CHAPTER TWO: The Joke at Diagon Alley
Twelve snakehead statues surrounded a stone walkway going through a lake – the head of a man carved in stone at the end. Around me, heavy whispering in an unknown language became louder than the sound of trickling water.
Harry stood, talking, by the statue with a boy many years older in Slytherin green. The mouth of the statue opened, slowly old stone mechanics ground together till the bottom lip hit the ground. Bright yellow eyes shone through the dark – my body felt stiff and I couldn't move.
Paralyzed where I stood – Harry ran into the pipes, the snake following his eyes no longer yellow, but blood red.
"Get your ass out of bed!" Gran yelled from behind my door,
Groaning, I buried myself into bedding, I didn't move for a few moments – enjoying the sun on my face. Eventually, I kicked off my covers, throwing my bra on to the bed from the floor, I pulled my semi-dry hair down walking to the bathroom. In a hurry, I changed from my pyjamas into my underwear, rushing back from the bathroom to my bedroom as I brushed my teeth simultaneously.
Drizella lifted her head up as I jumped over the railing, running down the stairs – pulling my shoe up by the heal.
Neville held out my bag as I joined them by the kitchen fireplace, taking an apple from the fruit bowl, holding it between my teeth as I took a handful of floo powder from the pot.
Continuing the bite of the apple, I cleared my throat, "The Leakey Cauldron, London."
The powder hit the wood, taking me up in cold green fire. Soon after I left, the spinning stopped as I reached the Leakey Cauldron. Finding an empty stool, I sat with my feet up – taking bites from my apple.
Materializing in the fire Neville dusted himself off as he stepped from the logs, Gran followed, holding her hat to her head. Leading us behind the pub, Gran stopped in a stone quad -taking out her wand from her large bag, she tapped the five-brick pattern. The wall folded in on itself, each brick fitting into a new place. The streets where bustling, thriving with families – the coloured cloaks blending into a blur of colour. Gran pushed her way through the crowds, towards Gringotts bank – everyone gave her peculiar looks as she walked past.
Holding the door open to the bank, she scurried in and down to the banker and the back. Looking down at us, the Goblin's stamped their books – moving Galleons, Knuts and Stickle from one pile into another.
Gran looked up at the goblin, her head held high, "Augusta Longbottom."
The goblin looked over, removing his glasses from his face," Do you have your key, Mrs Longbottom?"
Taking her house keys from her back, fanning them out -she canned through them till she found a small golden key; holding it up to the light.
"Very well." the goblin said as he hopped down from the post, waddling to a pair of iron cast gate
Accompanying him to mine carts, reluctantly I got onto the cart – sitting between Gran and Neville. The goblin pulled the brass levers, Neville took my hands as the cart rolled off a sudden dip.
My hair was whipping around my head, little stands getting caught in the small hinges of my glasses – as we went under the waterfall, I sat with a straight back glaring daggers at the back of the Goblins head.
The goblin looked at the three of us, stopping the cart in front of our volt. Neville gave me a hand as I wrung my hair out, leaving a puddle on the floor.
"Volt 133." The goblin said as he waddled over to the door," Key please."
Gran passed him our key, he unlocked the door – holding it open as we gathered the Galleons and Stickle, we needed. I took several small piles of each, counting it as I dropped the coin into my purse.
Taking the cart back, my eyes clenching shut. Neville still held my hand until we stepped off back on to the cold white marble floor of the bank.
Gran wrote us a small list," meet me at Flourish and Blotts when you have finished."
Wandering off, we started at the closest shop – Madam Malkins. The small silver bell above the door chimed, the old ladies face cracked into a smile
"Which house dears?" She asked
"Ravenclaw," I said,
"Gryffindor." Neville shrugged.
she nodded, waving me into a booth, her intern helping Neville.
She closed the curtain and smiled, "what do you need dear?"
I gave her a kind smile, "Just a few shirts and shoes."
She smiled and measured me up," I always remember orders, three-quarter sleeves."
Waving her wand, four identical shirts manifested as well as a pair of patent shoes with a T strap fastened with a silver buckle.
"These ok?" Madam Malkin asked.
Nodding, I looked them over," Perfect."
