The Raven's Call

It's Gilderoy

Saturday, August 1st 1992

Diagon Alley is hustling and bustling with patrons of all shapes and sizes. Some familiar faces and some not-so-familiar. Cedric and I head into Flourish and Blotts, to get our school books for the new school year. "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Gilderoy Lockhart." A man announces as we enter the store, just behind the Malfoy family. I watch the Malfoy twins hurry themselves upstairs before spotting the familiar family of redheads in the crowd. The Weasley twins greet me with a hug and introduce me to their parents. I see Harry and Hermione there too. "It can't be. Harry Potter?" The famous Gilderoy spoke, spotting Potter in the pack. "Harry Potter!" A photographer exclaims, grabbing a hold of Harry's cape before dragging him to the front, Gilderoy wrapping an arm around him a moment later. "Ladies and gentlemen, what an extraordinary moment this is. When young Harry stepped into Flourish and Blotts this morning... to purchase my autobiography, Magical Me...which, incidentally, is currently celebrating...its 27th week atop the Daily Prophet bestseller list...he had no idea that he would, in fact, be leaving...with my entire collected works...free of charge." The crowd uproars in applause as the man took his photo for the Daily Prophet. Harry, embarrassed, walks back to us, before being cornered by Draco. 

"I'll bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter? Famous Harry Potter. Can't go into a bookshop without making the front page." Draco scowls, strutting down the stairs. "Leave him alone." The youngest Weasley spoke. "Look, Potter. You've got yourself a girlfriend." Draco retorts, a grin on his face, before receiving a rather hard tap on his shoulder from Lucius's cane. "Now, now, Draco, play nicely. Mr. Potter. Lucius Malfoy. We meet at last. Forgive me. Your scar is legend. As, of course, is the wizard who gave it to you." I watch as he uses his cane to brush away Harry's hair to see his scar. "Voldemort killed my parents. He was nothing more than a murderer." Harry spoke sternly. "You must be very brave to mention his name. Or very foolish." Lucius mutters. "Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself." Hermione speaks up, quite bravely, might I add. "And you must be Miss Granger. Yes, Draco has told me all about you. And your parents. Muggles, aren't they? And Mister Grey.. Another muggle born.. " He paused for a moment, looking down at the young ginger who had stood up for Harry. "Let me see. Red hair, vacant expressions...tatty, second-hand book. You must be the Weasleys." He continued berating, as he picked up the book in her little cauldron. "It's mad in here. Let's go outside." Mr. Weasley says, coming over to try and usher his family out. "Well, well, well. Weasley senior." Lucius says, his demeanour changing immediately, I notice one, Alex McGonagall walk in behind the Malfoys. "Lucius." Arthur retorts. "Busy time at the Ministry, Arthur, all those extra raids? I do hope they're paying you overtime...but judging by the state of this, I'd say not. What's the use in being a disgrace to the name of wizard...if they don't even pay you well for it?" "We have a very different idea about what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy." Mr. Weasley adds. "Clearly. Associating with Muggles. And I thought your family could sink no lower. I'll see you at work." Lucius demands, putting the book back into the red-head girls cauldron. "See you at school." Draco adds before walking off after his father. "Sorry.." I hear Asteria whisper to myself and the Weasley's with her head down. "Hurry up, foolish girl." Her father berates, as she walks off quietly.

George then taps me on the shoulder, pulling me aside. "Hey, Atti.. Uh.." He spoke, watching Asteria from the window. "Do you know why she hasn't been returning my owls? I've tried contacting her heaps over the summer.." He spoke, sounding somewhat sad. I let out a soft sigh. "I'm sorry George.. her father is.. Let's just say I've not been able to send a single owl either.. Here.." I pull out my journal and quill, handing it to him. "Write something to her in here." George gives me a look of confusion before taking the inkless quill and writing a message. I couldn't see what it was before the ink disappeared, within moments Asteria's reply appeared and then disappeared once more. He hands the journal back to me with a sad smile. "Thank you." He says with a nod. "What are friends for?" I reply before the Weasley parents rush their children out the door, leaving me with Hermione. She waves goodbye but unexpectedly bumps into Alex with a little "Oop-" He seemed to have a sheer look of panic in his eyes for a brief moment. "I.. uh.. I'm.. uh.." He stammers, Hermione giving him a big hung in return. "Hello, Alexander. It's good to see you." Alex wrapped his arms around her, our eyes meeting as a wild grin spreads across my face. He scowls at me, but I can tell he's too happy to stay mad. Though, he raises his middle finger at me behind Hermione's back. I can't help it, I let out a loud snort as I try not to laugh. "Oh, Atticus! I didn't see you back there!" He spoke with a giggle, walking over to me with Hermione. Guess she's not leaving any more. The three of us chat for a short while before Cedric comes to find me, having gotten our books signed by Gilderoy. I wave to the two before taking my leave, now excited about the new school year that awaits.