Double Double Toil and Trouble // Two // [ON HOLD]

Chapter Five

Just as Mum said, we all got ready to go to Diagon Alley the next morning. Nat once again had to drag me out of bed against my own free will, but that was considered normal. Ginny was exhilarated to be able to go and get her own wand and school books instead of having to watch as all of her older brothers get to do it. I had respect for her. I would never have survived if I grew up in a house with six boys, seven in you include Mr Weasley.

We all dressed quite casually. Percy, Fred, George, Ron, Harry, Nat, and I all wore our Hogwarts cloaks over our clothes while everyone else wore regular ones. We planned on meeting Sirius and Remus there since they both went home after the party.

They both lived together in the large house that Mum and Dad used to live in before Harry and I were born. They moved to Godric's Hollow while she was pregnant because they found out that Voldemort was after them and they went into hiding in the small muggle village that we still resided in to that day.

After eating the breakfast that Mrs Weasley prepared, we gathered by the fireplace to use the floo network. Ron went first, and I went after him with Nat.

Diagon Alley looked just as it did every other time we went there. Witches and wizards of every age wandered the cobblestone street. Ron was waiting next to the floo station when we arrived.

Though school supplies should have been the first thing I was worried about, my main priority was a new broomstick. "If anyone asks, we're at the Quidditch shop." I told Ron before taking Nat's wrist and pulling her with me towards Quality Quidditch Supplies.

    A small bell rang above the door when we entered the shop. I came to this shop so often throughout my childhood that I not only knew where everything was, but I was close with the shopkeeper so I could find out if they were working on designing new broom models.

I knew from the previous time I went there that a new model called the Nimbus 2001 was being designed, but it wouldn't be released until mid-to-late August.

"Morning Lex!" The shopkeeper Daniel greeted me from behind the counter. I waved at him. "Morning Dan!" "I should've known that you're a regular here." Nat commented. "Yes, you should've." I replied.

I walked up to the counter. "I'm in need of a new Nimbus 2000. You still sell them right?" I asked Dan. "But of course. This wouldn't be a quality Quidditch supply shop if we didn't provide the latest model of brooms."

He stepped out from behind the counter and led us to the back of the store where the Nimbus 2000's were hanging all the wall. I picked up the one that looked to be in the best shape and stuck with it.

The bell above the door ringed again. "Lex? Are you here?" Mum's voice asked. Her timing couldn't have been more perfect. I poked my head out from behind a clothing rack filled with Hogwarts Quidditch jumpers. "Over here, Mum." She turned and walked over to us, giving Dan a smile. "Find one already?" She asked. I nodded and held up the one I had chosen.

After paying for the broom and having a nice chat with Dan, the three of us left the shop. "Everyone else is at Flourish and Blotts. Gilderoy Lockhart is there signing books." Mum said as if Gilderoy Lockhart wasn't one of my favourite authors to exist. I wasted no time breaking into a run towards the bookstore.

Flourish and Blotts was unusually crowded that day, but it was clear why once you saw the large banners hung on the windows:

GILDEROY LOCKHART
will be signing copies of his autobiography
MAGICAL ME
today from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

I had heard about his autobiography that had recently been released, but it never really interested me. I always rather enjoyed the books where he battled dragons or studied the everyday lives of trolls. I didn't really care about his personal life.