With a swipe of her hand, the clothes and shoes boxed themselves – wrapped in purple rice paper in a two-tone purple card bag.
Exiting the show, I spotted Hermione talking to Harry, walking up to them she wrapped her arm around me with a smile.
"Cel – how was your holiday?" She asked.
Raising one shoulder, I shrugged," Not bad, I got a good song selection going for the year."
Hermione smiled, "So we have to listen to you and Hadleigh sing to songs from the last decade?"
"Pretty much," Sticking my tongue out at her.
She rolled her eyes," Charming."
Linking arms with Hermione as we walked into the shop, Harry had found Mrs. Weasley and Ron near the front of the shop with the rest of the Ginger family. Neville had stood with Dean, as they got pushed by middle-aged women craning for a glimpse of Gilderoy Lockhart.
"This is bloody barmy!"
Turing my body, I squealed wrapping my arms around Hadleigh's neck. We looked at Hermione who pursed her lips before joining our group hug. Jumping around in circles, a few older wizards looked at us disapprovingly.
"Girls are weird," Ron muttered.
The book shop owner came out from the backroom, he puffed out his cheeks as he let out a deep breath.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr Gilderoy Lockhart." His voice was flat –
Walking in from the backroom, Gilderoy Lockhart pulled a smile – his teeth too white. The store manager rolled his eyes as the camera's flashed and women swooned.
"Is he really our new teacher because he looks like a princess?" I whispered
Hadleigh rolled her eyes," I wish I left my shopping till tomorrow"
Sandy blonde hair had been styled with fake curls around his face, as he flashed everyone his award-winning smile. Displaying his riches, his lilac and light pink robes had been neatly pressed and small details in gold embroidery thread.
Mrs Weasley pats her hair down, giving a flirty smile, "There he is!"
"Mum fancies him." He stated, nodding his head towards his mum.
Barging through, the cameraman from the back of the store moved myself and Hadleigh out of the way, "Out of the way! This is for The Daily Prophet!"
Gilderoy pulled his award-winning smile, loving the fame he had – his eyes scanning the crowds. Harry's scar was still clean on his forehead, even though his face was covered in soot - Gilderoy's smile faded.
"It can't be, Harry Potter?" his face dropped in aware.
The photographer grabbed the collar of Harry's cloak, pushing him over to Lockhart – he brought Harry into his side, keeping him there for the photo, not letting him go. Harry looked at us in discomfort and desperate to get out of the grip Lockhart had on him.
"Ladies and gentlemen! What an extraordinary moment this is, when young Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts this morning to purchase my autobiography, Magical Me," He stopped, nodding at the applause," which, incidentally, is celebrating its twenty-seventh week atop The Daily Prophet's Bestseller List - he had no idea that he would - in fact, be leaving with my entire collected works! Free of charge!"
Harry appeared stunned, his arms full of books – Gilderoy pushed Harry back into the crowd and out of his spotlight.
Harry turned to Ginny, putting the book into her cauldron, "You have these, I'll buy my own."
Queuing up, my arms full of Gilderoy Lockhart's books – putting them on the counter, the cashier looked up at me.
"Is that all?" He asked, "you don't want all this other book?"
"Not particularly."
He sighed," twenty galleons."
"Twenty?" I exclaimed," these are more expensive than more normal school books!"
He nodded," You and everyone else is saying that."
Sliding the twenty galleons across the counter, I took the bag of books – pushing through the lines of women and students to the front door.
"Twenty?" I exclaimed," these are more expensive than more normal school books!"
He nodded," You and everyone else is saying that."
Sliding the twenty galleons across the counter, I took the bag of books – pushing through the lines of women and students to the front door. Hadleigh took my shoulders, pushing me through the swarm of people.
"Anyone!" I shouted, unable to fight through the crowds," Help us!"
Fred held out his hand, I took it leading us to the rest of the Weasley siblings.
Hermione looked at us," you two ok?"
Hadleigh laughed," Celyn's short ass got lost in the crowds."
"Now, now Draco Play nicely." Mr Malfoy spoke, his voice taking all the laughter from our voices, "Mr Potter, Lucius Malfoy We meet at last."
