Rigel was sitting in Ron's room on his bed trying to figure out how he felt about his grandparents death. he didn't feel sad well he did but not enough to cry. did this mean he was a bad person after all he had only met them the once. his train of thought was broken by Ron and Harry entering. "are you ok" Ron said sitting next to him. "surprisingly ok" Rigel said. "why" Harry asked. "its hard to grieve over people you barley knew i only met them once" Rigel said. "they disowned my Aunt Andromeda for marrying a muggle born wizard so i never saw them" Rigel said. "but apparently they were horrible parents" Rigel said. "sounds like it" Ron said. "my Aunt said she and my mother and my aunt cissy were always under pressure to be the perfect heiresses of the house of Black and that they were tougher on my mum then the other two" he said.

"why is that" Harry asked. "my mother was the oldest the first born expected to make a respectable pure blood marriage and continue the Black and Lestrange pure blood lines" Rigel said. "and she certainly did that" Ron's aid before laughing. Rigel giggled at Ron's comment. Harry just looked confused. Ron and Rigel had always been close but now they seem to be closer but had no idea how close the two had become.

Life at the Burrow was as different as possible from life at Malfoy Manor and Riguel was glad if ti wasn't for the fact Uncle Lucius had threatened to get the law involved he would have never stepped foot in Malfoy Manor. being alone with Ron was hard especially since Harry now slept in the same room as the two boys so they found it much harder to be alone but when they did they enjoyed their time together talking chatting eating sweets playing wizards chess and kissing. Plus he had gotten late birthday presents from his Aunt Andromeda his Uncle Ted and Tonks. they explained in a letter that they didn't send them, on the actual day was becuase they thought Lucius would destroy them. knowing his uncle he thought this was a very good possibility.

Rigel heard from Hogwarts one sunny morning about a week after he and Harry had arrived at the Burrow. He and Ron and Harry went down to breakfast to find Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny already sitting at the kitchen table. The moment she saw Harry, Ginny accidentally knocked her porridge bowl to the floor with a loud clatter. Ginny seemed very prone to knocking things over whenever Harry entered a room. She dived under the table to retrieve the bowl and emerged with her face glowing like the setting sun. Rigel smirked he knew she fancied Harry.

he sat down next to Ron and smirked at her. "Letters from school," said Mr. Weasley, passing Harry and Ron and Rigel identical envelopes of yellowish parchment, addressed in green ink. "Dumbledore already knows you're both here, boys doesn't miss a trick, that man. You two've got them, too," he added, as Fred and George ambled in, still in their pajamas.

For a few minutes there was silence as they all read their letters. Rigels told him to catch the Hogwarts Express as usual from King's Cross station on September first. There was also a list of the new books he'd need for the coming year.

SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE:

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 3  by 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 Rigels.

"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."At this point, Fred caught his mother's eye and quickly busied himself with the marmalade."That lot won't come cheap," said George, with a quick look at his parents. "Lockhart's books are really expensive..."."If you want i could pay for it ive got more than enough money" Rigel offered. "thats very nice of you to offer but we,ll manage and well be able to get most of Ginny things second hand" molly said. "Oh, are you starting at Hogwarts this year?" Harry asked Ginny.

She nodded, blushing to the roots of her flaming hair, and put her elbow in the butter dish. Fortunately no one saw this except Harry, because just then Ron's elder brother Percy walked in. He was already dressed, his Hogwarts prefect badge pinned to his sweater vest.

"Morning, all," said Percy briskly. "Lovely day." Rigel couldn't help but glare at him. Percy's the one whos and Ron insecure about liking boys and made him scared about people founding out. He sat down in the only remaining chair but leapt up again almost immediately, pulling from underneath what looked like a owl. Errol!" said Ron, taking the limp owl from Percy and extracting a letter from under its wing. " Finally he's got Hermione's answer. I wrote to her saying we were going to try and rescue you from the Dursleys."

