Chapter 80 Lockhart
There was something odd about that trip, which Aerie took to be just the new starting point at first, but knew better when she found herself being spat out in a grungy old shop. Aerie pulled out her letter, took her glasses off, and examined the aura of the letter. Sure enough, it had Dumbledore’s magic all over it.
The door to the shop opened, the sound of an old cowbell clanking.
“Moonie, cloak me,” Aerie whispered, Moonie the cat vanished, and for a moment Aerie was enveloped in a cloak of darkness. She had become one with the shadows in the dimly lit shop. Nearby there was a withered hand on a cushion, a blood-stained deck of cards, a glass eye that had been still was now looking as though to find something. Her undoubtedly. Piled into boxes below the counters there was a variety of bones and hanging from the walls could be seen rows of masks. Theater masks, Mardi Gras masks, African Masks, and even a few Noh masks. All were leaking dark energy, and the darkest of the lot was a fairly simple wooden mask with a carved nose-guard that was cracked from age. Ya, no… Aerie thought to herself. She was surely tempted to get it, but not this story.
Aerie moved around a large cabinet towards the door and spotted none other than Lucius Malfoy approaching the counter. Fancy that, she mused. What was that about canon events? Dumbledore wanted Aerie to get lost in Nnockturn Alley, and Hagrid would be there to save her. Still though, for everything to line up like that, she couldn't help but wonder if some higher being not unlike Discord was pulling the strings. And yes, Mr Malfoy had several dark items in his possession.
“Ah, Mr Borgin,” Malfoy said in his usual you will serve me whether you want or not tone. Behind the counter stood a greasy man with slick back hair. “Something I might help you with?”
“My peeper spotted something… must have been you and your boy, but tell me, how might I help you? Mr Malfoy.”
“I’m not buying, not today at any rate. I need to divest myself of a couple of items.” Mr Malfoy's look of annoyance shifted to utter disdain.
“Selling, is it?” Mr Borgin’s smile faded. “Ministry hot on your heels is it, Malfoy.”
“You’ve heard then. No, they are not, but I wouldn’t put it past Arthur Weasley to trump up an excuse to raid my home. And you, as a dealer of things exotic should have no trouble moving troublesome items that could cause me embarrassment.” Malfoy pulled out a bit of parchment and unfolded it.
“Whatcha got then,” he said as he took hold of the list. “The ministry wouldn't trouble you, sir?”
“The name Malfoy still commands enough respect that they aren’t going to just do a random raid on my home, and yet… the ministry grows more and more meddlesome.
“There’s a muggle protection act being pushed through.”
“Imagine that. Wanting to protect muggles. Bad enough dumb beasts have been recognized as sentient. There’s a rumor that they are even being allowed in Hogwarts...”
Dumb beasts indeed, Aerie thought to herself. Why next they’ll be recognizing wizards as intelligent? Doubtful. Aerie waited, watched, and listened as the two men bargained and bemoaned how bad things had gotten. In the end, Malfoy had divested himself of all but one item and a promise from Mr Borgin to stop by the house.
Malfoy exited the store, and Mr Borgin experienced the sensation of the hair on the back of his neck going up on seeing a shadow following him out the door.
“People will see the shadow in the sunlight,” Moonie whispered as Lucius Malfoy proceeded to Window Shop.
“In that case let them see the ghost of Draco,” Aerie replied with an evil grin on her face and cast the illusion about herself. People would see Mr Malfoy, and then they’d see the ghost of the young master following his father. They never said anything, they simply backed away.
She kind of felt sorry for Hagrid, but then again, maybe seeing the ghost of a student he’d been responsible for might just be enough to pound it into his head that ordinary humans are fragile. At the same time, it was clear to Aerie he had indeed been sent down here to fetch her. Hagrid was undeniably looking for someone.
Aerie slipped into the last shadow before entering Diagon Alley. “Moonie, you couldn't snatch that thing, maybe?”
