Hermione took another bite of her ice cream and glanced between Mrs. Weasley and her mom. Mom had apologized to Mrs. Weasley as they had walked to the ice cream shop, but there was still a little tension between the women as they largely ignored each other as everyone ate.

At least the dads were getting along.

“So, Denton. I’ve been curious.” Mr. Weasley said, leaning in with a gleam in his eye, “You fix people’s teeth? Without magic? How does that work?”

“Yes, my wife and I have our own practice. Mostly we clean people's teeth with our special tools, but if they have cavities we…”

Hermione went back to her ice cream, she had heard all about their work a thousand times. Although Mr. Weasley looked interested, excitedly asking questions as Dad started explaining things.

Hermione finished the ice cream, and she felt much better. Seems like she just had to walk off the impact. She stared at her hands for a moment. What had happened back there? She had just wanted something to happen and her magic just… Did it. Was this the elf magic at work? She had been able to redirect herself in the fireplace network as well. She was lucky nothing more had gone wrong after she did that instinctively.

Hermione spotted someone familiar through the crowd after looking up. Was that? She stood and waved until Neville spotted them and started making his way over to them, two adults trailing behind them.

Ron noticed Hermione’s movements and spotted Neville too, “Hey guys, the Longbottoms are here.” He said loudly, getting the attention of the adults. Mom and Mrs. Weasley stood in unison and then both hesitated for a moment before walking together towards the approaching Longbottoms. The husbands took a little longer, appearing a little reluctant to break off their conversation.

Everyone quickly followed the two women as they met the Longbottoms halfway. Ron and Hermione pushed forward as the adults started chatting. “Hey Neville! Good to see you, mate,” Ron said.

“Yeah, I’m glad we can go and shop for everything together, I’m sure it’ll be loads of fun!” Hermione added quickly.

Neville cleared his throat and gestured to his parents. “Yeah. Um. So, this is my mom and my dad. They’ve been eager to meet you.”

The Longbottom parents took notice of Neville’s gesture and broke from their conversation and seemed to notice the children. The woman came forward. “Ah, you must be Neville’s friends from school! It’s so nice to finally meet you, Neville’s said so much about you both. I’m Alice Longbottom by the way.”

The man stepped around the woman. “Frank Longbottom. You kids enjoying the ice cream? I heard this place is one of the best in Britain!”

Neville nodded, “Mom and Dad took me last week and it was amazing! What did you guys think?”

“No, it was really good! Best I’ve ever had.” Ron said

“Great!” Hermione added.

Mrs. Weasley came over, “Let’s go children. We have lots of shopping to do today.”

As a group they moved and walked into the first shop to start buying their supplies.

— — —

“I can’t believe the defense against dark arts teacher this year requires twelve of Gilderoy Lockhart's books,” Ron complained to Neville, “The teacher must be a witch that’s a big fan of him.”

“Have you even read his books?” Hermione demanded, “He’s so heroic and dashing. Of course people admire him!”

Ron groaned, “Ugh, another one? What is it about that guy and witches? My mum wouldn’t stop talking about him all summer either.”

“Well,” Hermione said, getting a little embarrassed, “Maybe you should read some of his books before judging, Ronald. You would appreciate him more if you read about everything he’s done. He's saved at least dozen villages from all sorts of magical creatures and dark wizards.”

“Bah,” Ron said, not looking convinced.

“Let’s… lets get the herbology tools, trowels and new gloves and stuff. Right guys?” Neville said somewhat nervously.

“Well, alright,” Hermione said a little grumpily, noticing that Neville seemed to agree with Ron even if he didn’t want to say so.

— — —

“Oh. My. God. Lockhart is here! In person! We’ve got to go get our books signed before more people notice!” Hermione cried, dragging a confused Neville and Ron towards the bookstore. Mrs. Weasley also jerked up at Hermione’s words and rushed forward eagerly to get a spot in line. They must have arrived just after it opened, because there were only twenty or so people in front of them in line and the line was even staying in Flourish and Blotts building and wasn't out the door yet.

