21 Deviations (2/2)

Fred sighed.

”I should've been born handsome, maybe mother would love me more.”

Fred got hit on the head with a frying pan.

Ron ignored the screaming and opened the letter from Hermione.

”She's going to Diagon Alley next Wednesday, apparently.”

”Well, that fits in nicely, we can go and get all your things then, too,” said Mrs. Weasley, starting to clear the table. ”What're you all up to today?”

”Nothing.”

”Well you can help me with chores, Arth dear, you can rest, you have already helped a lot. Especially with the money.”

Arth sat down in one of the comfy chairs and watched as Harry, Ron, Fred, and George all grumbled as they went off to work. Mrs. Weasley came with a cup of coffee and served it humbly to Arth.

He took the cup and swirled the coffee twice before drinking. Feeling like a king, Arthur watched as everyone except him started to clean around the house. Seeing the dirty look from Ron, he smirked and sipped the coffee elegantly once more. He then took out a book and read.

Mrs. Weasley woke them all early the following Wednesday. After a quick half a dozen bacon sandwiches each, they pulled on their coats and Mrs. Weasley took a flowerpot off the kitchen mantelpiece and peered inside.

”We're running low, Arthur,” she sighed. ”We'll have to buy some more today...Ah well, guests first! After you, Harry dear!”

And she offered him the flowerpot.

Harry stared at them all watching him.

”W-what am I supposed to do?” he stammered.

”It's Floo powder, take a bit in your hands and throw it into the fire, don't stutter and say Diagon Alley. Think of it as fire teleportation.”

Arth watched as Harry disappeared into the flame before doing the same.

When he opened his eyes, he was in Diagon Alley once more.

Underneath him was Harry.

Arth sighed and pulled him up.

”Don't worry, it happens all the time, at least you didn't throw up.”

Although he did look a bit pale.

Seeing that his glasses were a broken, Arth took out his wand and repaired it.

After all of the Weasleys met up, they proceeded to head towards Gringotts Bank. When Mr. Weasley met Hermione's parents, he rushed up towards them with a eager smile. Something about Mr. Weasley reminded him of his father.

Back outside on the marble steps, they all separated. Percy muttered vaguely about needing a new quill. Fred and George had spotted their friend from Hogwarts, Lee Jordan. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were going to a secondhand robe shop. Mr. Weasley was insisting on taking the Grangers off to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink.

”We'll all meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your schoolbooks,” said Mrs. Weasley, setting off with Ginny. ”And not one step down Knockturn Alley!” she shouted at the twins' retreating backs.

An hour later, they headed for Flourish and Blotts. They were by no means the only ones making their way to the bookshop. As they approached it, they saw to their surprise a large crowd jostling outside the doors, trying to get in. The reason for this was proclaimed by a large banner stretched across the upper windows:

GILDEROY LOCKHART will be signing copies of his autobiography

MAGICAL ME

today 12:30P.M.to 4:30P.M.

”We can actually meet him!” Hermione squealed. ”I mean, he's written almost the whole booklist!”

Arth frowned. ”I read his books and they weren't that great, mostly over exaggerated.”

Hermione instantly stopped squealing and shrugged.

”If you say so, you must be right.”

Ron squinted his eyes.

”Is Arth really that handsome? I thought witches only listened to handsome men. I mean Arth is decent looking, but is he better than Lockhart?”

”Ron, that's sexist. And if you put it that way, wizards are the same. I know where your eyes were when that pretty witch passed us. And I'm just going to say that it was somewhere a child shouldn't be looking.”

Ron flushed.

”Plus,” said Hermione who was trying to get rid of her blush from Ron's comment. ”You should look in the mirror, you aren't much to look at either.”

Ron and Harry learned a new lesson.

In the minds of some women, looks are law.

After spending some time convincing Mrs. Weasley that the signatures weren't worth it, the left the shop and headed back home.

A few weeks later, it was time to go back to school.