“Sorry,” Moonie the cat offered a moment after appearing on her shoulder. “Of all the Horcrux we’ve encountered, this one is the most powerful, and I fear its matrix is the most like ourselves. I dare not.”
“Alright then,” Aerie offered as she stepped out from the shadows back to being herself. Riddle had been so close to creating a Guardian spell and likely hadn’t even known it. But then Riddle lacked empathy. Something that was undoubtedly needed to create a Guardian.
Aerie followed Mr Malfoy to the bookseller they got their school books from and watched as he worked his way into the store. The crowd in front of Flourish and Blotts was noticeably a lot larger than she could remember from the year before. A good indication of why the crowd was so big was due to a large banner in the upper window that read Gilderoy Lockhart will be signing copies of his autobiography Magical Me, today from 12:39 to 4:30.
“Aerie!” it was Hermione. She had just arrived herself and was with her parents.
“Hi, Hermione,” Aerie said while keeping an eye on Mr Malfoy. At the moment he was inside not too far from the front window, and just standing there. Waiting.
“Ah, Aerie, I’m over here?”
“I’m watching Mr Malfoy. He’s just standing there. Inside the window.”
“Maybe he just wants a book?” Hermione asked as she looked. “I see.”
“Does he strike you as an avid reader?”
“Not really. Short of he wants a specific book and can’t get to it.”
“If he’s anything like Draco was he’d just push his way to it.”
“Aerie! You alright.” Percy called as he approached.
“Ya, I’m fine. Why, did you think something happened?”
“The floo flames were a bit off color when you went through.”
“Dumped me in Nocturne Alley.” Aerie dared to cast a glance at Percy. He still had the smoking jacket on, but had at least put on a proper pair of trousers. “Mr Malfoy was there selling off contraband. They didn’t see me. Tell your dad that a raid of Malfoy Manner right now might prove fruitful.”
“Nocturne? And you got out alright?”
“I followed Mr Malfoy. People all thought I was with him.”
“He’s inside,” Hermione informed him. “Aerie has been watching him for a while now.”
“What’s he doing in there?”
“Waiting,” Aerie supplied. “But never mind that just tell your dad you’ve got a hot tip. They’d set up a date for the items too big to fit in a pocket.” She held up her letter. “This was the source of the charm that redirected me. I’d say Dumbledore wanted me in that shop.”
“Right, on it,” he replied, spun around and hurried off. Telling him it had been Dumbledore was all she had needed to do.
“Where was he going in such a hurry?”
“Oh, hi Isolde,” Aerie offered. “Letting his family know that they are going to miss out on the second-hand books,” Aerie teased and quietly delighted at Isolde's troubled look. Granted at least one of the Lockhart books was a new print the others had been out for a while. She also couldn't help but wonder if a lot of other people had the same idea.
“Aerie?” Hermione said sounding disappointed. “OK, accurate but still… hi, do you know Aerie?”
“Isolde Swan, at your service,” Isolde offered with a curtsy. She’d been taking elocution lessons and just seemed to think it the right thing to do. Nor did she look like Draco with long hair. Her cheeks had filled out, and her hair had gone from blond to platinum save for a golden lock of hair on her right bangs to her right temple which she’d taken to braiding behind the ear. Isolde was delighted in her new lustrous hair and let it hang loosely save for that one braid.
“Um… hi,” Hermione replied wondering if she was being made fun of.
“Isolde, if we are to get your books, we are just going to have to work our way in,” prompted an adult behind her.
“Hi,” Aerie offered.
“Aster Swan. You’re Aerie, are you not?”
“I am.”
“What are you looking at,” Isolde asked as she directed her gaze to the store only to spot her father. “What’s he doing there?”
“Can’t rightly say,” Aerie offered hoping that’d be enough.
“Looking for a replacement, owe!”
“Ronald Weasley, how many times do I have to tell you?!” Molly Weasly scolded. “Well, out with it…”
“If I don’t have anything nice to say… say nothing at all,” Ron recited. Isolde smiled and suppressed a laugh. “Do I know you?” Ron was now eyeing up Isolde like she was something unexpected in his food.
