.
---
They soon arrived at Flourish and Blotts.
The place was packed.
People crowded every corner, all pushing to get inside. A huge banner hung over the entrance:
GILDEROY LOCKHART
Autograph Signing — "Magical "
"Ladies—don't push—don't—push—!"
"Oh! Lockhart!"
"He's so handso!"
"He's written so many books—they say they're all his real experiences!'"
"I want to see him now!"
The witches were practically screaming.
Mrs. Weasley pushed forward eagerly, cheeks pink.
"Co on, we must get in quickly so we can see him!"
With her leading the charge, they squeezed their way toward the front.
Gilderoy Lockhart sat behind a magnificent desk, surrounded by enormous glossy photographs of himself.
He wore a sky-blue robe that matched his bright eyes.
Every ti he blinked dramatically, the witches shrieked.
A wizard with a pointed hat was snapping photos with a massive cara and kept saying, "Move aside—move aside—let through!"
Ron stared open-mouthed.
The whole scene looked incredible.
His whisper didn't escape Lockhart's ears.
Lockhart glanced lazily at Ron—
then locked onto Harry.
His eyes widened, and he suddenly leapt up.
"Isn't this Harry Potter?! Where's your brother? Where's Darren Potter?!"
The crowd parted instantly.
Lockhart strode over, clapped Harry hard on the shoulder, grabbed his arm, and hauled him forward.
"Darren… he's… outside sowhere… I can't find him…" Harry stamred.
Darren actually had been right behind them, but after seeing a witch crying because she couldn't get a glimpse of Lockhart, he had given up his spot for her.
He then decided to help others in the crowd and had drifted off sowhere.
"Oh, of course!" Lockhart said loudly. "He must feel guilty that one of his ordinary classmates stole Lockhart's headlines today!"
"No—my brother—" Harry began.
Lockhart shook his shoulder vigorously.
"No need to explain! The great Gilderoy Lockhart does not bicker with children!
I have been awarded the Order of rlin, Second Class—I don't fuss about such things!"
He was so loud that Harry's words were completely drowned.
Harry kept trying to explain that Darren had been nominated for the First Class dal of rlin—far higher than Lockhart.
But Lockhart's booming voice crushed every attempt.
"Harry, your smile is perfect! Co, let's make the front page together!"
Lockhart flashed his perfect white teeth.
Harry tried to pull away, but Lockhart kept him pinned, posing repeatedly for the cara.
"Young Harry Potter—and his brother Darren Potter—ca today to buy my entire set of books!"
He shoved Harry into more poses as flashbulbs exploded around them.
"What they don't yet know," Lockhart continued smugly, "is that they will receive sothing even better than books…
.
This year, I am honored to announce I will be the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts!"
By the ti Harry managed to escape, he was sweating.
When he glanced at his hands, he was horrified to find he was now holding a complete set of Lockhart's books.
He handed all of it imdiately to Hermione—since Paggie had already sent brand-new books to the Weasley family, Hermione was the only one who still needed them.
"You must love that, right? Potter?"
A mocking voice cut in.
Harry tensed.
Draco Malfoy stood there.
"What's that supposed to an?" Harry asked coldly.
"What do I an?" Draco sneered. "I an the famous Harry Potter just loves being on the front page."
Before Harry could respond, an angry voice exploded nearby:
"Malfoy! Bullying my brother again? I told you—if you've got a problem, argue with directly!"
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 50]
Draco's face twisted.
"Darren—Darren Potter! You again! Do you think I ignore you because I'm afraid of you?!"
He shouted louder, jealous and furious.
Harry was the "Scarhead," but sohow Darren always appeared to stand in front of him—not the other way around.
"When he took photos with Lockhart, he didn't even think to bring you! You want to be his little shadow?"
Draco snapped.
He was jealous of Harry getting in the papers—but he had seen clearly that Harry hadn't looked for Darren during the photoshoot.
"He must be afraid you'll steal his spotlight!"
Draco concluded triumphantly.
Harry felt the blood drain from his face.
He had never once thought like that.
In the beginning he genuinely couldn't find Darren.
Later, when he realized Lockhart was a fraud, he didn't want Darren dragged into it.
But Draco's words twisted everything, making Harry look like soone shallow and pride-drunk.
Before he could defend himself—
Darren stepped forward, furious, fists clenched.
"My brother doesn't think that way! Malfoy, if you insult him again, I'll break your nose with my fist and send you to St. Mungo's before school starts!"
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
Darren glared, eyes blazing.
Malfoy paled.
He refused to fight Darren—the lunatic.
What was the point of arguing with such a fool?
So he turned to Ron instead.
If he couldn't pick on Harry, he would pick on soone else.
"Weasley," Draco drawled, "I see your family bought a lot of books today. Must've emptied your whole house, right?"
He smirked.
"To afford all that, I suppose your family will go hungry. Poor Ghost Weasley—will he starve to death?"
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