Marauder's Daughter (Eventual Tom Riddle X OC)

Chapter 26: Gilderoy Lockhart

We were invited to go to Diagon Alley with the Weasley's and Hermione, which worked out perfect for our timing of the next full moon anyway. Harry and I would spend a weekend there to hang out with our friends after we went school shopping. We all took the Floo network there, and thankfully Harry didn't mess up the location since he's travelled by the network once before, so we all made it safely there without any Knockturn Alley misadventures. 

We went to Gringotts first, and Harry was shocked and scared to see the sphinx at my vault.

"What is broken when it's not held?" The sphinx asks us sternly, and I beam.

"I got it this time!" I cheer happily, instantly getting this one. "A promise." I say proudly to the beast, and he steps away from the door. I grin proudly at Dad, who matches the look back to me.

"Finally got a riddle right. Even if it was an easier one." Dad says proudly, then looks to a confused Harry. "She's ruddy terrible at riddles."

"Oi, I get them eventually. Sometimes." I say stubbornly as I walk into the vault. I grab some gold while Harry looks around in awe.

"There's so much." Harry breathes out, looking around at all the gold. 

Dad goes on to explain about the House of Black and how we are the final members of the line, but also says how it's all mine and he refuses to touch it for anything other than Moony. He also scoops up his stack of gold we use to bye the wolfsbane ingredients and we head on our way. 

We got our school book lists a few days ago, and I chuckled when I spotted all the Lockhart books. It's going to be an uneducated year for Defense Against the Dark Arts, but thankfully I'm ahead and can teach myself easily from the real books, so I make sure to buy a copy of the previously assigned Defense book for my grade. I asked Percy what it was two years ago, back when we had a good teacher, just to be safe.

We greeted Hagrid when we spotted him easily around the Alley and chatted with him for a bit, and then finally spotted the multiple heads of flaming red hair.

"Oi, gits!" I call out to my twins, and they spin around with matching grins to me. We fall into step together, happily chatting away about our summers so far. 

We all get our potions ingredients and new robes, or at least Harry, Hermione and I get new robes. I knew there was an important moment coming up, and I was anxious to get to the bookstore, but wanted to let it happen organically so I didn't risk messing up the timing. 

We finally made our way to Flourish and Blotts, and spotted the long line of women gathered outside.

"What's all this?" Dad asks curiously, a smug grin forming on his lips. "Did word get out to the witches that I was coming here today?" He asks the group cockily, running a hand lazily through his wavy black locks and getting an extra bit of swagger to his already naturally graceful step.

I giggle at my dad, pointing towards the sign outside the door, "Sorry Dad, I think these witches prefer brainless blondes." I point to a grinning drawing of Gilderoy Lockhart. 

Dad grumbles at that, questioning why anyone would choose a dumb blonde over his good looks. To his credit, as we walked in past the women, he drew their eyes away from their intended target. He's in my own personally opinion much more handsome than I remember Lockhart looking like in the movies, but then again, that was just an actor. 

When we walked in and actually spotted Lockhart, I looked at him in confusion. "He's so young? How do people actually believe he did even half the stuff in his books when he's, what, 25?" I whisper to Dad, who snorts with laughter along with Remus.