“No.” Isolde retorted sharply. “That is… I’m an Akkadian. I got a letter to start this year and my foster mom thought it’d be good for me.”
“Fresh meat,” the twins chimed followed by ducking their mother’s backhand. Ginny Weasley was behind her brothers and acting very shy.
“Um, hi, are you starting this year too?” Isolde asked Ginny. “Hogwarts?”
“Her first year, Gryffindor, no doubt,” Molly Weasley boasted proudly.
“You sure I don’t know you?” Ron pressed. “What house will you be in?”
“I don’t really know.”
“Surely you must have some idea, dear,” Molly asked. “What house were your parents in?”
“Mom was murdered by Voldemort,” Isolde informed them. Isolde had learned the truth about her transformation, that thanks to the blood on that bush she was now part unicorn. Once she’d had a little time to process it she decided that that unicorn was her mom now. Now that her parents had abandoned her. Her dad mostly. Her mother, Draco’s mother had asked about her, but it had been decided that given wizard attitudes she’d be better off if she had no contact with her former parents. Aster was her foster mom, and she was now an Akkadian. All she had to do was get good grades, make friends, and stay out of trouble. She also couldn't help but notice how everyone flinched at Voldemort’s title. Everyone save Aster, Aerie, Aurora, and Akkadians in general. They simply were not afraid of the man.
Voldemort was gone now, or so she was to understand. He couldn't hurt them anymore. She also couldn't help but notice how Mrs Weasley insisted that Ginny would be in Gryffindor. She was every bit as bad as her former parents. Yes, Draco had second thoughts about going into Slytherin, but it was what his father wanted. What his mother expected. What his whole family expected. Be selected for Slytherin or don’t come home. His father had said that and now… Isolde was sure he’d meant it. And no, she did not want to go into Slytherin. Not again. She was a brand new person and when she looked back on the way she had acted… she did not like Draco Malfoy any more than Ronald Weasley did.”
“I suppose I could end up in Ravenclaw,” Isolde offered as Percy approached. Ravenclaw was at least a safe bet and they had windows.
“Ah, Percy… where’s your father?” Molly Weasley asked.
“Something just came up, we are on our own.”
“Can’t be helped then. Come on, let's get in there before all the books are gone.”
“And I see my family in there too,” Aerie reported and decided she’d best get inside as well.
“Say, Aerie, Percy seems to think you might have gone to the wrong floo,” Ron stated as they made for the door.
“I’ll tell you about it later. Now’s a bad time.”
“She’s been keeping an eye on Mr Malfoy,” Hermione offered. “She thinks he’s up to something.”
“Well don’t be giving up the plot right in front of the person of interest,” Aerie cautioned as the door swung open.
“I should have just enough to get the books,” Molly was saying as they entered. “After that, we’ll need to run up to the bank.”
“Hang on, it’s Lockhart, he’s here,” Hermione announced breathlessly.
“That is what it says in the window,” Aerie replied. She then reached up to pet Moonie and whispered, “Try to keep an eye on the package.”
As for the crowd, it was mostly witches. Middle age, young, old, and very few of them looked like they were there with Hogwarts students. There was one thing that did stand out to Aerie, and that was a lack of any witches in Mr Lockhart’s age bracket who didn’t have at least one child with them.
Aerie and the others made their way through the store gathering up the books that they would need. As soon as Aerie had her required books, and a couple of others, she worked her way toward where she saw Aurora, Flora, Luna, Sweetie, Bloom, and Louise. Or at least tried to.
“Hey, no cutting in line,” Ordered a surly old hag. Old witch, hag, what’s the difference?
“But my mom is up there,” Aerie protested. “Mom!”
“Aerie?” Luna was the first to look. Lockhart was the second. He also gave Luna a good look.
