"Finally! I was wondering where you three went!" Molly pushed Tori and the twins to the front of the crowd, patting her hair several times while she did so.

The boys had many bags from the joke shop, they had gotten loads of fireworks for this year already.

Lee has opted out for seeing Lockhart, instead, he went to go meet Angelina and Alicia for ice cream. Tori wished she could go do that instead.

Gilderoy Lockhart was seated at a rather large table with pictures of himself surrounding him. He was flashing his sparkling white teeth to the crowd, making all the women swoon.

"Loads of bull," Fred muttered annoyed. Tori stifled at laugh when Lockhart then cried out, "It can't be, Harry Potter!"

The crowd stepped aside, Tori saw Harry choke back a sigh. He stepped forward, Lockhart held him firmly around the shoulder. "Nice big smile, Harry. Together, you and I are worth the front page!"

Harry weakly smiled, looking very uncomfortable in this situation. Lockhart didn't notice at all, instead, he proceeded to smile grabbing a copy of his own book "Magical Me."

"Ladies and gentlemen," He called loudly, waving his hand in the air 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 the Flourish and Blotts shop this morning to purchase my autobiography, Magical Me,... which, incidentally is currently celebrating its twenty-seventh week atop the Daily Prophet bestseller list, he had no idea that he would, in fact, be leaving... with my entire collected works, free of charge. But not only that, he and all his classmates with now start Hogwarts with me! As of September, I will start my new job teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

Tori's eyes widen, Lockhart was going to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts? Seriously? According to his books, he had the qualifications but what he that prepared for it?

Tori thought the class would be more fun with a better teacher. She didn't even remember her first two teachers, and Professor Quirrell was not only weird but also working with You-Know-Who...

The crowd around them clapped loudly. Molly took her children's as well as Tori's money to go purchase their book and to get them signed.

"Go wait by the front of the store dear," Molly told her. Tori followed the twins to the front, where more copies of Lockhart's book were.

She watched Fred open the book, skimming the pages. "I don't know why we have to buy all his books..." He muttered, glancing up at a new person who had just joined the group.

"I'll bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter? Famous Harry Potter! Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."

A rather blonde boy came over, smirking. He looked Harry up and down, stopping him from leaving. Tori recognized this boy. It was Draco Malfoy.

Ginny took the first initiative to stand up for Harry. "Leave him alone." Draco only chuckled, "Oh look, Potter. You've got yourself a girlfriend."

The boy was about to continue his insults when a hand rested on his shoulder. "Now, now Draco, play nicely."

Tori glanced at the twins, who looked as uneasy as she felt. Lucius Malfoy introduced himself to Harry, looking at the boy's scar.

The Malfoy's were a very respected family. They had a lot of money, similar to the Silvers. Anyone could tell that by the way both Mr. Malfoy and his son were dressed.

"Hmm. You must be very brave, to mention his name...or very foolish." Mr. Malfoy stopped gazing at Harry's scar to turn to Hermione Granger, who spoke up.

"Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself." She replied. Draco watched her for on behind, scowling. Mr. Malfoy turned towards her. "And you must be... Miss Granger. Yes, Draco's told me all about you and your parents. Muggles, aren't they?"

He glanced over to Mr. Weasley who was talking excitedly to Hermione's parents. Hermione did the same, glaring at the older man, almost daring him to insult them.

Mr. Malfoy decided not to, now turning towards the Weasleys. "Let me see...red hair... vacant expressions... tatty second-hand book. You must be the Weasleys."

Fred and George both balled their hands into fists as Mr. Malfoy grabbed Ginny's textbooks out of her cauldron.

"Ah. And Miss Silvers,  I'm surprised you've managed to swooped so low. Pity," Mr. Malfoy now glanced over to Tori, who's nostrils flared with rage. She bit down tightly on her lip, glaring up at the man. He smirked in response.

"How times have changed things."

"Children, it's mad in here! Let's go outside." Arthur quickly rushed over, seeing Lucius glance at him with a disgusted look. Tori wanted to slap that man right across his face.

"Well, well, well. Weasley senior."

"Lucius."

"Busy time at the Ministry, Arthur, all those extra raids? I do hope they're paying you overtime, but judging by the state of this, I'd say not. What's the use in being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it." Lucius sneered.

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

"Clearly. Associating with Muggles..." He glanced over to Hermione's parents. "And I thought your family could sink no lower."

Tori stepped back shocked as Arthur lunged himself at Lucius Malfoy. They crashed into a bookshelf, causing it to topple over. Fred and George were cheering loudly, "Get him, dad!"

Molly was shouting at her husband, mortified. "No! Arthur! No!" Tori yanked Hermione and Ginny out of the way from falling books, catching a glimpse of Draco's embarrassed look. An assistant was watching, trying to separate them.

"Gentleman! Gentleman! Please!" The assistant protested, looking helpless at all the books which were now on the floor.

It took Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper (he was a very nice man, always waving hello to students when they went outside), to rip them off of each other.

Mr. Malfoy almost threw Ginny's back at her. "Here. It's the best your father can buy you." He then left with his son.

"Yeh should have ignored him, Arthur," Hagrid told him, dusting himself off. "Rotten to the core, that whole family. Come on now, let's get outta here."

The assistant looked like he wanted to stop them, but he barely came up to Hagrid's waist and decided against it. They hurried up the street, the Grangers shaking with fright, but Molly was only shaking with fury.

"A fine example to set for your children... brawling in public! What Gilderoy Lockhart must've thought!"

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

Tori sighed to herself, putting a hand on Fred's shoulder for comfort. He smiled at her and she returned one, but had a sinking feeling. Had her family been treating people like this the whole time?

Had she?

sorry this chapter is a little late!
i usually post in the mornings but i was busy today!