherish it well. I wouldn't be surprised if this book becomes a family heirloom of the Weasleys." When the girl took the book, she glared fiercely at Draco with her bright brown eyes to express her anger at the behaviour of the father and son.
"Girl, I'm helping you here." Draco, having been glared at innocently, did not know what expression to make.
"Let me see, heavens, what happened here?" Lockhart was also drawn over. Seeing the messy floor, he opened his mouth wide, obviously stunned by the chaotic scene. "Oh, Lucius, what happened to you? Your eye?" Lucius remained silent and ignored him, simply picking up his snake-headed cane. So,n his eyes rested on Harry again. "Potter, we are so fated. It hasn't been five minutes since we last met, has it?"
"Your ability to advertise yourself and the thickness of your face are truly remarkable." Watching this scene, Draco tried his best to keep from laughing aloud.
"Well, I think there must be some misunderstanding between you during this time." As a wizard who possessed little real skill yet could still thrive in the wizarding world, Lockhart's ability to read the situation was also quite strong. The current tense atmosphere made it easy for him to guess what had happened. He hoped to mediate the dispute, which might allow him to make the headlines again tomorrow.
However, neither side appreciated his gesture and remained silent. Lockhart did not feel awkward at all. He laughed a few times, then quickly told the shop assistant to tidy up the bookshelf, slowly passed by Lucius and Draco, and left as if nothing had happened, returning to his own seat to continue attracting the girls and women who were infatuated with him.
It suddenly grew dark around them, not because it was night, but because Hagrid had arrived. His massive body blocked almost all the light. Then his loud voice drowned out all other sounds: "Clear out, gentlemen, clear out—"
He strode over.
"You shouldn't have engaged with him, Arthur," Hagrid reached out to smooth Mr Weasley's robes, almost lifting hup. "This bloke is rotten to the core, and his child is even more insidious than him." He nudged Harry with his thick arm. "Right, Harry?" Harry nodded along, and Ron shook his head heavily, obviously agreeing with this statement.
"Draco, let's go," Lucius said to Draco, then walked out the door, limping on his cane, as if his foot had also been sprained.
"Alright, Father," Draco replied while reaching his hand toward the bookshelf behind him, only to find it empty. Draco's face suddenly changed. What is going on? he shouted inwardly.
Draco could not have kept the notebook in his hand earlier; Lucius might have seen it, and others would have found it strange, so he had simply placed it on the bookshelf behind him. Now, turning back, he discovered that the diary had vanished.
"This isn't the wisdom and experience of some sage inside; whoever stole it might truly lose their life." He felt a faint sense of pity for the thief and also a headache. It seems no year can be peaceful.
The plot had once again slipped out of his control. The first time had been the troll, where he let Hermione escape unscathed, only to become a "victim" himself. This time, the diary that should have been obtained by Ginny had disappeared. Draco did not know what would happen in the end. He had thought he could rely on his foresight to make this year peaceful, but it had ignited a fuse in an even harder-to-predict direction.
"Self-inflicted." He sighed silently in his heart, thinking: To be safe, I have to pay some price. Even on the crowded street, he immediately took out a piece of paper—the yellowed one filled with twisted handwriting from last time—and then circled another item after it, looking as though he was preparing to complete a certain plan.
"I truly hope I never have to use this backup plan." Seeming to think of something, a helpless smile appeared on his face. "But when that time really comes, I won't hesitate." After the helpless smile, his face was filled with determination.
In the bookstore, Hermione stared blankly at the book in front of her, unable to read even a single word. She was stunned by the scene just now. That seemingly refined man was Draco's father, yet his words were so unbearable. For the first time, she truly felt the malice of a pure-blood wizard toward Muggle-borns; the vicious words pierced her heart again and again. Later, she saw Draco. She really wanted to greet him and ask clearly what the spell and warning on that note were about, and also about the House Cup, but she could not utter a word. The Draco before her and the Draco at school seemed like two completely different people, making Hermione feel an indescribable sense of alienation and unfamiliarity.
"Which side is the real him?" she could not help asking herself, only to find her heart even more chaotic, unable to find any answer.
"Hermione, we should go," the Grangers said. Their family had to return to the street where Muggles lived in the city. They did not have Floo powder like wizards, so they had to leave early. After briefly saying goodbye to the Weasley family, the Grangers stepped out of the bookstore.
"It's a pity. I wanted to ask them what the bus station is like," Arthur muttered.
"You'd better take care of yourself first!" Mrs Weasley said, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with paper, sounding annoyed.
"I thought wizards were all as friendly as the Weasley family. It seems that's not the case." Walking along the street, Mr Granger said slowly. "Look at the man with platinum hair just now—really unpleasant."
Hermione nodded numbly, not knowing whether she had even heard him.
"I'm quite curious about that Floo Network. Wizard life is truly amazing." Mr Granger did not want to dwell on the topic, so he changed the subject and began talking about wizarding life. Just as Arthur was interested in Muggle life, he was also fascinated by wizarding life.
This was an open-minded couple.
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