"So your telling me" I whispered quietly "that my brother could be anywhere in the world?" "No" said Mr Weasly hurriedly, "it is very possible he is near, or in another shop." I could not loose my brother. He was the only family i had left, I couldn't stay there and do nothing. "I'm sorry for what I am about to do" I said "but...I need to make sure he's ok."
I dashed out, I could hear Fred and George calling behind me and trying to run after me. But I was half their size and I could fit through small alleyways they couldn't, and I may not play quidditch but I can run fast. I searched shop after shop ignoring the gasps that followed me as I passed. I bumped into someone who caught me just in time.
"Oh, sorry, I-" I looked into the face of Oliver Wood. "Wood!" I say "Hi" "Hi Emma" said Wood, grinning at me "why the rush?" "My brother-" "Got into trouble?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yes" I say "but this time not on purpose."
"Ok. well, did he practice Quidditch?
" from last-to-last week or so. We are staying with the Weasleys. Our Aunt and Uncle didn't let him. Now, I really need to go. Bye!" "bye" he called after me. And I raced, in and out of Alleyways. I sighed, as I turned to find a sign:
"KNOCKTURN ALLEY; enter at your own risk."
I frowned. It did look dodgy. Full of funny little shops "Borgin and Brukes" for one...he wouldn't be there right? I'll check everywhere else before going there. I raced here and there, through cracks and all. But in the end I came to a shop "Borgin and Brukes." Oh no. I'm in Knockturn Alley.
I blew air from my mouth as I tried to find my way back. I was scared out of my wits until I heard a familiar voice I hadn't heard all summer. "EMMA!" I turned sharply, and there clear as day, with his blonde hair slightly disheveled and his grey eyes sparkling with excitement was Draco Malfoy. I had written to him last week and he had written back. "Draco!" I yelled joyfully. H ran towards me and wrapped me in a hug. "I missed you" I mumbled, hugging him, "Yes, well' he said with a smirk "I can't blame you." I laughed.
"What are you doing here?" he asked"Well, we were staying with the Weasly's and we were using Floo Powder and he came out the wrong fireplace, I think and I got lost trying to find him"I explained. He sneered a little at the mention of my brother and the Weasly's. He hated them as much as they hated him. "Draco!" said a soft voice. Soft but sharp. I looked behind him to see a man who had to be his father. Same, blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, and the same grey eyes. He stopped behind him and surveyed me. "Who is this?" he asked. "This is Emma, father." said draco "Emma Potter." "Ah" he said, eyes going to my forehead "Ms Potter. It is a pleasure" he extended a hand, and I took it. "I've heard a lot about you from Draco, you have been an admirable friend." "Thank you Mr Malfoy" I say polietly. "Well, we must be going, Draco. Would you like us to escort you out, Ms Potter?"
"Oh, um, I-" "EMMA" another familiar voice, this one however, I had heard all summer. "HARRY" I yell, "Where were you?" "I came into this weird- Malfoy" his voice had a sneer to it. "Potter" Draco scowled. "Thank you Mr Malfoy" I said with a winning smile "but I think we can manage. See yu at Hogwarts Dray!" "I told you not to call me that!" Draco said as he swaggered off with his Dad.
As we tried to figure out how to get out.... "Not lost are you, my dears?" said a voice in my ear, making me jump.An aged witch stood in front of us, holding a tray of whatlooked horribly like whole human fingernails. She leered at us,showing mossy teeth. Harry backed away, pulling me with him."we're fine, thanks," he said. "we're just —""HARRY!EMMA! What d'yeh think yer doin' down there?" my heart leapt. So did the witch; a load of fingernails cascaded down over her feet and she cursed as the massive form ofHagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, came striding toward them,beetle-black eyes flashing over his great bristling beard."Hagrid!" Harry croaked in relief. "we were lost — Floo powder —"Hagrid seized Harry by the scruff of the neck and me by the arm and pulled us away from the witch, knocking the tray right out of her hands. Hershrieks followed us all the way along the twisting alleyway outinto bright sunlight. Harry saw a familiar, snow-white marblebuilding in the distance — Gringotts Bank.
Hagrid had steered us right into Diagon Alley."Yer a mess!" said Hagrid gruffly, brushing soot off Harry soforcefully he nearly knocked him into a barrel of dragon dung outside an apothecary. "Skulkin' around Knockturn Alley, I dunno —dodgy place, Guys — don' want no one ter see yeh down there —""we realized that," said Harry, ducking as Hagrid made to brushhim off again. "I told you, I was lost — what were you doing downthere, anyway?" "I was lookin' fer a Flesh-Eatin' Slug Repellent," growled Hagrid. "They're ruinin' the school cabbages. Yer not on yer own?"
