Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1

67

'Why,' demanded Ron, seizing her timetable, 'have you outlined all Lockhart's lessons in little hearts?'

Hermione snatched the timetable back, flushing furiously. Amelia giggled and then started to humm what sounded like the words, Don't stand so close to me. Hermione quickly smacked Amelia upside the head with her book making Amelia stumble.

They finished lunch and went outside into the overcast courtyard. Hermione sat down on a stone step and buried her nose inVoyages with Vampires again Amelia sitting next to her still humming. 

Amelia stumbled over to Harry rubbering her head. 'if she hit me any harder with that book she is going to knock me out.' Amelia muttered. 'What did you humm this time?' asked Ron. 'Can you feel the love tonight from the lion king. I had to run over here before she could hit me again,' 

Harry and Ron stood talking about Quidditch for several minutes before Harry became aware that he was being closely watched. Looking up, he saw the very small, mousey-haired boy he'd seen trying on the Sorting Hat last night, staring at Harry as though transfixed. He was clutching what looked like an ordinary Muggle camera, and the moment Harry looked at him, he went bright red.

'All right, Harry? I'm – I'm Colin Creevey,' he said breathlessly, taking a tentative step forward. 'I'm in Gryffindor, too. D'you think – would it be all right if – can I have a picture?' he said, raising the camera hopefully.

'A picture?' Harry repeated blankly.

'So I can prove I've met you,' said Colin Creevey eagerly, edging further forwards. 'I know all about you. Everyone's told me. About how you survived when You Know Who tried to kill you and how he disappeared and everything and how you've still got a light- ning scar on your forehead' (his eyes raked Harry's hairline), 'and a boy in my dormitory said if I develop the film in the right potion, the pictures'll move.' Colin drew a great shuddering breath of excitement and said, 'It's brilliant here, isn't it? I never knew all the odd stuff I could do was magic till I got the letter from Hogwarts. My dad's a milkman, he couldn't believe it either. So I'm taking loads of pictures to send home to him. And it'd be real- ly good if I had one of you –' he looked imploringly at Harry, '– maybe your friend could take it and I could stand next to you? And then, could you sign it?'

'Signed photos? You're giving out signed photos, Potter?'

Loud and scathing, Draco Malfoy's voice echoed around the courtyard. He had stopped right behind Colin, flanked, as he always was at Hogwarts, by his large and thuggish cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.

'Everyone line up!' Malfoy roared to the crowd. 'Harry Potter's giving out signed photos!'

'No, I'm not,' said Harry angrily, his fists clenching. 'Shut up, Malfoy.'