Roses | Female Ron Weasley x Draco Malfoy

f i v e

The Hogwarts letters had arrived later in the month and Rose was shocked to find out that half the books were written by Gildroy Lockhart.

"He's a disgusting Pedo!" she complained to Ginny and Harry.

"Not really, no." Ginny said.

"He dated that girl in our seventh year, and he's 35!" Rose complained, as they walked to the fire place, to floo themselves to Diagonal Alley.

Mum had asked Rose to demonstrate, which she did.

She landed in a fireplace and waited for everyone else to come and so they did except Harry.

He did turn up though, when they walked along the street.

"Harry," dad  panted. "We hoped you'd only gone one grate too far. . . Molly's frantic — she's coming now —"

"Where did you come out?" Rose asked, dusting her friend.

"Knockturn Alley," said Hagrid grimly.

"Excellent!" said Fred and George together.

"We've never been allowed in," said Rose enviously.

"I should ruddy well think not," growled Hagrid.

Mum  now came galloping into view, her handbag swinging wildly in one hand, Ginny just clinging onto the other.

"Oh, Harry — oh, my dear — you could have been anywhere —" Gasping for breath, she pulled a large clothes brush out of her bag and began sweeping off the soot Rose hadn't managed to beat away.

"Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes?" Harry asked Rose and Hermione as they climbed the Gringotts steps. "Malfoy and his father."

"Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?" said dad, sharply behind them.

"No, he was selling —"

"So he's worried," said Dad with grim satisfaction. "Oh, I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something. . . ."

"You be careful, Arthur," said Mum. "That family's trouble. Don't go biting off more than you can chew —"

"So you don't think I'm a match for Lucius Malfoy?" said Dad indignantly, but he was distracted almost at once by the sight of Hermione's parents, who were standing nervously at the counter that ran all along the great marble hall, waiting for Hermione to introduce them.

"But you're Muggles!" said Mr. Weasley delightedly. "We must have a drink! What's that you've got there? Oh, you're changing Muggle money. Molly, look!" He pointed excitedly at the ten-pound notes in Mr. Granger's hand.

"Meet you back here," Rose said to Hermione as the Weasleys and Harry were led off to their underground vaults by another Gringotts goblin.

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 stretched across the upper windows:

GILDEROY LOCKHART

will be signing copies of his autobiography

MAGICAL ME

today 12:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.

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

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, there . . . mind the books, now. . . ."