"We're staying with the Weasleys but we got separated," Harry explained. "We've got to go and find them. . . ."I said guiltily. We set off together down the street."How come yeh both never wrote back ter me?" said Hagrid as Harry and I jogged alongside him, Harry and I explained all about Dobby andthe Dursleys."Lousy Muggles," growled Hagrid. "If I'd've known —""Harry! Emma! Over here!" "Hermione!" I cried. Hermione Granger was standing at the topof the white flight of steps to Gringotts. She ran down to meet us, her bushy brown hair flying behind her. We shared a hug as she surveyed us "You look freckled, Emms! What happened to your glasses, Harry? Hello, Hagrid — Oh, it'swonderful to see you again — Are you coming into Gringotts, ?""As soon as we've found the Weasleys," said Harry.
"Yeh won't have long ter wait," Hagrid said with a grin.Harry and Hermione looked around: Sprinting up the crowdedstreet were Ron, Fred, George, Percy, and Mr. Weasley."Harry," Mr. Weasley panted. "We hoped you'd only gone onegrate too far. . . ." He mopped his glistening bald patch. "Molly'sfrantic — she's coming now —""Where did you come out?" Ron asked."Knockturn Alley," said Hagrid grimly."Excellent!" said Fred and George together."We've never been allowed in," said Ron enviously. "I-I'm sorry" I mumbled, "I know what I did was rash but-" "You wanted to find your brother." Mr Weasley said gently "we understand" I smiled greatfully, then smirked at Fred and George "I outran you!" They both scowled.
Mrs. Weasley now came galloping into view, her handbag swinging wildly in one hand, Ginny just clinging onto the other."Oh, Harry, Emma — oh, my dears — you could have been anywhere —"Gasping for breath she pulled a large clothes brush out of herbag and began sweeping off the soot Hagrid hadn't managed tobeat away. Mr. Weasley took Harry's glasses, gave them a tap of hiswand, and returned them, good as new."Well, gotta be off," said Hagrid, who was having his handwrung by Mrs. Weasley ("Knockturn Alley! If you hadn't found them, Hagrid!"). "See yer at Hogwarts!" And he strode away, headand shoulders taller than anyone else in the packed street."Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes?" Harry asked Ron andHermione and me as they climbed the Gringotts steps. "Malfoy and his father.""Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?" said Mr. Weasley sharplybehind 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 werebowed 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 "Emma's friends with Malfoy the younger" scowled Ron . Mr Weasly was saying something , but he was distracted almost at once by thesight of Hermione's parents, who were standing nervously at thecounter that ran all along the great marble hall, waiting forHermione to introduce them.
"But you're Muggles!" said Mr. Weasley delightedly. "We musthave a drink! What's that you've got there? Oh, you're changingMuggle money. Molly, look!" He pointed excitedly at the tenpound notes in Mr. Granger's hand."Meet you back here," Ron said to Hermione as the Weasleysand Harry and I were led off to their underground vaults by anotherGringotts goblin.The vaults were reached by means of small, goblin-driven cartsthat sped along minature train tracks through the bank's underground tunnels. I enjoyed the breakneck journey down to theWeasleys' vault, but felt dreadful, when it was opened. There was a very small pile of silver Sickles inside, and just one gold Galleon. Mrs. Weasley feltright into the corners before sweeping the whole lot into her bag.Harry and I felt even worse when they reached our vault. We tried toblock the contents from view as we hastily shoved handfuls of coinsinto a leather bag.
Back outside on the marble steps, we all separated. Percy muttered vaguely about needing a new quill. Fred and George hadspotted their friend from Hogwarts, Lee Jordan. Mrs. Weasley andGinny were going to a secondhand robe shop. Mr. Weasley was insisting on taking the Grangers off to the Leaky Cauldron for adrink."We'll all meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy yourschoolbooks," said Mrs. Weasley, setting off with Ginny. "And notone step down Knockturn Alley!" she shouted at the twins' retreating backs.Harry, Ron, Me and Hermione strolled off along the winding, cobbled street. The bag of gold, silver, and bronze jangling cheerfully in my pocket. clamoring to be spent, I he bought 4 large strawberry-and-peanut-butter ice creams, which we slurpedhappily as we wandered up the alley, examining the fascinatingshop windows. Ron gazed longingly at a full set of Chudley Cannon robes in the windows of Quality Quidditch Supplies untilHermione dragged us off to buy ink and parchment next door.In Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, we met Fred, George,and Lee Jordan, who were stocking up on Dr. Filibuster's FabulousWet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks, and in a tiny junk shop full of broken wands, lopsided brass scales, and old cloaks covered in potionstains they found Percy, deeply immersed in a small and deeplyboring book called Prefects Who Gained Power."A study of Hogwarts prefects and their later careers," Ron readaloud off the back cover. "That sounds fascinating. . . .""Go away," Percy snapped." 'Course, he's very ambitious, Percy, he's got it all plannedout. . . . He wants to be Minister of Magic . . ." Ron told Harry, me and Hermione in an undertone as we left Percy to it.An hour later, we headed for Flourish and Blotts. we were byno means the only ones making our way to the bookshop.
