The morning began as usual. Itachi came downstairs and found his parents eating breakfast.
His father, sitting at the table, was reading the newspaper intently, flipping through the pages and frowning from time to time, apparently because of some magical incidents that were being written about.
His Mother, on the contrary, was in her usual turmoil. She was rushing around the kitchen, setting the table, arranging plates and glasses, humming something to herself.
When she saw him, she exclaimed happily:
"Itachi, honey! Good morning, hurry up and have breakfast, we have so much to do today!"
She hurriedly adjusted the tablecloth, trying to make the table look festive, even though the usual morning was no different from today.
He had already had time to take a couple sips of freshly squeezed juice and start on his omelet when his mother suddenly shrieked:
"Oh, Itachi, I almost forgot!"
She jumped up abruptly from the table and headed for the small nightstand by the door to the living room.
She returned with a sealed envelope that was clearly meant for him. The envelope bore the Hogwarts seal.
"I'm sorry, I completely forgot!" - her mother said guiltily, scratching her head awkwardly.
"It's a letter from Hogwarts. It came as late as yesterday, but you were in your room, busy doing something all the time, hardly ever coming out. I thought I shouldn't distract you."
She held out the letter to her son.
Itachi opened the envelope and ran his eyes over the list of required textbooks for this year. His eyebrows involuntarily crept upward.
SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk
Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart
Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart
Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart
He looked up at his mother. She looked incredibly happy, almost jumping with delight. It seemed that Hogwarts also knew of her love for Gilderoy' work.
Her father, glancing at the list of textbooks, only hummed uncertainly. He did not seem to share his wife's enthusiasm for Gilderoy and his works.
Perhaps he considered the books of this author as frivolous reading, unworthy of attention. In any case, he did not argue, deciding not to interfere with his wife's anticipation.
The mother, on the other hand, began to hurriedly finish her breakfast.
" I'm sure these books will be incredibly interesting!"
Her father, watching her fuss, shook his head unhappily.
"Don't be in such a hurry, dear, or you'll choke," he observed reproachfully.
Then, turning to him, added:
"And don't forget to buy Floo powder on the way back. We're almost out of it."
Itachi nodded to his father, memorizing the request for Floo powder.
His mother, finished with breakfast, jumped up from the table and began gathering the dishes.
"Okay, Itachi, let's hurry up! We need to get to Diagon Alley before the crowd gathers there!"
Her father, seeing her excitement, only sighed and shook his head.
She began scraping a bag of silver Sickles from the shelves with a businesslike air, carefully counting the coins.
Apparently she had taken care of the money beforehand, withdrawing the necessary amount from Gringotts bank. She wanted to make sure they had enough money for all the necessary purchases, including, of course, Gilderoys' books.
After making sure there was enough money, she turned to Itachi with a bright smile.
"Everything is ready! Now we need to look like real wizards!"
She pulled two robes out of her closet, one for herself and one for Itachi. Both robes were black, but Itachi's robe was sewn from a more expensive and better quality fabric.
"Put the robe on! You can't just show up in Diagon Alley in regular clothes!"
She wanted them to look like a real magical family so everyone around them could see that they belonged to the magical world.
Itachi didn't answer anything. It was useless to argue with his mother, so he just took the robe offered to him and put it on.
Finished with the preparations, Itachi's mother vigorously made her way to the fireplace. She took a pinch of Flying Powder from a nearby vase and stood confidently in the fireplace.
She said loudly and clearly:
"Diagon Alley!" Then she threw the Flying Powder at her feet.
The flames burst into flames, sizzled, emerald green tongues soared above human height and swiftly engulfed her. In the blink of an eye, she was gone.
Itachi didn't keep his mother waiting.
He walked over to the fireplace, took a pinch of Flying Powder from a vase and threw it under his feet, saying clearly:
"Diagon Alley!"
The green flame instantly engulfed him, swirling around him, and Itachi felt a sickening sensation of spinning, as if he were being pushed through a narrow tube. For a moment he saw flickering faces and objects rushing past at incredible speed, and then there was a sudden jolt, and he tumbled out of the fireplace, finding himself in the familiar hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley.
He quickly found his mother, who was already standing in the middle of Diagon Alley, looking around excitedly.
"Itachi, honey, finally!" - She exclaimed, grabbing his hand.
And they moved down Diagon Alley, going into different stores now and then. First they went into a candy store, where her mother bought some sweets. Then they went to an artifact store, where her mom looked at various curiosities with interest, but didn't buy anything. Then they went to a Quidditch broomstick store, where her mom spent a long time admiring the latest models, imagining herself piloting one of them.
At one store, they bought Flying Powder, just like dad had asked. In another store, while Itachi was distracted, his mother bought herself a glass talking ball.
