12 Ch - 12 Intro 3: Last days Before school

For a few minutes there was silence as they all read their letters.

SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE:

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2by Miranda Goshawk

Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart

Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart

Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart

43 Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart

Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart

Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart

Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart

Fred, who had finished his own list, peered over at Harry's.

"You've been told to get all Lockhart's books, too!" he said. "The new Defense Against the Dark

Arts teacher must be a fan- bet it's a witch."

"Eh, or Lockhart himself at this point" I cut in earning a chuckle from the twins not believing me.

"That lot won't come cheap," said George, with a quick look at his parents. "Lockhart's books

are really expensive…"

"Well, we'll manage," said Mrs. Weasley, but she looked worried. "I expect we'll be able to pick

up a lot of Ginny's things secondhand."

"Actually I might have a solution for that," I said getting Molly's attention.

"You see while some first-year books remain the same for the second year I already read and summarized them so I would honestly be more than happy for Ginny to have them as they also come with my personal notes to help her study better. Also, I do not need Lockhart's books so instead, I could give mine to Ron as they are paid for by the Ministry."

While interested Miss Weasley hates feeling as if she needs pity and charity from others.

"Absolutely not, Chris while I know you said that with consideration you must know that I don't like receiving things without giving anything in return, this is something I will not budge from" I could see everyone in the family grimacing a bit knowing that if she would have just accepted they could have had an easier time shopping for everything else, maybe even getting a new owl.

"Then... There is one thing that you could do for me" she looked at me curiously and I felt I should continue "Here with your family, I probably had the greatest summer in my entire life (not a lie), it would mean the world to me if you could take me in again for next summer" I involuntarily turned a bit shy by having all the stares directed at me, adult mind or not receiving all this attention is never easy.

Suddenly I was embraced

"Of course dear, you have only been helpful and great company here, I would love to have you again next year" I got my head ruffled before she spoke again "However I am still not budging on the books"

I immediately countered, entering negotiation mode "I will concede when it comes to Lockart's books but, I will not back down on giving Ginny my first-year books, they are only going to help her with exams after all" seeing my adamant expression Molly faux sighed in defeat as if acknowledging my win.

Ginny clearly embarrassed tentatively came closer and hugged me while whispering "Thank you, Chris" Getting shy now that your crush is here? You didn't seem to have any trouble clinging to me all day long earlier I thought while chuckling.

I smiled and hugged her back a bit "No probs. NOW. Let's not get too bunny chummy please or I will vomit sugar one of these days" getting a chuckle from the normally talkative girl.

While Molly was finishing preparing her stuff the two twins went to hug my shoulders with one arm each behind my neck, George whispered

"That's the first time someone won this kind of argument against mom,"

"We are going to celebrate that achievement." ended Fred grinning. So sweet, that was probably their way to reciprocate the favor.

I struck my chest out and said "All in a day's work for our robed superhero"

Harry was the only one next to me getting the joke and shook his head with a smile. The two twins also grinned probably understanding the gist of it.

...

"D-Dia-gon Alley," he coughed. Well, Fuck.

It did not matter that I got harry to repeat the correct name a couple of times in order to hopefully avoid him going south. He still managed to stutter.

Worst part is? None could follow him since it wasn't the name of a store or something similar, making the result completely random.

"At least he pronounced the two words correctly, he must have ended up somewhere there," said a worried Arthur Weasley.

"It's your turn, Chris"

"Diagon Alley" I yeeted the floor and I went up in flames. The feeling was absurdly weird, the feeling was the same as the toilet, the feeling was similar to spinning very fast while going down. You could not keep your eyes open and I had to make an extra effort to keep my elbows tucked in.

As soon as I got out I managed somehow to remain standing only performing a few steps while coming out to balance myself.

"Good job Chris," said Fred

"Not everyone remains standing even after practicing it a few times" ended George

"Thank you! But Harry fucked up," I told the two who instantly grimaced, I hoped it wouldn't be long until we found him. When everyone was here we decided to split up to look for Harry and if he went into a random chimney around Diagon Alley.

Our search proved fruitless and everyone was turning worried.

"Don't worry, I told him that in case either of us got lost we would meet at Gringott's" do I always have to save the day?

Miss Weasley widened her eyes "Oh dear, that was incredibly smart, then let's move out, we can also briefly see inside every shop if he got lost in there by chance"

After some time of walking, we reached our destination, and it was only then that a loud distant voice yelled at me "Chris!" without having the time to even register the sound another missile, this time brown hair, decided I had to be her personal teddy bear for the minute. People and their need to hug me.

"Hermione, how good to see you!" I hugged her back

"Thank God you received my last letter in time, we can go shopping together!"

I nodded "Sure we can!" I then saw the two muggles "Ah! You must be Mr. and Ms. Granger, Hermione talks a lot about you in her letters. You can call me Chris, it is a pleasure to meet you"

The two were now beaming, it was miss Granger who took the mantle of a good parent deciding to be the one to embarrass her daughter first "Chris it's a pleasure, Hermione talked a lot about you, sometimes she just couldn't shut up about it" she wasn't even halfway done and Hermione was getting red "Every time one of your letters arrive she would close herself in her room for hours"

"M-Mom! What are you saying!" beet red, she was completely beet red, a tomato would become green with jealousy.

It was Molly the one to embarrass me then "Oh, believe me when I say that Chris is very much the same, he would wear a smile for the whole day" the two Women started chuckling and getting to know each other, and so were the men. Did I really wear a smile on my face? I never noticed it that is the case.

I turned to Hermione who looked like she wanted to dig a hole and asked "So, anything, in particular, you want to buy" at that she brightened and started talking like a spitfire.

Harry came back after a while safe and sound and the trip did not have any significant changes.

I did not buy Lockhart's book, Harry told me he would give me his if I helped him with his homework. Deal.

Ginny was again given the diary but I took it from her when she wasn't looking. I was about to destroy canon for good.

Fred and George caught me tho and I had to explain that Malfoy put it in her cauldron, and if he put that in it could only mean trouble and I wanted to find out what exactly that trouble is, they nodded, thanked me, and left it at that although they asked me to tell them if I found anything suspicious about the diary.

...

It was the time to start Hogwarts for real. And I certainly was ready.