Lucius Malfoy yanked Harry's hand, pulling him extremely close to him – using the teeth of the snakehead to move the hair covering the scar.
"Forgive me, your scar is a legend as is the wizard who gave it to you." Mr Malfoy said in a voice that sent a chill through the air.
Harry glared at him, "Voldemort killed my parents,"
"As well as countless others, not just yours but continue." I glared at Harry.
Harry jolted back, looking up with a shadow over his face, "he was nothing more than a murder."
Mr Malfoy looked at us," Very brave to mention his name, or very foolish. "
Hermione looked at him, her head held high with pride," Fear of the name only increases fear in the thing itself."
"Anyway, how can you take a guy seriously with a name like that." I smiled sweetly," What does it even mean, does it mean Death or did he pick it out at random cause it sounded cool."
Mr Malfoy looked at Hermione, looking back at his son who nodded," You must be Miss Granger, Draco has told me all about you and your parents."
"Hadleigh!"
Her head whipped around to see her mum waving her out the door," I'll see you on the platform, mum wants to see Chris before he goes back to W.A.D.A"
"Yeah, I'll save you a seat." I gave her a fleeting hug, my smile fading as I turned back to Mr Malfoy.
He turned to me, a cruel smile on his face," Miss Longbottom. Yes, Draco mentioned you. everything down from your coloured glasses to your friendship with Blaise." Mr Malfoy looked at me," Now let's see, red hair, vacant expression tatty second-hand book. You must be the Weasley's."
In his leather gloves, he held Ginny's notebook in his hand – looking at it as if It was the gum from under his Prada styled shoes
"it's mad in here, let's go outside." My eyebrows Weasley said looking over our shoulders," Celyn, your Gran's waiting for you outside."
"well well, Weasley senior." Malfoy senior snarled.
"Lucius." Mr Weasley spoke, his voice had all but given up with the mam in front of us.
Mr Malfoy looked at him with a cruel, upper-class smirk on his lips," Busy time at the Ministry Arthur? with all those extra raids, I hope they are paying you extra but by the judge of this, I'd say not. What's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?"
Arthur Weasley's face shifted from polite to an appearance of hatred and discontent, "We have a very different idea about what disgraces the name of wizard, Lucius."
"Clearly. The company you keep, Weasley. I thought your family could sink no
lower." Malfoy Senior growled, dropping Ginny's book back into her cauldron.
The single book he picked up had doubled in size, thinking nothing of it – I shuck off the horrid feeling in the pit of my stomach.
"See you at work." He snarled at Mr Weasley, leaving dramatically, the tails of his robe following him out.
Malfoy junior came up to us with a cold look on his face," See you at school." He looked at me the raised his eyebrows before leaving.
"Oi Dipshit!" I shouted, he turned around – eyebrows forming his questionable expression.
" I'll see you at school." I copied his expression and his eyebrows and he glared at me before turning on his heels.
Turning to the others, with an innocent smile on my face as they looked at me with large humorous smiles.
"What, Hermione told me last year not to change and I'm not." I smiled.
I checked my watch," I have to be going."
Hermione wrapped her arms around me," I'll see you on the platform?"
"I'll see you at school," I said finishing it with the eyebrows.
Hermione smiled at me," New catchphrase?"
I moved my head from side to side in faux thought, nodding, "yeah."
"Cel, save your dear Quidditch Rivals a seat," George asked.
I crossed my arms," Why should I?"
Fred gave me the puppy dog eyes," Please, we want to hear what a muggle instrument sounds like."
"Fine." I gave in," if your late, that's on you."
They nodded," fine with us."
Waving goodbye, I joined the queue for the flu network with Gran and Neville, brown boxes in our arms – I gave a stickle to the lady guarding the passage, taking a handful of floo powder.
"Vicarage Farm, Stoke-upon-Trent."
With a pounding headache, I was back in my kitchen– Gran settled down to watch Countdown with a pot of camomile tea and Neville was in the garden watering the rose bushes.
Drizella sat by the door, her paw clawing at the handle. Taking the signs, I hooked harness on and her lead – taking her for a long walk around the meadows behind the house. As I sat in a clearing away from the long grass, Drizella jumped through the fields, the light radiating from her multi-coloured eyes.