The sprawling estate basked in warm sunlight streaming through the windowpanes, flooding Augustus's bedroom with golden light. He sat leisurely at his desk, reading the daily newspaper delivered by the house-elf. Cornelius Fudge's slightly plump face smiled officiously from the paper's front page, while Morten Hughes, head of the Muggle Relations Department, discussed the progress of investigations into recent Muggle attacks with gathered reporters. Chrissen, tasked with overseeing Muggle architecture, was being held accountable for the collapse of a Muggle bridge and had earnestly taken on the responsibility of addressing the issue.
Compared to the hustle and bustle of the Ministry of Magic, Augustus's life was remarkably serene. Most of his summer had been spent reading books and newspapers, refining gaps in the magical theory system, and conducting various experiments on the foundational magic of this world. As the new school year approached, he began wrapping up his tasks and preparing for his second year at Hogwarts.
"Augustus, are you there?" Aurora's voice called from outside the door.
"What's up?" Augustus opened the door to find his mother standing there with an envelope in her hand.
"Dear, there's a letter from school." Aurora handed him a yellow parchment envelope, the address written in green ink.
Augustus opened it to find the usual letter, instructing him to board the Hogwarts Express at King's Cross on September 1st. Enclosed was also a list of required textbooks for the year:
Second-year students were to read:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy LockhartGadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy LockhartHolidays with Hags by Gilderoy LockhartTravels with Trolls by Gilderoy LockhartVoyages with Vampires by Gilderoy LockhartWandering with Werewolves by Gilderoy LockhartYear with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart
"Who is Gilderoy Lockhart? How could there be so many books by this person on the list this term?" Augustus frowned. As someone familiar with most of the legendary wizards in this world, the name didn't ring a bell.
"Gilderoy Lockhart is a rising star in the wizarding world," Aurora explained with a smile. "He's reputed to have accomplished numerous extraordinary feats that many wizards struggle to achieve. His fame is immense, especially among witches, though I personally find him unremarkable."
"So, his skills must be quite formidable," Augustus mused, then moved on without asking further. "Are we heading to Diagon Alley today to buy this term's books and supplies?"
"Yes, your father is already waiting for us in the courtyard," Aurora replied, turning to lead the way down the hallway.
In the courtyard, Clovey, dressed simply, greeted them with a warm smile. "Augustus, the new term is almost here. You did well last year. I hope you'll continue to excel. Don't worry about family matters; your mother and I will always have your back."
Augustus nodded. Though he was an old soul in a young body, he deeply valued the familial bonds he had in this world.
The three boarded the large carriage waiting in the estate's front yard. A gentle breeze accompanied their journey as they headed toward London under the blazing sun.
At the entrance to Diagon Alley, the carriage landed softly. Augustus stepped out, shielding his eyes from the scorching sunlight. The heat shimmered in the air, giving the impression of a world ablaze.
They made their way toward Flourish and Blotts, only to find a large crowd gathered outside. A banner upstairs announced:
Gilderoy Lockhart Book Signing Event: Today, 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM
"We can meet him in person!" a witch exclaimed. "I mean, almost every book on the list is written by him!"
Most of the crowd appeared to be middle-aged witches. A weary-looking wizard at the door tried to keep order. "Ladies, please… No shoving… Mind the books…"
The queue snaked from the entrance to the back of the shop, where Gilderoy Lockhart was busy signing books.
Soon, they caught sight of Lockhart, seated behind a table and surrounded by large, moving photographs of himself. Each photo winked at the crowd, flashing dazzlingly white teeth. The real Lockhart wore a forget-me-not-blue robe matching his bright blue eyes, with a pointed wizard hat perched jauntily on his curled hair.
A short, irritable man with a large black camera darted around, snapping photos from various angles. Each flash sent a puff of purple smoke wafting into the air.
"This is Gilderoy Lockhart?" Augustus found it hard to believe. Under his magical probing, Lockhart's magical reserves were unimpressive—less than many adult wizards he knew. Yet here he was, the darling of the wizarding world. Augustus couldn't help but wonder how much of Lockhart's self-penned adventures were true.
Not far away, Augustus spotted Harry and Ron waiting in another long line. "Move aside!" the short photographer snapped at Ron while repositioning. "This is for the Daily Prophet!"
"Brilliant," Ron muttered, wincing as the man stepped on his foot.
Lockhart noticed the commotion, looked up, and saw Harry. His eyes lit up, and he jumped up, exclaiming, "Harry Potter!"
The crowd parted like the sea, buzzing with excitement. Lockhart rushed forward, grabbed Harry by the arm, and pulled him to the front. Applause erupted. Harry flushed red as Lockhart shook his hand for the cameras. The photographer snapped furiously, sending purple smoke wafting toward the Weasley family.
Augustus watched the scene unfold, mildly amused. Lockhart was clearly a master showman, adept at capturing public attention despite his apparent lack of skill. What puzzled Augustus was why Dumbledore would endorse such a figure by including so many of his books on the curriculum. Surely, Dumbledore wouldn't be fooled by surface appearances? Was there a deeper reason?
Shaking his head, Augustus resolved to keep an eye on Lockhart as the new term unfolded.
Want to read the chapters in Advance? Join my Patreon
https://patreon.com/Glimmer09