Life at the Burrow was as different as possible from life on Privet Drive. The Dursleys liked everything neat and ordered; the Weasleys' house burst with the strange and unexpected. Kirra got a shock the first time she looked in the mirror over the kitchen mantelpiece and it shouted,"brush your hair, scruffy!"
The ghoul in the attic howled and dropped pipes whenever he felt things were getting too quiet, and small explosions from Fred and George's bedroom were considered perfectly normal as she and the twins tried different Zonkos products out and even tried making their own jokes.
What Kirra found most unusual about life at Fred and George's, however, wasn't the talking mirror or the clanking ghoul: It was the fact that everybody there seemed to like her and her brother.
Mrs. Weasley fussed over the state of her socks and tried to force her to eat fourth helpings at every meal. Mr. Weasley liked Kirra to sit next to him at the dinner table so that he could bombard her with questions about life with Muggles, asking her to explain how things like plugs and the postal service worked, however, Mrs Weasley liked the idea of her sitting by the twins.
Kirra heard from Hogwarts one sunny morning about a week after she and her brother had arrived at the Burrow. She and the twins went down to breakfast to find Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny already sitting at the kitchen table with Harry and Ron.
The three of them sat down together and Mr Weasley spoke up "Letters from school," said Mr. Weasley, passing them identical envelopes of yellowish parchment, addressed in green ink.
"Dumbledore already knows you're here, Kirra and Harry — doesn't miss a trick, that man." For a few minutes there was silence as they all read their letters. Kirra's told her to catch the Hogwarts Express as usual from King's Cross station on September first. There was also a list of the new books she'd need for the coming year.
SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk
Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart
Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart
Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart
Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart
Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart
Fred, who had finished his own list, peered over at Kirra's. "You've been told to get all Lockhart's books, too!" he said. "The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan — bet it's a witch." At this point, Fred caught his mother's eye and quickly busied himself with the marmalade.
"That lot won't come cheap," said George, with a quick look at his parents. "Lockhart's books are really expensive. . . ."
"Well, we'll manage," said Mrs. Weasley, but she looked worried. "I expect we'll be able to pick up a lot of Ginny's things secondhand."
"I can help p-" Kirra started but was quickly cut off by Mrs. Weasley
"Nonsense dear," Molly told her with a smile.
Percy walked in. He was already dressed, his Hogwarts prefect badge pinned to his sweater vest. "Morning, all," said Percy briskly. "Lovely day." He sat down in the only remaining chair but leapt up again almost immediately, pulling from underneath him a molting, gray feather duster — at least, that was what Kirra thought it was, until she saw that it was breathing.
"Errol!" said Ron, taking the limp owl from Percy and extracting a letter from under its wing. "Finally — he's got Hermione's answer. I wrote to her saying we were going to try and rescue you from the Dursleys."
He carried Errol to a perch just inside the back door and tried to stand him on it, but Errol flopped straight off again so Ron laid him on the draining board instead, muttering, "Pathetic."
Then he ripped open Hermione's letter and read it out loud:
"Dear Ron, and Harry if you're there,
I hope everything went all right and that Harry is okay and that you didn't do anything illegal to get him out, Ron, because that would get Harry into trouble, too. I've been really worried and if Harry is all right, will you please let me know at once, but perhaps it would be better if you used a different owl, because I think another delivery might finish your one off." Ron read and then let out a sigh "'I'm very busy with schoolwork, of course' — How can she be?" said Ron in horror. "We're on vacation! — 'and we're going to London next Wednesday to buy my new books. Why don't we meet in Diagon Alley? 'Let me know what's happening as soon as you can.
Love from Hermione.'"
"Well, that fits in nicely, we can go and get all your things then, too," said Mrs. Weasley, starting to clear the table. "What're you all up to today?" Kirra, Harry, Ron, Fred, and George were planning to go up the hill to a small paddock the Weasleys owned.
It was surrounded by trees that blocked it from view of the village below, meaning that they could practice Quidditch there, as long as they didn't fly too high. They couldn't use real Quidditch balls, which would have been hard to explain if they had escaped and flown away over the village; instead they threw apples for one another to catch.
Harry and Ron took turns riding Harry's broom while Kirra let Fred and George take turns of hers while she used one of theirs.
Five minutes later they were marching up the hill, broomsticks over their shoulders. They had asked Percy if he wanted to join them, but he had said he was busy. Kirra had only seen Percy at mealtimes so far; he stayed shut in his room the rest of the time and she was always hanging out with Fred and George.
"Wish I knew what he was up to," said Fred, frowning. "He's not himself. His exam results came the day before you did; twelve O.W.L.s and he hardly gloated at all."