In the back of the store was the man himself, Gilderoy Lockhart, sitting behind a table. He was wearing an all blue outfit with white ruffles at his chest, with a swirling cape falling down his back. His wide smile showed teeth so white they lit up the room as he signed the books with large flourishes and posed for photos. His blonde hair was curled and looked perfectly maintained and dashing. Hermione stood eagerly in line, waiting with Mrs. Weasley for their turn, practically jumping up and down in excitement at the chance of being able to meet her hero.

— — —

Ron watched in confusion as Hermione and his mom practically fell over themselves fawning over Lockhart. What did they see in that guy? He was so over the top and gaudy, clearly half of his books were exaggerated. How could someone as smart as Hermione buy into that junk?

“Look at your mother balancing all of those books.” A nasally voice sounded behind Ron, “Did you have to spend your last coins to buy those, Weasley? No wonder how poor you are, with how big she is. She must eat more than the rest of you lot combined.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Ron turned and saw the sneering form of Draco Malfoy standing there, the boy's father not far behind. The man looked vaguely annoyed as he gripped his silver tipped cane and looked around at the crowded store in distaste. Ron’s eyes widened as he saw the man bump into Ginny, but Ron’s sister had the good sense to run away before the man could react, clutching her cauldron carrying her books. Ron spotted the rack of love potions she had been inspecting and scoffed. Why were they even selling those in a bookstore?

Ron’s neck flushed but he pushed down his anger as he remembered Draco’s words before he got distracted, “Pretty brave of you to insult me, Malfoy. Especially since Harry told his friends exactly what you were up to last year.”

“He told you?!” Draco squeaked before recovering slightly, “I mean, you can’t prove anything. Just like a Weasley to falsely accuse people they don’t like.”

Lucius Malfoy approached and Draco looked up at him, his expression oddly hopeful. Lucius didn’t spare his son any attention and pushed the boy to the side with a little pressure from his cane as he stepped forward. Ron’s Dad noticed the action and locked eyes with him and stepped forward to meet him.

“Arthur…” Lucius Malfoy drawled, “I see your children still wear those old worn robes. Why be a traitor to wizard kind if you're not even going to get paid well for it?”

Ron saw his dad visibly restrain himself, but then the man just returned a tight smile, “It’s not me that’s a traitor to wizard kind, Lucius. You were caught red handed with dark artifacts, and now everyone knows exactly what kind of person you are. The kind that uses their blood money to buy their way out of trouble.”

Lucius Malfoy’s gaze drifted to Ron’s mom. “Your wife looks…”

The man froze in place as his gaze panned to the right. Ron and his dad turned in confusion to see what had shocked the man so much. It was just Ron’s mom and Hermione standing together, their stacks of Lockhart's books piled high in their arms.

Ron turned back and saw Lucius Malfoy’s face twisted into absolute hatred and rage. The man drew his wand and pointed it at the pair, causing the surrounding crowd to scream. Ron went to draw his wand and saw his dad fumble in his robes in surprise at Lucius Malfoy’s quick movement.

“You’re not getting away this time, you little thief!” Lucius roared, “You will pay! Stupify!”

Before anyone could react the red beam of the curse shot out and landed squarely on Hermione’s side. She went limp, the books going tumbling all over the floor in a large crash as the stunning curse caused her to fall unconscious to the floor.

The store erupted immediately into chaos as everyone started scrambling away and screaming. The Longbottoms were on the other side of the store buying something for Neville. Ron could see them drawing their wands, but still looking around in confusion, still seeming unsure of what exactly was happening.

“Stupify!” Arthur Weasley shouted, sending a spell blasting at Lucius Malfoy. The man flicked his wand and the spell deflected into the ceiling.

“Aurors! Someone call the Aurors, Malfoys gone insane!” Dad shouted as Ron stood with his wand out, unsure of what to do. He didn’t want to miss and hit someone innocent on accident, especially as Lucius Malfoy had begun a sort of strange dance as he dodged or blocked a growing flurry of spells as Mom and the Longbottoms began to join in on the barrage of spells attacking the man. Everyone else was doing their best to escape and making no move to stop the man who had just attacked a student. Ron looked around and saw that in the chaos that Gilderoy Lockhart had disappeared. Wasn’t he supposed to be heroic? Where was he now when Hermione was getting attacked?

“Protego! Stupify! Aguamenti!”