He was sure she had been tricked: the ball spoke in a hoarse voice and often hovered for a few seconds, as if its batteries were dead.
He cast a critical glance at his mother, hinting at the questionable quality of her purchase, but she only awkwardly turned away, pretending not to notice.
At last they reached Flourish and Blotts. And, it must be said, they weren't the only ones anxious to get there.
As they approached the store, they saw a huge crowd at the entrance, consisting mostly of ladies between the ages of thirty and forty, desperately trying to get in. The reason for this influx was a huge sign that read:
Autobiography of Gilderoy Lockhart.
"I AM A WIZARD."
12:30 to 4:30 this afternoon.
On the sign was a large picture of Gilderoy himself, smiling through all thirty-two teeth. His blonde hair was impeccably styled and his teeth sparkled in a dazzling smile.
After making their way through the enthusiastic crowd, they finally found themselves inside the store.
It was like a disturbed beehive. Voices merged into an unintelligible hum, augmented only by the squeals of the more impressionable ladies. The air was saturated with the smell of freshly printed books, cheap perfume, and something else subtly reminiscent of falseness.
At the center of all this madness, behind a long table, sat the Gilderoy Lockhart himself. He shone with a white-toothed smile like a Christmas tree and eagerly posed for the camera, which now and then exploded with a bright flash.
His blond hair was perfectly styled.
He couldn't escape the feeling that it was all a carefully staged performance.
Gilderoy ' books occupied the most prominent places in the store. Whole shelves were littered with his autobiography and other opuses recounting his incredible adventures. The rest of the books seemed relegated to the background as something less important.
Habitually looking around, Itachi spotted Draco Malfoy. The Slytherin seemed reluctant to take part in the commotion and so settled himself on the top platform, directly above Gilderoy. Leaning on the railing, Draco watched the crowd with a haughty look, as if he was appraising something dirty and disgusting.
If he hadn't looked up, he wouldn't have noticed him.
His attention was caught by Gilderoy' loud exclamation, interrupting the commotion:
"It can't be! Could it really be Harry Potter himself!"
There was immediately an excited whispering in the crowd. People began to part to get a better view. Itachi, taking advantage of the moment, managed to get a glimpse of the cause of the commotion.
Lockhart, leaving all his business behind, literally rushed over to Harry Potter. Grabbing the boy by the arm, he dragged him towards his desk. The crowd erupted in wild applause and enthusiastic shouts.
Posing in front of the lenses, Lockhart shook Harry's hand forcefully, whose face flashed with a blush. The camera flashes were blinding.
"Harry! Smile wider!"
"You and I are going to grace the front page!"
He was clearly in his element, basking in the glory.
"Ladies and gentlemen! What an unforgettable moment!" - broadcasted Lockhart, as if he had memorized his lyrics.
" Allow me to address you with one small announcement. Young Harry came to Flourish and Blotts today to buy my autographed book, but he doesn't have to spend any money. I'm giving him all my books!"
The crowd broke into applause again, approving of the celebrity's generous gesture.
"That's not all," Lockhart continued, shaking Harry lightly by the shoulder, causing the boy's glasses to slide down to the tip of his nose.
"Know this, Harry, you're going to get a lot more than just my I Am A Wizard book. From now on, you and your friends will have the living me - a wizard - at your disposal! Yes, ladies and gentlemen. It is my great pleasure and pride to inform you that as of September first, I have been invited to take up the position of Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"
The audience gave the standing ovation. The cameras continued to click, capturing this historic moment. Lockhart posed happily, basking in the glory.
He gave Harry all twelve of his books, after which the boy finally found his freedom.
This news alerted Itachi.
Such a braggart would teach such an important subject as Defense Against the Dark Arts? Though, if this bravado really hid the experienced mage he described himself to be, then okay. But something told Itachi that it wasn't that simple. He could sense the falseness coming from Lockhart and doubted his competence.
This position needed a serious and knowledgeable expert, not a narcissistic idiot.
Itachi looked around for his mother and found her not far from Lockhart desk, at the front of the crowd. She was already holding several books and, judging by her animated conversation, was getting an autograph. She was probably also asking Lockhart to sign the textbooks on the list needed for Hogwarts.
He just rolled his eyes, imagining how excited his mother would be to tell everyone she knew about this event.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Draco Malfoy coming down from the top platform.
Noticing Itachi, Draco only frowned, to his surprise he just walked past without saying a word. Instead he headed straight for Harry Potter.
Draco turned to Harry haughtily:
"I see you're happy! The famous Harry Potter! No sooner do you enter a bookstore and you're on the front page!"
There was a distinct sneer in his voice.
A girl of about eleven, who was standing next to Potter and, judging by her red hair, belonged to the Weasley family, immediately rose to his defense:
"Don't pick on him! Harry didn't mean it at all!"
