*63

"Mrs. Weasley, I found Harry!"

Leaving Knockturn Alley, Hermione and Harry made their way to Diagon Alley and immediately called out to the Weasleys, who were anxiously questioning passers-by.

"Oh, thank goodness! I thought even little Hermione had been sent to the wrong place," Molly sighed with relief, patting her chest.

"Where did you end up?" Ron asked Harry.

"Knockturn Alley," Harry replied.

He'd heard Hermione mention the place earlier.

Upon hearing this, Molly was shocked: "You went to Knockturn Alley alone to find Harry?"

Before Hermione could respond, Molly pulled her into a hug, gently patting her back.

"Oh my goodness, you shouldn't have gone to such a place alone. What if something happened to you, a young girl? Poor little sweetheart, you must have been so scared."

Harry and Ron exchanged glances.

Hermione scared... They couldn't imagine it.

Sweetheart? Does that word even apply to her?

"Borgin might have a different opinion..." Harry thought, remembering Hermione's fearless demeanor.

But Molly seemed to have a filter that saw only Hermione's innocent face. No matter how skilled or accomplished Hermione was, Molly saw her as just a harmless young girl.

After fussing over Hermione, Molly finally released her, and they headed to Flourish and Blotts.

On the way, Hermione noticed Ginny's face was smudged with soot from the Floo Powder. She took out a handkerchief.

"Aguamenti!"

Water flowed from the tip of her wand, soaking the handkerchief, and Hermione gently wiped Ginny's face.

Ginny was startled but accepted the help, and soon her face was clean again.

"Much better. You looked like a little coal miner," Hermione teased.

Though Ginny was more comfortable around Hermione now, she still felt a bit shy about being seen in such a state.

Awkwardness met social anxiety.

At Flourish and Blotts, the store was packed.

After squeezing through the crowd, Harry turned to Ron: "Why are there so many people?"

He remembered the store being much quieter the previous year.

Ron shrugged, looking equally clueless.

Molly answered their question.

"Gilderoy Lockhart!"

She looked excited: "Today is Gilderoy Lockhart's book signing!"

Harry and Ron exchanged confused glances.

Who?

I don't know, do you?

Nope.

Their eyes communicated quickly, sharing their mutual ignorance.

"He's a famous author in the wizarding world, a third-class recipient of the Order of Merlin, an honorary member of the Dark Force Defense League, and has won Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award five times!"

Watching Molly's eyes light up, Hermione rolled her eyes internally.

An idol for the older witches, indeed.

Picking up a signed book, Hermione glanced at the cover.

I'm bragging... I mean, "Magical Me."

On stage, Lockhart was impeccably dressed, smiling broadly, occasionally striking a dramatic pose for the cameras.

Suddenly, he spotted something in the crowd and looked surprised.

"Harry Potter, I didn't expect to see you here!"

Lockhart seized the moment, grabbing Harry, who was trying to hide, and pulled him onto the stage.

"See? The famous Harry Potter also came to get my autobiography, 'Magical Me'!"

He whispered to Harry, "Smile wide, Harry. We're making headlines."

Facing the cameras, Harry forced an awkward smile.

"Furthermore, at the invitation of Headmaster Dumbledore, I'll be taking the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts this year!" Lockhart announced proudly.

"No way, he's our new... Where's Hermione?"

Ron blurted out in shock, only to notice Hermione had retreated to a corner at the back of the store.

"What? Hermione?"

Hearing Ron, Lockhart perked up and immediately spotted Hermione, following Ron's gaze.

"Hermione Granger? The brilliant girl who defeated Quirinus Quirrell, a once-in-a-century talent?"

Lockhart was ecstatic. Two celebrities to boost his popularity!

"Come on, a photo with the three of us will be all the rage in the wizarding world!" Lockhart called to Hermione.

"Sorry, I have a fear of cameras," Hermione replied calmly. "When I see a flash, I lose control of my magic. If you don't want your signing event disrupted, it's best not to pull me up."

"Ah, what a pity," Lockhart said regretfully. He prioritized his signing event over a group photo.

For some reason, he noticed Hermione's eyes held a hint of pity when she learned he was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

Molly and Arthur were surprised. Hermione had such a condition?

After a while, Lockhart finally released Harry, who looked weary and uncomfortable.

As he left the crowd, Harry bumped into Draco Malfoy.

"You must love this, Potter!"

Malfoy sneered, "The famous Harry Potter makes headlines just by visiting a bookstore."

Though mocking, envy and jealousy were evident in his eyes.

"Get away from him!"

Seeing her idol mocked, Ginny immediately stepped forward, glaring at Malfoy.

Malfoy was about to retort when he felt a hand on his shoulder, tapping twice.

Turning, he saw the face he dreaded most, a nightmare come to life.

"You, you..."

He lost his words, his voice trembling.

"Looks like last time left quite an impression, didn't it?" Hermione mused.

Oh well, seeing him like this, maybe some compensation is in order.

"Don't be so excited. If you want a photo with Lockhart, I'll talk to him for you. No worries."

Hermione tried to sound gentle.

But Malfoy trembled even more.

He vividly remembered how this girl had, with a smile, obliterated a shadowy figure. The madness in her eyes haunted him.

When her wand was aimed at him, he felt the chilling breath of death for the first time.

What did Hermione do to scare Malfoy so much...? Harry and the others wondered.

Ginny looked at Hermione with admiration.

Seeing Malfoy hesitate, Hermione approached Lockhart and whispered something. Lockhart nodded enthusiastically.

Returning to Malfoy, Hermione said:

"Okay, Lockhart's agreed. When he heard you're the heir to the Malfoy family, he was eager for a photo with you."

Turning back to Malfoy, who hadn't moved, Hermione asked:

"What's up? Aren't you going?"