“Is that Aerie Potter?” Lockhart said as he stood up. “Come on, let her up here,” he beckoned as he made his way around the table he was at. Aerie on the other hand tried to step back only to find herself being pushed forward.
Isolde watched, her emotions playing havoc with her. Part of her would have liked to be the one being fussed over, and part of her was glad she wasn’t being fussed over. And Aerie wanted nothing to do with that man as he ordered people out of the way. Adding to the confusion was an irritable little man with a large box camera with a big flash that emitted purple smoke.
“Out of the way,” ordered the man with the camera. “This is for the Daily Prophet…”
“Hey?!” Aurora protested as he shoved her and the Crusaders back.
It was inevitable that the jostling of people would cause several individuals to drop their books to include Isolde.
“It is, it’s Aerie Potter,” Lockhart stated as he closed with her. The crowd finally parted as people began whispering excitedly. And Moonie, poor Moonie who’d been desperately trying to keep track of Malfoy was now experiencing sensor failure every time that blasted flash went off. Suddenly Lockhart had Aerie by the arm and was pulling her forward further disorienting Moonie. Aerie was suddenly getting her picture taken, flash after flash.
“Nice big smile, Aerie,” Lockhart said, his teeth nearly as bright as the flash. A Glimmer spell no doubt and Aerie would have liked to cancel it right then and there if she wasn’t so disoriented. Sure, she had an idea that this would happen, but knowing and experiencing were two different things. “Together, you, and I, are front-page bound. Don’t you think, Potter?”
“I try not to, it, only causes trouble,” Aerie retorted, and Lockhart laughed.
Isolde had missed the exchange though. She was down on the floor picking up her books. She hesitated when a stack of grade-one books was handed to her by a man. She looked up to see her father. Make that former father. Her foster mother had been helping her, and Isolde could only think, what might her father’s reaction be if he knew the short plump woman was a pegasus. Or that she wasn’t exactly human anymore. Not that it mattered. After all, he'd disowned her for the unforgivable sin of being a girl.
Isolde took the offered books, said thank you, and then watched him straighten, his face devoid of emotion, turn, and head for the door.
“Do you think he recognized you?” Aster asked as the two straitened out.
“I don’t know… that was entirely out of character for him.”
“Let’s just get what you need and let's get out of here.”
Meanwhile, Lockhart had thrown an arm around Aerie’s shoulders and pulled her in tight. *“Ladies, and gentlemen,” he said loudly. What a perfect moment this is that I and Aerie Potter should be in this room together. I… have an announcement.
“When Miss Aerie stepped into Flourish and Blotts, this day, she only wanted to buy my autobiography. Indeed, I can’t imagine her wanting anything else unless it was more of my books.” He gave his trademark wink and flashed his smile. “And as such, I will be more than happy to provide her with, not just my autobiography, but a complete set of all my books, free of charge.”
Nearly everyone in the place erupted into applause.
“I’ve… I have another announcement.” He waited for the room to quiet. “Aerie and her schoolmates will be getting more than my book, Magical Me, they will be getting me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have the great pleasure to announce that I, Gilderoy Lockhart, with great pleasure and pride announce here and now to all of you that I have agreed to take on the Defense Against the Dark Arts vacancy at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”
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Well, so much for this being easy. Let's hope that Nova can at least get the book before it causes too much damage. Either way, it is starting to look more and more like certain events from the books are actual prophecy in this story. Whether that is because of the actual prophecy or because Discord has a reason for things wanting to play out that way remains to be seen.
Oh this is going to be sooooo good.
Malfoy manner raided early , going to be lots and lots of goods in there.
i can see Arie driving Gilderoy Lockhart totally nuts calling out his BS.
Well let’s hope that the switch of who got the diary gets caught fast. Personally I hope that even Isolde realizes it is full of dark magic and tells her foster mom right away.
11787775
Well the gun he could have taken from someone who one one like his parents. Wouldn't be the first time a kid stole his parents guns.