"Ordinary Wizarding Levels," George explained, seeing the Potter's puzzled looks. "Bill got twelve, too. If we're not careful, we'll have another Head Boy in the family. I don't think I could stand the shame."
"Dunno how Mum and Dad are going to afford all our school stuff this year," said George after a while. "Five sets of Lockhart books! And Ginny needs robes and a wand and everything. . . ." Kirra opened her mouth to offer to pay but kept her mouth shut as Harry sent her a look. She felt horrible. Stored in an underground vault at Gringotts in London was a small fortune that their parents had left the two of them.
Of course, it was only in the Wizarding world that they had money; you couldn't use Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts in Muggle shops. They had never mentioned their Gringotts bank account to the Dursleys; they didn't think their horror of anything connected with magic would stretch to a large pile of gold.
Mrs. Weasley woke them all early the following Wednesday. After a quick half a dozen bacon sandwiches each, they pulled on their coats and Mrs. Weasley took a flowerpot off the kitchen mantelpiece and peered inside. "We're running low, Arthur," she sighed. "We'll have to buy some more today. . . . Ah well, guests first! After you, Harry dear!" And she offered him the flowerpot.
"W-what am I supposed to do?" he stammered.
"We have never traveled by Floo powder," said Kirra suddenly.
"Sorry, Harry and Kirra, I forgot."
"Never?" said Mr. Weasley. "But how did you get to Diagon Alley to buy your school things last year?"
"We went on the Underground —" Kirra replied
"Really?" said Mr. Weasley eagerly. "Were there escapators? How exactly —"
"Not now, Arthur," said Mrs. Weasley. "Floo powder's a lot quicker, dear, but goodness me, if you've never used it before —"
"He'll be all right, Mum," said Fred and he and George both grabbed onto Kirras hand and they dragged her into the fireplace with them. "Harry, watch us first." The three of them took a pinch of glittering powder out of the flowerpot, "Just say Diagon Alley" Fred whispered in her ear and she nodded, then they three the powder into the flames. With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose higher as they, shouted, "Diagon Alley!" and vanished.
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Apparently Harry had said the wrong thing and now Kirra and the male Weasleys were running up the crowded streets looking for him, Molly and Ginny had gone off to get her robes fitted after a long effort of Mr Weasley finally being able to convince her that they would find Harry, and finally they spotted him walking with Hermione Granger and Hagrid
"Harry," Mr. Weasley panted. "We hoped you'd only gone one grate too far. . . ." He mopped his glistening bald patch. "Molly's frantic — she's coming now —"
"Where did you come out?" Ron asked.
"Knockturn Alley," said Hagrid grimly.
"Excellent!" said Fred and George together and Kirra grinned up at them.
"We've never been allowed in," said Ron enviously.
"I should ruddy well think not," growled Hagrid.
Mrs. Weasley 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 Hagrid hadn't managed to beat away. Mr. Weasley took Harry's glasses, gave them a tap of his wand, and returned them, good as new.
"Well, gotta be off," said Hagrid, who was having his hand wrung by Mrs. Weasley ("Knockturn Alley! If you hadn't found him, Hagrid!"). "See yer at Hogwarts!" And he strode away, head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the packed street. "Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione as they climbed the Gringotts steps. "Malfoy and his father."
"Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?" said Mr. Weasley sharply behind them.
"No, he was selling —"
"So he's worried," said Mr. Weasley with grim satisfaction. "Oh, I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something. . . ."
"You be careful, Arthur," said Mrs. Weasley sharply as they were bowed into the bank by a goblin at the door. "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 Mr. Weasley 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.
They made it to Flourish and Blotts and were by no means the only ones making their way to the bookshop. There was 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. . . ." Kirra, Harry, Ron, and Hermione squeezed inside. A long line wound right to the back of the shop, where Gilderoy Lockhart was signing his books.
They each grabbed a copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 and sneaked up the line to where the rest of the Weasleys were standing with Mr. and Mrs. Granger. "Oh, there you are, good," said Mrs. Weasley. She sounded breathless and kept patting her hair. "We'll be able to see him in a minute. . . ."
Gilderoy Lockhart came slowly into view, seated at a table surrounded by large pictures of his own face, all winking and flashing dazzlingly white teeth at the crowd. The real Lockhart was wearing robes of forgetme-not blue that exactly matched his eyes; his pointed wizard's hat was set at a jaunty angle on his wavy hair. A short, irritable-looking man was dancing around taking photographs with a large black camera that emitted puffs of purple smoke with every blinding flash.
