𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 (𝟐) || HARRY POTTER LOVE STORY

8

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Julie strolled off along the winding, cobbled street. The bag of gold, silver and bronze jangling cheerfully her pocket was clamouring to be spent, so she bought them four large ice-creams which they slurped happily as they wandered up the alley, examining the fascinating shop windows.

Ron gazed longingly at a full set of Chudley Cannon robes in the windows of 'Quality Quidditch Supplies' until Hermione dragged us off to buy ink and parchment next door.

In Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, they met Fred, George, Mason and Lee, who were stocking up on Dr Filibuster's Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks', and in a tiny junk shop full of broken wands, wonky brass scales and old cloaks covered in potion stains we found Percy, deeply immersed in a small and deeply boring book called Prefects Who Gained Power.

"A study of Hogwarts Prefects and their later careers." Ron read aloud off the back cover. "That sounds fascinating.."

"Go away!" Percy snapped.

"Course, he's very ambitious, Percy, he's got it all planned out... he wants to be Minister of Magic..." Ron told Harry, Hermione and Julie in an undertone, as they left Percy to it.

An hour later, they headed for Flourish and Blotts. They were by no means the only ones making their way to the bookshop. As they approached it, they saw to their surprise a large crowd jostling outside the doors, trying to get in. The reason for this was proclaimed by a large banner across the upper windows:

Gilderay Lockhart
will be signing copies of his autobiography
*MAGICAL ME*
today 12.30 - 4.30 pm

"We can actually meet him!" Hermione squealed. "I mean, he's written almost the whole booklist!"

"And he's really good looking!" Julie said jumping up and down along with her.

Harry snorted. "I thought you found me handsome," he said, feigning hurt.

Julie rolled her eyes at him. "Nice try, Potter. I'm not buying it. You wish you were as good-looking as Lockhart."

"Oh, I don't know," Harry grinned. "You're definitely staring at me like you think I'm handsome."

She gave him a sharp look. "Please, Potter. If you think I'm going to start swooning over you, you've got another thing coming."

His grin widened. "No? What if I told you that you definitely think I'm handsome?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "Dream on, Harry. You're just my annoying best friend."

"You're right, I am," he said with mock seriousness. "But I'm your annoying best friend."

They made their way into the shop and the crowd seemed to be made up mostly of witches around Mrs Weasley's age. A harassed-looking wizard stood at the door, saying, "Calmly, please, ladies... don't push, the... mind the books, now..."

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Julie squeezed inside. A long queue wound right to the back of the shop, where Gilderoy Lockhart was signing his books. They each grabbed a copy of Break with a Banshee, and sneaked up the line to where the rest of the Weasleys and Mason were standing with Mr and Mrs Granger.

"Oh, there you are, good." said Mrs Weasley. She sounded breathless and kept patting her hair. "We'll be able to see him in a minute..."

Gilderoy Lockhart came slowly into view, seated at a table surrounded by large pictures of his own face, all winking and flashing dazzlingly white teeth at the crowd. The real Lockhart was wearing robes of forget-me-not blue which exactly matched his eyes; his pointed wizard's hat was set at a jaunty angle on his wavy hair.