Ron’s eyes widened, he had never seen his dad fight like this before. A red beam of light and a rapid spray of water was dodged and blocked respectively by Lucius Malfoy. The man looked harried and his face was ashen as he seemed to have fully realized what he had just done. What was it about Hermione had made the man just reflexively stun her in the middle of a crowded shop?

The store was nearly empty by now as the various patrons managed to escape.

“Ron, get back!” Mom screamed from the other side of the store.

Mom cast a spell and Ron felt a force at his navel flinging him through the air so he was thrown behind her. All the rest of the kids and the Hermione's parents were there too as his mom did her best to ward off all the reflected spells from the battle from hitting anyone. She was huffing and puffing as she deflected spell after spell. A strange man with large animal ears stood crouched over Hermione's body, wand held at the ready with his eyes darting rapidly to the various spells flying around the room.

Then out of nowhere as if he had been invisible, Gilderoy Lockhart appeared behind Lucius Malfoy, his face a mask of concentration. He was frowning, his signature smile absent as his cape swirled behind him. Lockhart pointed his wand at the back of Lucius Malfoy’s head.

“Perfodio!” The man shouted and a wide hole opened in the back of Lucius Malfoy’s bubble shield charm. Before Lucius could turn, Lockhart cast another spell, “Confundo Maxima!”

Lucius stumbled, tripping over himself and Ron saw his eyes become unfocused as he went sprawling to the floor. Lucius tried to mumble more spells, but his lips moved slowly as if he was drunk. Lockhart swirled his wand dramatically and poked his wand through the hole he had pierced in Lucius’ shield charm. His signature wide smile was back on his face.

“Stupify!” the man shouted theatrically as he drew his arm all the way up over his head and brought it back down to send a large beam of red light that struck Lucius’ chest and made the man go limp.

Everyone paused as Lockhart stood over Malfoy’s limp body, his cape still swirling around him. There was a flash of light and everyone jumped and glared at the reporter cowering in the corner that had taken the picture of Lockhart standing over the unconscious Malfoy.

“Ok,” Ron mumbled to himself, “I think I see what Hermione’s on about. That looked pretty bloody heroic.”

A few of the patrons peered back in to see what was happening. Lockhart glanced at the crowd and spun a full circle, sending his cloak swirling around him.

“Don’t fear, dear fans! It was lucky that I, Gilderoy Lockhart, was here to take care of this villain! To think that such a scoundrel would attack one of my future students!”

Ron frowned as the reporter and the thin crowd gasped at the man’s words. What was Lockhart talking about?

“Yes, I, Gilderoy Lockhart, will be taking the position of Defense against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts this year! I couldn’t bear to see one of my future students be accosted in such a way, so I was simply forced to intervene. Now, here come the Aurors, my good people! Unfortunately it seems the book signing will have to be canceled for today.”

The man winked at the crowd, “But never fear, I’m sure we will reschedule. Gilderoy Lockhart would never want to disappoint his lovely fans!”

He lowered his voice slightly as the blue robed Aurors bustled in, wands held at the ready. “Now, dear Aurors. I was simply attending to my fans when this scallywag attacked a student unprovoked! After a long battle, I…”

Ron glanced around and saw the adults that had been fighting Lucius Malfoy directly looking a little miffed that their contributions were being diminished. But after a minute they all seemed to collectively shrug and let the man take credit for everything.

Ron watched Lockhart as he dramatically reenacted what he had done to the Aurors. Well, he certainly exaggerated everything. But it had still been pretty wicked how he defeated Malfoy, so at least he would be a better teacher than Quirrell had been. Ron had just stood there stupidly as everyone fought around him. He hadn't even cast a spell, just frozen up like an idiot.

Ron wondered how in the world Lucius Malfoy thought he could wriggle out of it this time. Especially with the thing Ron's dad had told Ton about the man being caught with dark artifacts. As Ron watched, the Aurors began to apparate away Lockhart, Dad, and the unconscious Lucius. He hoped that Lucius Malfoy would finally get what he had coming to him. His dad would make sure of it, hopefully. Ron turned back and noticed the strange man with the animal ears from before had disappeared.

Ron wondered where he had come from, he was sure he would have remembered someone so distinctive. Maybe he was just a good person that wanted to make sure Hermione was alright. Yeah, that must be it Ron decided. That was the best explanation of it.