As theyapproached it, we saw to our surprise a large crowd jostling outside the doors, trying to get in. The reason for this was proclaimedby 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'swritten almost the whole booklist!"The crowd seemed to be made up mostly of witches aroundMrs. Weasley's age. A harassed-looking wizard stood at the door,saying, "Calmly, please, ladies. . . . Don't push, there . . . mind thebooks, now. . . ."Harry, Ron,me and Hermione squeezed inside. A long line woundright to the back of the shop, where Gilderoy Lockhart was signinghis books. We each grabbed a copy of The Standard Book of Spells,Grade 2 and sneaked up the line to where the rest of the Weasleyswere standing with Mr. and Mrs. Granger."Oh, there you are, good," said Mrs. Weasley. She soundedbreathless and kept patting her hair. "We'll bee able to see him in aminute. . . ."Gilderoy Lockhart came slowly into view, seated at a tablesurrounded by large pictures of his own face, all winking andflashing dazzlingly white teeth at the crowd. The real Lockhartwas wearing robes of forget-me-not blue that exactly matched hiseyes; his pointed wizard's hat was set at a jaunty angle on his wavyhair.A short, irritable-looking man was dancing around taking photographs with a large black camera that emitted puffs of purplesmoke with every blinding flash."Out of the way, there," he snarled at Ron, moving back to get abetter shot. "This is for the Daily Prophet —""Big deal," said Ron, rubbing his foot where the photographerhad stepped on it.Gilderoy Lockhart heard him. He looked up. He saw Ron — and then he saw Harry and me. He stared.
Then he leapt to his feet andpositively shouted, "It can't be Harry and Emma Potter?"The crowd parted, whispering excitedly; Lockhart dived forward, seized Harry's arm, then mine and pulled us to the front. The crowdburst into applause. Harry's face burned as Lockhart shook hishand for the photographer, who was clicking away madly, waftingthick smoke over the Weasleys."Nice big smile, guys," said Lockhart, through his own gleaming teeth. "Together, you and I are worth the front page."When he finally let go of our hands, I could hardly feel my fingers. We tried to sidle back over to the Weasleys, but Lockhart threw an arm around our shoulders and clamped us tightly tohis side.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said loudly, waving for quiet. "Whatan extraordinary moment this is! The perfect moment for me tomake a little announcement I've been sitting on for some time!"When young Harry and Emma here stepped into Flourish and Blotts today, they only wanted to buy my autobiography — which I shallbe happy to present him now, free of charge —" Ugh, no. The crowdapplauded again. "They had no idea," Lockhart continued, givingHarry a little shake that made his glasses slip to the end of his nose,"that they would shortly be getting much, much more than my book,Magical Me. He and his schoolmates will, in fact, be getting the realmagical me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have great pleasure andpride in announcing that this September, I will be taking up thepost of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts Schoolof Witchcraft and Wizardry!" I stifled a groan. The crowd cheered and clapped and Harry and I found ourselves being presented with the entire works of Gilderoy Lockhart. Staggeringslightly under their weight, harry managed to make his way out of thelimelight to the edge of the room, where Ginny was standing nextto her new cauldron.
"You have these," Harry mumbled to her, tipping the books intothe cauldron. "I'll buy my own —" I smiled, nudged Ron and shoved the books at him, he looked shocked "I-couldn't-Ems-" "Take them" I said sweetly. then a photographer grabbed me by the arm "Ms Potter how do you feel-"
And only made it back to Mr Weasly and Mr Malfoy wrestling eachother. "Gentlemen, please — please!" cried the assistant, and then, louderthan all —"Break it up, there, gents, break it up —" Hagrid was wading toward them through the sea of books. Inan instant he had pulled Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy apart.Mr. Weasley had a cut lip and Mr. Malfoy had been hit in the eyeby an Encyclopedia of Toadstools. He was still holding Ginny's oldTransfiguration book. He thrust it at her, his eyes glittering withmalice.
"Here, girl — take your book — it's the best your father cangive you —" Pulling himself out of Hagrid's grip he beckoned toDraco, who looked at me and mouthed 'sorry' and swept from the shop.
"Yeh should've ignored him, Arthur," said Hagrid, almost liftingMr. Weasley off his feet as he straightened his robes. "Rotten ter thecore, the whole family, everyone knows that — no Malfoy's worthlistenin' ter — bad blood, that's what it is — come on now — let'sget outta here."The assistant looked as though he wanted to stop them fromleaving, but he barely came up to Hagrid's waist and seemed tothink better of it. We hurried up the street, the Grangers shakingwith fright and Mrs. Weasley beside herself with fury."A fine example to set for your children . . . brawling in public . . . what Gilderoy Lockhart must've thought —"
"He was pleased," said Fred. "Didn't you hear him as we wereleaving? He was asking that bloke from the Daily Prophet if he'd beable to work the fight into his report — said it was all publicity —"But it was a subdued group that headed back to the fireside inthe Leaky Cauldron, where Harry,Me. the Weasleys, and all their shopping would be traveling back to the Burrow using Floo powder.They said good-bye to the Grangers, who were leaving the pub forthe Muggle street on the other side; Mr. Weasley started to ask them how bus stops worked, but stopped quickly at the look onMrs. Weasley's face.