He carried Errol to a perch just inside the back door and tried to stand him on it, but Errol flopped straight off again so Ron lay him on the draining board instead, muttering, "Pathetic." Then he ripped open Hermione's letter and read it out loud:

"Dear Ron, Rigel and Harry if you're there,

"'I hope everything went all right and that Harry is okay and that you didn't do anything illegal to get him out, Ron, because that would get Harry into trouble, too. I've been really worried and if Harry is all right, will you please let me know at once, but perhaps it would be better if you used a different owl because I think another delivery might finish your one off.

"I'm very busy with school work, of course'- How can she be?" said Ron in horror. "We're on Holiday! - and we're going to London next Wednesday to buy my new books. Why don't we meet in Diagon Alley?

"Let me know what's happening as soon as you can. Love from Hermione.'"

"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?" she asked.

Harry, Ron, Rigel, Fred, and George were planning to go up the hill to a small paddock the Weasleys owned. It was surrounded by trees that blocked it from view of the village below, meaning that they could practice Quidditch there, as long as they didn't fly too high.

They couldn't use real Quidditch balls, which would have been hard to explain if they had escaped and flown away over the village; instead they threw apples for one another to catch. They took turns riding Harry's Nimbus Two Thousand, which was easily the best broom; Ron's old Shooting Star was often outstripped by passing butterflies. Rigel was just planning on watching while he enjoyed watching Quidditch he had no interest in playing it.

Five minutes later they were marching up the hill, broomsticks over their shoulders. They had asked Percy if he wanted to join them, but he had said he was busy. Rigel had only seen Percy at mealtimes so far; he stayed shut in his room the rest of the time.

"Wish I knew what he was up to," said Fred, frowning. "He's not himself. His exam results came the day before you did; twelve O.W.L.s and he hardly gloated at all."

"Ordinary Wizarding Levels," George explained, seeing Harry's puzzled look. "Bill got twelve, too. If we're not careful, we'll have another Head Boy in the family. I don't think I could stand the shame."

Bill was the oldest Weasley brother. He and the next brother, Charlie, had already left Hogwarts. Harry had never met either of them, but knew that Charlie was in Romania studying dragons and Bill in Egypt working for the wizard's bank, Gringotts. Riguel had never met Bill he had met Charlie a couple of times when he came over to his and Tonks house. "Dunno how Mum and Dad are going to afford all our school stuff this year," said George after a while. "Five sets of Lockhart books! And Ginny needs robes and a wand and everything..."

"look ill happily pay for that stuff in case you forgot loaded here" Rigel said. "Aww our little hero" George said. "oh shut up" Rigel said.

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. "W-what am I supposed to do?" Harry stammered. "He's never traveled by Floo powder," said Ron suddenly. "Sorry, Harry, I forgot."

"Never?" said Mr. Weasley. "But how did you get to Diagon Alley to buy your school things last year?". "I went on the Underground". "Really?" said Mr. Weasley eagerly. "Were there escalators? How exactly". "Not now, Arthur," said Mrs. Weasley. "Floo powder's a lot quicker, dear, but goodness me, if you've never used it before"

"He'll be all right, Mum," said Fred. "Harry, watch us first."He took a pinch of glittering powder out of the flowerpot, stepped up to the fire, and threw the powder into the flames.With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose higher than Fred, who stepped right into it, shouted, "Diagon Alley!" and vanished."You must speak clearly, dear," Mrs. Weasley told Harry as George dipped his hand into the flowerpot. "And be sure to get out at the right grate...". "The right what?" said Harry nervously as the fire roared and whipped George out of sight, too.

"Well, there are an awful lot of wizard fires to choose from, you know, but as long as you've spoken clearly. "want me to go first" Rigel said to Harry. Harry nodded quickly. Rigel took some of the floo powder out of the flower pot and threw the powder into the flames.With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose higher than Rigel, who stepped right into it, shouted, "Diagon Alley!" and vanished. when Rigel stepped out he saw Fred and George. "and the Lestrange is third" George said. "relax harry should be coming out soon" Rigel said.

but he didn't after Rigel it was Ron, then Ginny, then Mr and Mrs Weasley. "wheres Harry Mrs Weasley asked. looking around. "i dont know he never came" he said. "but he came right after you Rigel" Mr weasley said. "he must not have spoken clearly enough" Mrs Weasley said worried. they then began to look around for Harry.

