Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1

43

happy to present him now, free of charge –' the crowd applauded again,'– he had no idea,' Lockhart continued, giving Harry a little shake that made his glasses slip to the end of his nose, 'that he would shortly be getting much, much more than my book,Magical Me. He and his school fellows will, in fact, be getting the real, magical me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have great pleasure and pride in announcing that, this September, I will be taking up the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!'

Amelia sighed heavily. She had already made up her mind that she didn't like this guy, and now he is going to be her teacher. 'Dear god help us,' Amelia mumbled.

The crowd cheered and clapped and Harry found himself being presented with the entire works of Gilderoy Lockhart. Staggering slightly under their weight, he managed to make his way out of the limelight to the edge of the room, where Ginny was standing next to her new cauldron.

'You have these,' Harry mumbled to her, tipping the books into the cauldron. 'I'll buy my own –'

'Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?' said a voice Harry had no trouble recognising. He straightened up and found himself face to face with Draco Malfoy, who was wearing his usual sneer.

'Famous Harry Potter,' said Malfoy. 'Can't even go into a book- shop without making the front page.'

'Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!' said Ginny. It was the first time she had spoken in front of Harry. She was glaring at Malfoy.

'Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!' drawled Malfoy. Ginny went scarlet as Ron and Hermione fought their way over, both clutching stacks of Lockhart's books.

'I know we are twelve, but god what are you twelve?!" sassed Amelia. 'if you are doing to be a prick get creative with it!' Draco ignored her.

'Oh, it's you,' said Ron, looking at Malfoy as if he were something unpleasant on the sole of his shoe. 'Bet you're surprised to see Harry here, eh?'

'Not as surprised as I am to see you in a shop, Weasley,' retorted Malfoy. 'I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for that lot.'

'I'm more shocked to see you in a book shop. I didn't even know you could read,' Draco glared at Amelia who happily smirked.

Ron went as red as Ginny. He dropped his books into the caul- dron, too, and started towards Malfoy, but Harry and Hermione grabbed the back of his jacket.

'Ron!' said Mr Weasley, struggling over with Fred and George. 'What are you doing? It's mad in here, let's go outside.'

'Well, well, well – Arthur Weasley.'
It was Mr Malfoy. He stood with his hand on Draco's shoulder,