Draco smirked:
"Bride and groom! Ha ha ha!" He was clearly trying to provoke Harry and the girl.
Noticing something amiss, Ron and Hermione ran up to them.
"Ahhh, it's you!" - Ron looked at Draco with disgust, as if he were a dead cockroach.
"I bet you're surprised to see Harry here."
"I'm even more surprised to see you in this store, Weasley," Draco parried.
"Wow, that's a lot of shopping! I bet your parents are going to starve for a month now."
Those words clearly hurt Ron.
The children were already being approached by their parents.
"Bah! Look who I see! Arthur Weasley!" - said a haughty voice.
It was Lucius Malfoy. As he approached his son, he placed a hand on his shoulder and smirked contemptuously.
"Hello, Lucius," Arthur Weasley greeted him coldly.
"I hear there's been an increase in work at the Ministry. All those raids, you know! Do they even pay you overtime?" - Lucius hummed. With those words, he reached into the girl's cauldron, dug in there, and pulled out an old, tattered textbook
"A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration."
"Apparently not," he sighed with feigned sympathy.
"Is it worth dishonoring the wizarding name when you're not even paid to do it?"
"You and I have different ideas about what disgraces a wizard's name, Mr. Malfoy."
Arthur Weasley replied, trying to remain calm.
At that moment, Itachi's mother appeared from outside in the company of Hermione Granger's parents. Judging by the lively conversation, they had managed to find common ground.
Lucius Malfoy cast a glance in their direction and said dismissively:
"It's obvious. Weasley's socializing with mudbloods and their pathetic parents."
He then cast an oblique glance at Itachi.
"Who are you talking to! You can't fall any lower."
At that moment, Arthur Weasley couldn't take it anymore. Fury flashed in his eyes. He lunged at Lucius Malfoy, grabbed him by the pecs and hurled him towards Itachi, apparently not noticing the young man standing there.
Itachi reacted instantly. He didn't want to get into this fight, but he wasn't about to get hit by a flying Malfoy Senior either. He quickly dodged to the side, allowing Lucius to fly past him. Malfoy crashed into the bookshelves, causing several racks to collapse. The store exploded with noise and chaos.
Mr. Weasley, realizing that he had almost crashed into him, immediately began apologizing, muttering something about his clumsiness and recklessness.
Meanwhile, Lucius Malfoy had risen from the floor, shaking off the dust and shouting curses. He was still holding the tattered textbook in his hands. With undisguised anger, he shoved it back into the cauldron, throwing the girl a scornful look.
"Here's your book, girl. It's the best your father can't buy," he said venomously.
With those words he threw an expressive glare at his son and both Malfoys hurried away, leaving behind only devastation and a tense atmosphere.
Ron, Hermione and Harry, who had been watching the scene, noticed Itachi as well. Hermione was the first to run up to him and said excitedly:
"Itachi! I didn't expect to see you here! Are you alright? That Malfoy almost knocked you over!"
Itachi only nodded slightly, shifting his gaze to his mother, who was rapidly approaching him. She began gibbering rapidly, examining him from head to toe as if he were a small child.
"Itachi, honey, are you hurt? Are you alright? That horrible man almost maimed you! Why were you even near them in the first place?" She peppered him with questions, not giving him a chance to answer.
Hermione, seeing the resemblance between Itachi and his mother, widened her eyes in surprise.
"Mom, it's okay. I'm not hurt," he assured her in a calm voice.
"I managed to dodge." He tried to put confidence in his voice to reassure her that there was no danger.
Mr. Weasley, feeling guilty, apologized once more for his behavior.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that those Malfoys..." - he stammered, not knowing how to express his feelings.
Before he could finish his sentence, his mother and Mrs. Weasley began to reprimand him at the same time. Mrs. Weasley was talking about what a terrible example he was setting for his children by displaying such aggressive behavior. His mother, in turn, reprimanded him for his temper and rash actions.
Soon the passions subsided. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, having calmed down, said their goodbyes and headed towards the fireplace with Harry Potter.
Itachi wondered for a moment why Harry was without his guardians.
It didn't concern him, though.
His Mother, meanwhile, was chatting animatedly with Hermione Granger's parents. They seemed to be getting along just fine, discussing some common interests.
He grew tired of the hustle and bustle and decided he'd had enough.
"Mum, I'll wait for you at home," he said, turning to his mother.
"I must get some rest."
With those words, he bid them farewell and, without waiting for a reply, headed for the fireplace, leaving his mother in the company of the Granger family. He hoped that she wouldn't linger too long discussing the latest innovations in the world of magic and dentistry.
P.s
The chapter was supposed to come out yesterday but I wasn't home, I was traveling on business.