11798195
Dumbledore is idiot who unfortunately can't let go of trying to control everything. Unfortunately he can't get that the more he tries to control things to his liking the more disappointing his plans are going to be.
11798399
I fear that Dumbledore can't be blamed for this one. Not unless he was the one who instructed Lucius on what to do with the book, which is pretty much an impossibility. Sure, everything before the bookstore was his fault. But even he would not be able to manipulate things in such a way that the book wouldn't end up where it is supposed to be. Not unless he went so far of the deep end that he believes he can get away with casting an imperious curse on Lucius and get away with it. Something I doubt even he would be stupid enough to do as he already knows that a fresh imperious curse can be traced back to him.
11798403
The fact that she was noticed in the first place is his fault because he is the one painting the target on Harry Potter back by making sure that everyone knows about "Harry Potter ". Lockhart would have never given him as much attention if he wasn't famous. And as aerie is believed to be Harry Potter she is getting the attention because apparently they think attracting attention to her is helping. You don't want more attention on the kid. You want less.
11798403
Keep in mind that the book itself is capable of controlling people.
If anyone is wondering why I posted early, I got hit by a major winter storm. Branches down everywhere. Trees were down, and the power was out for a good eighteen hours.
Now the fun part is that there's another storm coming in.
c.tenor.com/STJdTb8os0EAAAAC/tenor.gif
The truly fun part was before I could clear the driveway of snow, I had to clear it of downed branches.
11798398
The case I saw in the news, he was a gang banger want-to-be by all appearances, and it was his gun. They never said where the gun came from but several people had opportunities to take the gun and the shooting wasn't an accident.
11798539
Well him wanting that after one of the school shootings that isn't surprising. Some people desire the strangest things. Though unless it was from the black market which sell plenty of illegal or barely legal stuff the people who sold it must have been nuts.
11798237
I was rereading the book and ran across something I'd completely missed and or forgotten about. Malfoy Manor had been raided in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. When Ron and Harry are impersonating Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Draco tells them "Father's got some very valuable Dark Arts stuff. But luckily, we've got our own secret chamber under the drawing room floor."
J K Rowling gives us this juicy little bit, and then never did anything with it.
11798661
that is right i had forgotten about that my self.
11798237 Till raid happens its not a done deal, and I'm guessing someone wanting to keep Malfoy's favor is alerting him beforehand. If I remember rightly since Draco is no longer in the picture to provoke people the original raid during the "Chamber of Secrets" probably wouldn't happen. Heck the ministry knows about Nocturne Alley and beyond keeping kids out of it seems to leave it alone
When Lockhart grabbed her, I was thinking of another Harry crossover were there is a daily profit paper were Harry turned girl is punching him in the nuts to make him release her. And since is wizard paper, the image moves. And it repeats the action.
i imagine they didn't dare try and depict, lets say... 'historical opinions', in the game because they likely knew there was gonna be the backlash to harry potter, and didn't want to add fuel to it.
this may be because im particularly fascinated by culture, and the mechanics of how it forms and works. but it never struck me as too out of place because people are rarely full spectrum bell ends. the wizarding world is separated from muggle affairs and that would result in cultural divergence. there is room to explore that. they still have bigots but its primarily focused around something else, a for more pertinent distinction that can be drawn between people. muggle and magical.
as an example; if christianity wasn't as big in the wizarding world, then their culture wouldn't get its ideas on homosexuality from the christian interpretation of sodomy being self gratification.
their community also probably wouldn't have practiced slavery in the same way, when house elves are a thing.
differences like that would change how general arseholery would manifest, what kinds of things would be picked up on and singled out.
11834798
Keep in mind that there will always be bleed over. Take into consideration that the anti vax movement was started in the Pagan holistic culture and jumped to ultra conservative Christian groups. I'm thinking the link has to do with holistic healing practices being picked up by people who were into faith healing. We'll pray it away, we'll use alternative remedies, but keep that demon science away from our kids attitudes.