Half-Blood Princess Book Two

Chapter 4 - Drama in a Book Store

Third Person POV

15th August 1992

Ron was the first to travel by floo so that Harry knew what to do. Harry went next but said the wrong thing.

"Yeah, he's in the wrong place. I'll find Harry and meet you." Tilly apparated to Knockturn Alley, she'd been here with Snape and the Malfoy's. Many creepy characters down this away; Tilly has to act like a Malfoy to not be taken advantage of. Tilly can see a crowd of people circling someone; a young boy, Harry.

"Get away from him now!" Tilly's voice bellows, scaring everyone away. "Come with me, Harry." Tilly leads Harry back to Diagon Alley. "I'll leave your glasses to Hermione to fix."

"Thanks, Lills. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Most likely, get hurt or die." Tilly sasses.

"Way to be blunt."

"Remember who my Dad is." Harry nods his head, and the two make their way to Flourish and Blotts.

Hermione is standing outside of Flourish and Blotts; Tilly takes Hermione in a hug.

"Mione, how are you? God, I missed you? How's Crookshanks? Have you seen Ginny or any other Weasley's?"

"Gosh, you have so many questions." Hermione laughs. "Harry what did you do to your glasses? Oculus Reparo."

"You need to learn that spell," Tilly said, tapping Harry's shoulder.

"Come on, everyone's is so worried." Hermione takes the two into the store. Tilly sees the book, Magic Me, by Gilderoy Lockhart. If you ever want to meet someone fake, meet him. Most girls love the guy, Tilly finds him repulsive. Snape has told Tilly everything about the Lockhart; including he will be Hogwarts new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.

When Tilly and Harry walk in the store, people catch a glimpse of them and start to whisper about them. Hermione leads them to Molly and the other in the store.

"Oh, Harry. Thank you, Tilly. We hoped you'd only gone grate too far." Molly dusted off the soot the was on Harry.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Gilderoy Lockhart." The crowd clapped, and all the women smiled up a storm. A photographer squeezed through the crowd to the front, for a few photos. Lockhart poses for the picture then turns, catching his eye; a young girl with black hair and a tinge of orange, piercing green eyes, and the boy next to her with a scar.

"I can't be. Matilda Lillian and Harry Potter?" Lockhart gasped.

"Matilda Lillian and Harry Potter!" The photographer grabbed the two and pushed them next to Lockhart, who yanked them even closer either side of him.

"Let go of me now!" Tilly glared at the photographer and Lockhart, both who let go and gave her room.

"Nice big smiles, we'll make the front cover. What an extraordinary moment this is. When young Harry and Matilda stepped into Flourish and Blotts this morning to purchases my autobiography, Magic Me." The store clapped; while Draco was watching unamused from the second floor. "They had no idea they would be leaving with my entire collection of works, free of charge." Once again, the store clapped for Lockhart as more photos were taken. Harry scurried off; Tilly went to follow, but Lockhart pulled her back.

"I said, let go," Tilly says calmly.

"Now I'm teaching at Hogwarts this year, so why don't we try to get along. I've been told you are one of the best students."

"Well put it this way; I could teach your class better than you could." Tilly snatches her arm away and makes her way to her friends.

The others made their way outside the shop but are stopped by Draco.