"Out of the way, there," he snarled at Ron, moving back to get a better shot. "This is for the Daily Prophet —"
"Big deal," said Ron, rubbing his foot where the photographer had stepped on it. Gilderoy Lockhart heard him. He looked up. He saw Ron — and then he saw Kirra and Harry. He stared. Then he leapt to his feet and positively shouted, "It can't be, Kirra and Harry Potter?"
The crowd parted, whispering excitedly; Lockhart dived forward, seized Kirra and Harry's arm, and pulled them to the front. The crowd burst into applause. Kirra's face burned as Lockhart shook her hand for the photographer, who was clicking away madly, wafting thick smoke over the Weasleys.
Kirra struggled against Lockhart's grip, she did not want to be here whatsoever, she tried to walk away but he pulled her back, and even though the crowd noticed this, they didn't seem to care, though Fred and George, as well as a Slytherin boy at the back tried to push threw the crowd to help her, yet they had no luck.
Her breathing became heavy as camera's continued to flash in her face and everyone was chatting around her. Her ears began to ring as she continued to pull herself from the man's grip, but he was stronger than her and held her firmly next to him
"Nice big smile, you two," said Lockhart, through his own gleaming teeth. "Together, we are worth the front page." When he finally let go of Kirra's wrist, it stung horribly. She tried to sidle back over to the Weasleys, but Lockhart threw an arm around her shoulders and clamped her tightly to his side and did the same to Harry.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said loudly, waving for quiet. "What an extraordinary moment this is! The perfect moment for me to make a little announcement I've been sitting on for some time!"
Kirra struggled to get away, her breath becoming heavy with everyone looking at her but Lockhart didn't care. "When young Kirra and Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts today, they only wanted to buy my autobiography — which I shall be happy to present them both now, free of charge —" The crowd applauded again.
"They had no idea," Lockhart continued, giving the twins a little shake Kirra searched through the crowd hopelessly, trying to find someone to get her out of the situation, and finally, she was met with a familiar set of brown eyes, "that they would shortly be getting much, much more than my book, Magical Me. They along with their schoolmates 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 Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"
Kirra knew he wouldn't help her. But as he stared into her eyes, he could see the tears that were threatening to spill as she silently pleaded him to help her, once again he tried to shove his way through the crowd. Though he was at the back, he knew he had to get to the front and now he had begun to shove people out of the way harshly, not caring as the people cursed at him.
The crowd cheered and clapped and Harry and Kirra found themselves being presented with the entire works of Gilderoy Lockhart. Finally, Mattheo made it to the front and grabbed Lockhart's wrist and pulled his hand off her and then he grabbed onto the girl and pulled her away leading her through the crowd, glaring at anyone who got in their way.
Staggering slightly under the books weight, Mattheo pulled her back to the back of the store away from everyone who was now staring at her in shock, "thank you" she muttered out to him and she tried to use her shoulder to wipe the tears from her eyes since her hands were full, but she failed miserably.
Mattheo rolled his eyes and let out a huff before reaching up and quickly wiping under her eyes for her
"Hey, get the bloody hell away from her" Fred growled as he walked up to them with George next to him looking just as angry
"no guys, its okay he was helping me" She quickly told them but the twins rolled their eyes
"Yeah right, you need to leave Riddle, you arent wanted here," George said and the twins moved protectively in front of the Hufflepuff
"Whatever, its not my fault I had to help the pathetic thing because you couldn't" Mattheo spat and Kirra looked down to the ground in embarrassment while the twins seemed to get even more angry with him
"She's not pathetic" Fred growled and glared down at the boy
"So are you dating both of them Kirra? Or dating one and stringing the other along" Mattheo asked her with a smirk but she ignored him and stared at the ground, not knowing what to say to him
"Shove off Mattheo" The twins growled and then the three of them left Mattheo there and went back to find the others, they found Harry and Ginny in one of the corners. Kirra walked ahead of the twins and went to where Ginny was standing next to her new cauldron.
"You have these," Kirra mumbled to her, tipping the books into the cauldron. "I'll buy my own —"
"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" Draco said as he scowled at Harry and then he turned to the girl and looked her up and down in anger before turning back to Harry "Famous Harry and Kirra Potter," said Malfoy. "Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."
"Leave them alone, they didn't want all that!" said Ginny. It was the first time she had spoken in front of Harry, though she and Kirra had grown close while she was at the Burrow. She was glaring at Malfoy. "Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!" drawled Malfoy as Mattheo walked up behind him and chuckled.
"Looks like the Potters only date low life Weasley's... what a relief," Mattheo said with a sly smirk
Ginny went scarlet as Ron and Hermione fought their way over, both clutching stacks of Lockhart's books.