Harry Potter: Eclipse.-Chapter 77:

Now that they were all together, and Harry had once again done introductions between the two boys, they set off. Seeing the crowds, Sirius and Remus bemoaned their fate.

"It's because of Gilderoy Lockhart," Harry said, mainly to his friends who looked surprised. "He's signing his latest book today."

The girls let out squeals, whilst Harry and the boys shared looks of disgust. "Please, he's such a fake," Draco spat.

"He's amazing and such a dreamboat," Susan gushed.

"And his smile, have you seen it?" Hannah added, them both sharing a dreamy sigh.

"I agree with Draco," Neville said hesitantly looking at the blond, "he's a load of rubbish."

In this life Draco hadn't targeted Neville, so their relationship wasn't tarnished by bullying. Harry assumed it was his friendship with Neville but then again Malfoy hadn't really antagonised anybody last year, excluding Ronald. Harry laughed; if only they knew how true they were. "I like his books, they're great fiction," Harry said, making Draco smirk and the girls frown when they realised he was mocking the man.

Sirius and Remus, who had overheard, snorted. "He's a right one, that man. I wouldn't believe what he puts in those books," Remus advised. He had read one of his earlier works and found it laughable.

"But he's published so many books," Hannah said.

"And he has so many awards," Susan said. "Just because you're famous and have awards doesn't mean you're a good person or deserving of them," Harry said, thinking about Dumbledore as well as the fraudulent peacock Gilderoy.

"Have you looked at our book lists this year?" Draco asked. "It's full of his books. I bet it's a silly young witch teaching us."

Harry withheld his snort. "It's ridiculous, we won't learn anything," he bemoaned.

Fighting through the crowds, they decided to get Neville's wand first then head straight to Flourish and Blotts. By then, Lucius should be ready to meet them.

Neville entered the shop with Remus. The rest of them decided to wait outside to not overwhelm the boy as they all remembered how it felt to get their own wands.

When the blond boy came out twenty minutes later beaming and holding his wand with excitement, Harry felt a surge of pride. Although, it was probably misplaced. He was proud of the boy; Neville was coming out of his shell much earlier and he seemed to be so much more confident with himself.

"13 inches of cherry wood with unicorn hair," he told them. Harry was surprised as many kept their wand specifics to themselves only telling those who they trusted. "My wand has unicorn hair," Draco said and Hannah agreed.

"Mine's dragon heart string," Susan said.

"Phoenix tail feather," Harry said. He was still wary about giving up that information but then again he would have the elder wand one day.

"Why don't we get going to get the books? From the looks of it the crowd has thickened," Sirius said, looking and seeing how there was now a queue out of the door.

Harry hid his grimace when he thought of how Lockhart had used him as a photo opportunity last time and prayed the man left him alone. He would hex him this time.

Getting through the queue waiting for their books to be signed was difficult but eventually they managed. They split up and agreed to gather at the counter once they had collected all of their required texts. Harry was the first to arrive as his ability to part crowds worked well and he was unsurprised when Lucius appeared. Harry noted he was looking slightly tenser, so he reached out with his magic and felt the reason why, hoping he still had the book. Fate really did like certain events, he mused when he felt Tom's soul piece.

"Harry, what are you doing with Death Eater scum?!" came the distinctive whine of Ron Weasley's voice and Harry hid his smirk with a look of outrage. Harry reflected for a moment on his relationship with Lucius, it was perhaps hypocritical of him, forgiving the man and his actions in his last life. He had tortured Harry, tried to kill him multiple times. Yet, unlike with the Weasleys and Hermione's betrayal his action Harry could almost understand. He believed in his cause, he thought he would be creating a better world. Sure, thinking about it still made Harry angry, but the sentiments behind his actions were true if not justified. The Weasleys, Hermione and Dumbledore however, their actions were the result of greed and envy. It also helped that Harry believed he could change the Malfoys, get them to realise their own prejudices and evolve. Harry wanted to create a better Wizarding World. "Really, Weasley? I understand that you are obsessed with me, but insulting Lord Malfoy is in no way going to gain my attention. You should apologise and leave," Harry said.

Realising there was a commotion with the youngest male of the family, the twins, Arthur, and Ginny turned.

"That's Harry Potter! You're Harry Potter!" Ginny squeaked and Harry felt an almost uncontrollable urge to hex her. 'Perhaps the basilisk would get hungry?' Harry thought viciously. She was looking at him with a mixture of adoration and obsession, raking her eyes up and down him like he was a piece of meat and she had been starved for days. "I am, and this is Lord Malfoy. A man I respect and the father of my friend. A man your brother and son has just insulted," Harry said, looking at the girl he hated and her father.

Without the compulsions, Harry noted that yes, she was a rather pretty girl, but he had no attraction to her physically. She actually reminded him a bit of his mum, which made him blanche internally, as this girl was really a deceiving, gold digging whore.

Arthur looked torn and shot a glance at Ron before his eyes looked at Lucius' cold mask. Draco appeared then and stepped up next to his father, his look of disgust mirroring Harry's internal one as he looked at Ginny. "I'm sure he didn't mean any disrespect," Arthur said eventually.

The twins, who had heard what Ron had said, didn't say anything but just looked between the two groups before they took a silent step back. Their behavior made Harry wonder if he could pull them to his side. He had grown to love the boys when they had been at Hogwarts and the death of Fred still hurt him when he thought about it.

Lucius took the opportunity they created to take a step forward and reached into Ginny's cauldron. Harry almost missed him slipping the small journal into it. Picking up an old secondhand book, he pulled it out and examined it. "Indeed, how can I expect you to discipline your child when you clearly cannot even provide for them?"

Arthur looked indignant and stepped forward. "I provide well enough for my family, thank you," he said.

Harry sighed and placed himself between them, subtly reaching in taking the black journal while everybody was distracted. "I feel we're getting off point and that nothing will be gained from this, so please, Mr. Weasley, Lucius, remember where you are," he said.

Lucius looked at the boy and nodded. Stepping back, he placed a hand on both Harry's and Draco's shoulder. "Come along boys, I sure your friends are waiting, and I can see Sirius is growing concerned."

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