they were at Gringotts and saw Hermione with Harry. "Harry," Mr. Weasley panted. "We hoped you'd only gone one grate too far..." He mopped his glistening bald patch. "Molly's frantic she's coming now—"

"Where did you come out?" Ron asked."Knockturn Alley," said Hagrid grimly."Excellent!" said Fred and George together. "We've never been allowed in," said Ron enviously."I should ruddy well think not," growled Hagrid. Mrs. Weasley now came galloping into view, her handbag swinging wildly in one hand, Ginny just clinging onto the other. "Oh, Harry—oh, my dear—you could have been anywhere—"

Gasping for breath she pulled a large clothes brush out of her bag and began sweeping off the soot Hagrid hadn't managed to beat away. Mr. Weasley took Harry's glasses, gave them a tap of his wand, and returned them, good as new. "Well, gotta be off," said Hagrid, who was having his hand wrung by Mrs. Weasley ("Knockturn Alley! If you hadn't found him, Hagrid!"). "See yer at Hogwarts!" And he strode away, head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the packed street.

"Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione and Rigel as they climbed the Gringotts steps. "Malfoy and his father."

"Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?" said Mr. Weasley sharply behind them.

"No, he was selling—"

"So he's worried," said Mr. Weasley with grim satisfaction. "oh yeah he is i heard him talking when i was at the manor about looking into selling some less than pleasant family heirlooms in case of a surprise raid or exception" Rigel said. "Oh, I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something..."

"You be careful, Arthur," said Mrs. Weasley sharply as they were bowed into the bank by a goblin at the door. "That family's trouble. Don't go biting off more than you can chew."Molly said "So you don't think I'm a match for Lucius Malfoy?" said Mr. Weasley indignantly, but he was distracted almost at once by the sight of Hermione's parents, who were standing nervously at the counter that ran all along the great marble hall, waiting for Hermione to introduce them. "But you're Muggles!" said Mr. Weasley delightedly. "We must have a drink! What's that you've got there? Oh, you're changing Muggle money. Molly, look!" He pointed excitedly at the ten pound notes in Mr. Granger's hand.

Meet you back here," Ron said to Hermione as the Weasleys and Harry and Rigel were led off to their underground vaults by another Gringotts goblin.

The vaults were reached by means of small, goblin driven carts that sped along miniature train tracks through the bank's underground tunnels. Rigel enjoyed the breakneck journey down to the Weasleys' vault, when it was opened. There was a very small pile of silver Sickles inside, and just one gold Galleon. Mrs. Weasley felt right into the corners before sweeping the whole lot into her bag. Harry felt even worse when they reached his vault. He tried to block the contents from view as he hastily shoved handfuls of coins into a leather bag. "now we have to go to my vault and trust em its going to take a while" Rigel said. as Rigel got into a cart he said. "ill meet you back at the front entrance" Rigel said. and waved as the cart began to drive off. as it drove off it kept getting deeper and deeper.  Rigel hated this bit the Thief's downfall. it was a magical waterfall that washed away any and all enchantments and disguises. as Rigel got soak he blew some of his wet hair out of his face. as they reached the vault the cart began to slow down. Rigel always shuddered at this bit. as they got off the goblin took one of the clankers and began to rattle it to make the dragon guarding it shrink back into a corner making it easy fro Rigel to access the vault. as the vault opened Rigel looked around. he was always impressed and stunned by the beauty of his family's vault and saw that the vault was more filled than usual possibly due to him inheriting the black fortune as well. 

he took out as much money as he needed and left the vault. as eh got back up the first thing he heard was. "why is your hair damp" Ron asked. "one of the security features of my vault" Rigel said.  "cool" Fred and George said together. "what else does it have" George asked. "a dragon guarding it" Rigel said. "AWESOME" the twins cried. "you have to take us down there some time" Fred said. "yeah no" Riguel said.

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

Harry, Ron, Rigel and Hermione strolled off along the winding, cobbled street, Harry had bought them ice cream Rigel had gotten mint chocolate chip unlike the others who had gotten strawberry and peanut butter. which they slurped happily as they wandered up the alley, examining the fascinating shop windows. Ron gazed longingly at a full set of Chudley Cannon robes in the windows of Quality Quidditch Supplies. Rigel had to practically pry him from the window when he did they went and bought quills parchment and ink next door.

In Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, they met Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, who were stocking up on Dr. Filibuster's Fabulous Wet Start, No Heat Fireworks, and in a tiny junk shop full of broken wands, lopsided brass scales, and old cloaks covered in potion stains they found Percy, deeply immersed in a small and deeply boring book called Prefects Who Gained Power.

"A study of Hogwarts prefects and their later careers," Ron read aloud off the back cover. "That sounds fascinating..."

"Go away," Percy snapped.

"'Course, he's very ambitious, Percy, he's got it all planned out... he wants to be Minister of Magic..." Ron told Harry and Hermione in an undertone as they left Percy to it.

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 12.30—4.30

"We can actually meet him!" Hermione squealed. "I mean, he's written almost the whole book list!"

The crowd seemed to be made up mostly of witches around Mrs. Weasley's age. A harassed looking wizard stood at the door, saying, "Calmly, please, ladies... Don't push, there... mind the books, now..."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione and Rigel squeezed inside. A long line wound right to the back of the shop, where Gilderoy Lockhart was signing his books. Ron,Hermione and Harry and Rigel each grabbed a copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 and Riguel a copy of The Standard Book of Spells Grade 3 and  sneaked up the line to where the rest of the Weasleys were standing with Mr. and Mrs. Granger.

"Oh, there you are, good," said Mrs. Weasley. She sounded breathless and kept patting her hair. "We'll be able to see him in a minute..."

Gilderoy Lockhart came slowly into view, seated at a table surrounded by large pictures of his own face, all winking and flashing dazzlingly white teeth at the crowd. The real Lockhart was wearing robes of forget me not blue that exactly matched his eyes; his pointed wizard's hat was set at a jaunty angle on his wavy hair.

A short, irritable looking man was dancing around taking photographs with a large black camera that emitted puffs of purple smoke with every blinding flash."Out of the way, there," he snarled at Ron, moving back to get a better shot. "This is for the Daily Prophet—". "why dont you watch it" Rigel said in defense of Ron

"yeah Big deal," said Ron, rubbing his foot where the photographer had stepped on it.

Gilderoy Lockhart heard him. He looked up. He saw Ron and Rigel then he saw Harry. He stared. Then he leapt to his feet and positively shouted, "It can't be Harry Potter?"

The crowd parted, whispering excitedly; Lockhart dived forward, seized Harry's arm, and pulled him to the front. The crowd burst into applause. Lockhart shook his hand for the photographer, who was clicking away madly, wafting thick smoke over the Weasleys.

Rigel couldn't help but feel sorry for Harry but I guess this thing happens when your the boy who live and defeated the darkest wizard to ever live

When he finally let go of Harry's hand,He tried to sidle back over to the Weasleys, but Lockhart threw an arm around his shoulders and clamped him tightly to his side.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said loudly, waving for quiet. "What an extraordinary moment this is! The perfect moment for me to make a little announcement I've been sitting on for some time!

"When young Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts today, he only wanted to buy my autobiography which I shall be happy to present him now, free of charge—" The crowd applauded again. "He had no idea," Lockhart continued, giving Harry a little shake that made his glasses slip to the end of his nose, "that he would shortly be getting much, much more than my book, Magical Me. He and his schoolmates will, in fact, be getting the real magical me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have great pleasure and pride in announcing that this September, I will be taking up the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

The crowd cheered and clapped and Harry found himself being presented with the entire works of Gilderoy Lockhart. "what is wrong with you people" Rigel said. "yeah hes not even that good looking" Ron  said to the crowd. Staggering slightly under their weight, Harry managed to make his way out of the limelight to the edge of the room, where Ginny was standing next to her new cauldron.

"You have these," Harry mumbled to her, tipping the books into the cauldron. "I'll buy my own—"

"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" said a voice Harry had no trouble recognizing. He straightened up and found himself face to face with Draco Malfoy, who was wearing his usual sneer."Famous Harry Potter," said Malfoy. "Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page." "Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!" said Ginny. It was the first time she had spoken in front of Harry. She was glaring at Malfoy.

"Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!" drawled Malfoy. Ginny went scarlet as Ron and Hermione and Rigel fought their way over, both clutching stacks of Lockhart's books. "Still has one more than you'll ever have" Rigel said. "oh if it isn't my baby cousin Riguel Lestrange son of BELLATRIX AND RODOLPHUS LESTRANGE" Draco shouted so the crowd would hear. most of the crowd turned around and went wide eyed at the sight of Rigel. "i hate you so much right now" he said glaring at Draco. Draco simply smirked at Rigel "love you to"

"Oh, it's you," said Ron, looking at Malfoy as if he were something unpleasant on the sole of his shoe. "Bet you're surprised to see Harry here, eh?". "Not as surprised as I am to see you in a shop, Weasley," retorted Malfoy. "I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for all those though i suppose it pays to be Rigels Girlfriend". Ron went as red as Ginny. He dropped his books into the cauldron, too, and started toward Malfoy, but Rigel grabbed the back of his jacket.

"Ron!" said Mr. Weasley, struggling over with Fred and George. "What are you doing? It's too crowded in here, let's go outside." "Well, well, well Arthur Weasley." It was Lucius Malfoy Riguels uncle and Draco's father. He stood with his hand on Draco's shoulder, sneering in just the same way.

"Lucius," said Mr. Weasley, nodding coldly."Busy time at the Ministry, I hear," said Mr. Malfoy. "All those raids... I hope they're paying you overtime?". He reached into Ginny's cauldron and extracted, from amid the glossy Lockhart books, a very old, very battered copy of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration.

"Obviously not," Mr. Malfoy said. "Dear me, what's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?"Mr Weasley flushed darker than either Ron or Ginny.

"We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy," he said.

"Clearly," said Mr. Malfoy, his pale eyes straying to Mr. and Mrs. Granger, who were watching apprehensively. "The company you keep, Weasley... and I thought your family could sink no lower"

There was a thud of metal as Ginny's cauldron went flying; Mr. Weasley had thrown himself at Mr. Malfoy, knocking him backward into a bookshelf. Dozens of heavy spell books came thundering down on all their heads; there was a yell of, "Get him, Dad!" from Fred or George; Mrs. Weasley was shrieking, "No, Arthur, no!"; the crowd stampeded backward, knocking more shelves over; "Gentlemen, please please!" cried the assistant, and then, louder than all. "woah Ron your dad can take my uncle" Riguel said grinning. "apparently" Ron said.

"Break it up, there, gents, break it up"

Hagrid was wading toward them through the sea of books. In an instant he had pulled Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy apart. Mr. Weasley had a cut lip and Mr. Malfoy had been hit in the eye by an Encyclopedia of Toadstools. He was still holding Ginny's old Transfiguration book. He thrust it at her, his eyes glittering with malice.

"Here, girl take your book it's the best your father can give you" Pulling himself out of Hagrid's grip he beckoned to Draco and swept from the shop.

"Yeh should've ignored him, Arthur," said Hagrid, almost lifting Mr. Weasley off his feet as he straightened his robes. "Rotten ter the core, the whole family, everyone knows that—no Malfoy's worth listenin' ter bad blood, that's what it is come on now let's get outta here.".The assistant looked as though he wanted to stop them leaving, but he barely came up to Hagrid's waist and seemed to think better of it. They hurried up the street, the Grangers shaking with fright and Mrs. Weasley beside herself with fury. "A fine example to set for your children brawling in public what Gilderoy Lockhart must've thought"

"He was pleased," said Fred. "Didn't you hear him as we were leaving? He was asking that bloke from the Daily Prophet if he'd be able to work the fight into his report said it was all publicity"

But it was a subdued group that headed back to the fireside in the Leaky Cauldron, where Rigel, Harry, the Weasleys, and all their shopping would be traveling back to the Burrow using Floo powder. They said good bye to the Grangers, who were leaving the pub for the Muggle street on the other side; Mr. Weasley started to ask them how bus stops worked, but stopped quickly at the look on Mrs. Weasley's face.

Rigel took Ron's hand as they both went back at the same time with thanks to the Floo powder